The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-21
TALK OF A CHANGE IN DEFEN-
SIYE TACTICS.

LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE present week,
according to the dispatches from the
front, ought to see change in the de-
fensive tactics hitherto maintained by
the British in South Africa. 1t is said
that the task allotted to General Ciery.
that of relieving Ladysmith, will task
his generalship to the utmost The
Beers are developing a great deal OF
strength in the neighborhood of Est
court, and General Joubert is reported
to be moving southwark himself, in Or
der to- direct the movement to repel
the British advance, after, it would
seem, attempting to isolate Estcourt
This latter movement is already in pro-
gress.
The Beers surround the town. An
other small force was discovered at
Willow Grange, south of Estcourt, yes
terday Sunday evening. Major Thorny-
croft, with detachment of infantry
made a sortie and engaged the Beers.
but with no material result The So
called Boer attempt to rush Estcourt
on Saturday was apparently merely a
obtaining the information which they
strongly held, and has naval guns i'll
position. The Beers then withdrew out
of. danger, but remained at points COM
manding the exits from the town.
General Clery is lamentably deficient
in cavalry and artillery, though at
tempts are being made to replace the
former by an Uitlander mounted in
fantry, of which about 1,5OO have
started for the front.
The popular anticipations here re-
garding the relief of Kimberley APP
pear too sanguine. The British force
is not yet ready, and when it starts it
will have a dangerous road to follow,
every foot of which will probably be
contested if the British attempt di-
rect advance. So, it is said, possibly
instead of rushing directly fol-. Kimber-
ley, the British will advance across the
frontier in the direction of Bloom
fontein, which may thus be threatened.
This, it is claimed, would draw off Gen
eral Cronjes forces and enable the rail-
road to be restored.
1t is reported to-day that the Beers
have attacked thurman, and sustained
heavy loss. 1t is hard, however, to con-
lecture why the Beers would waste am
munition on village far out on the
plains, defended by 200 police.
1t is further asserted that the Beers
have no serious intention of invading
Cape Colony, but intend to concentrate
their scattered forces with the view OF
opposing the British advance across the
southern border of the Free State.
The presence of the Beers in so many
towns in Cape Colony has caused Sir
Alfred Miner, the Governor, to pro-
claim martial law in those places. The
British forces have retreated from these
points, and are being concentrated on
the Orange River.
The Irish Transvaal Committee has
appealed for funds to enable it to send
an ambulance to the Irish brigade in
the Boer service. The appeal says:
THE Irishmen now fighting side by
side with the Beers have lessened the
disgrace brought on Ireland by the
Irishmen who are SO unfortunate as TO
be influenced by necessities to fight by
the side of England"
The appeal is signed by Miss Maude
Come, Mrs. w. Redmond, T. d. Sulli-
van and others.
The British Admiralty reports the ar
rival at Cape Town to-day of the trans
port Glengyle, with a battery of horse
artillery, an ammunition column, a cav
airy brigade and a hospital corps; the
Briton, with the Second Somerset
Light Infantry; the Siberian, with the
Dragons, and the German,
with the First Rifle Brigade, a field
hospital corps and a detachment of en-
gineers.
The transports Cephalonia and Cephia
have been ordered to proceed to Dur
ban.
At the Marquis of Lansdowne's sug-
gestion, the Queen has decided that her
Christmas present to the troops in
South Africa is to take the form of q !
tin of chocolate for each man.