The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-21
GREAT STRENGTH OF BoERs.
Probabilities of a Change In Defen
sive Tactics of the British.

London, Nov. 20.-The present week.
according to the dispatches from the
front ought to see a change in the de-
the British in South Africa. 1t is
said that the task allotted to General
Cleary, that of relieving Ladysmith,
will task his generalship to the utmost.
The Beers are developing a great deal
of strength in the neighborhood of
Estcourt and General Joubert is re-
ported to be moving southwark him
self in order to direct the movement to
repeI the British advance. after it
would seem. attempting to isolate Est
court. This latter movement is already
in progress.
The Beers practically surround the
town. Another small force was dis
covered at Willow Grange, south of
Estcourt yesterday Sunday evening.
Major Thorneycroft, with a detachment
of infantry. made a sortie and engaged
the Beers, but with no material re-
suit.
The so-called Boer attempt to rush
Estcourt on Saturday was apparently
merely a reconnaissance resulting in
the Beers obtaining the information
which they desired, namely that Est
court is fairly strongly held and has
naval guns in position; The Beers
then withdrew out of danger but re-
manned at points commanding the exits
from the town.
General CIeary is lamentably deficient
in cavalry and artillery. though at
temptS are being made to replace the
former by an Outlander mounted in
fantry of which about 1.500 have start
ed for the front. s 80. a1
The popular antieipationS here re-
garding the relief of Kimberley appear
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 con-
tested if the British attempt a direct
advance. So. it is said, possibly instead
of rushing directly for Kimberley the
British will advance. across the frontier
in the direction of sBloemfontein which
may thus be threatened. This it is
elaine would draw off General Cronje's
forces and enable sthe railroad to be
restored .iis .tt 80 s-ratl -l=
From the presence of General Butler
near General Methuen at Orange river
it is anticipated that the main adj
vances viii be made on the westside.
but il is added. unless General Gataore
is able to advance simultaneously and
push back the Beers who are occupying
so many points south of the Orange
river. the British lines of communica-
ton will be, seriously threatened.
General Buffers orders to his officers
on the subject of their equipment are
taken to mean that the officers are to
carry rifles. like the troops.
1t is reported today that the Beers
have attacked thurman and sustained
heavy loss. 1t is hard, however. to
conjecture why the Beers would waste
ammunition on a 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 1rishmen 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 the English"
The appeal is signed by Miss Maude
Conner. Messrs. Redmond, T. d. Sui
livan. and others. The British adj
nliralty reports the arrival at Cape
Town today of the transport Glengyle
with a battery of horse artillery, an
ammunition column. cavalry brigade
and a hospital corps: the Briton with
the Second Somerset light infantry; the
Siberian with the InniskiIlen dragons,
and the German with the First Rifle
brigade, field hospital corps and. a
detachment of engineers. The trans
ports Cephalonia and Cepia have been
ordered to proceed to Durham.
At the Marquis OF L2nsdowne's sug-
gestion the queen has decided that her
Christmas present to the troops in
South Africa is to take the form of a
tin CT chocolate for each man.