Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-31
BRITISH LOSS, 100; B0ERs, HEAVIER
Whole British Force in Action Naval
Brigade Joins White---7he
Fighting Continues.
RCERS' SUPREME EFFORT.

London. oct. 30-The dispatch Of
The Associated Press from Ladysnith.
this morning. which was sent at ex-
press rates. came through in the re-
markahle time Of two hours. It shows
the crisis which the present stage Of
the y ar operations has reached and
that the expected attack On Ladysmith
by the joint Boer forces has opened.
n dispatch from Durham. timed $50
this morning. supplements The Associ-
ated Press dispatch with the Informal
ton that the Boer shells are chiefly di-
rected at the station and that no dam
age was done up To the time the mes
sage from Durham was forwarded
That tie heavy guns Of the Beers.
from which SD much was expected.
should lie silencel 50 speedily. as indi-
Gated in The Associated Press dispatch
from Lalysmith. is a matter of great
surprise, but the subsequent advance
IF the burgher force on the British left
flank shows The attackers were in no
way dismIyed thereby and We're still
fun of the same sclf-cOnfidcnce and
daring they have already exhibited on
several occasions.
Apparently the Beers have concen-
tratcd far supreme effort at Ladysmith.
They have withdrawn their forces from
other points which they consider mo-
mentarily to be of less Importance.
The German corps which was almost
annihilated at Elandslaagte and Gen.
Lucas Meyers column. shattered at Ia
lan Hill. show how great are their re-
Operative powers and their fertility OF
resource.
The perseverance the Beers have
shown in transporting heavy ordinance
and posting it i'm commanding posi-
tons, has forced admiration even from
their enemies. Unless the present at
tack Is feint to occupy the British
while the invaders are cutting off com
munication southwark, the battle which
opened, this morning. may decide the
issue IF the war as far as fighting in
the open is concerned. as unless the
10000 or 10000 Beers about Ladysmith
are able to destroy the 1900 troops.
they can hardly hope to cope with Gen.
Buffers army corps. So it may be ex-
pected the Beers will return to the at
tack of Ladysmith after they are beat
en- off 50 long as they have a gun in
position and men willing to face the
British force they must be fully cogni-
Zant that the news of their success
Will bring thousands Of SympathiZers
and Adventures to their standard.
The active operations Of the last few
days have shown cavalry. under modern
conditions armed with long range
weapons. in am entirely new light. proving
them able to work as infantry both alone
md in iunrtipn wit,
Those cavalrymen have shown themselves
able to hold infantry positions against
mounted infantry which. under previous
conditions, they would have been forced
to relinQuish; while the actual assault on
Ela1dslaagte was led by dismounted cav
airy.
Another eminent civilian. Dr.. Frederick
IreNtS, surgeon in ordinary to the Duke
Of York and surgeon Of the London hos
pital, has been appointed consulting sur
Eeon with the troops in South Africa.
TIC viii start Immediately. The true i'm
WardneSS Of these appointments seems to
he the recognition by the authorities that
the senior mil tary medical officers are be-
hind the times, and as the latter would
consider II 'infradig' TO call in consulta
ton Junior officers more cOnVersant with
modern practice, the difficulty has been
overcome by the appointment Of civilians
at an enormous cost.
a war Office dispatch from Cape Town.
dated Oct. 90 says: IAN armorcd train
under ileWeilyn went within 800 yards OF
the Boer lager. three miles south Of
Crocodl e Pool. The Beers had driven in
their horses on the approach Of the train.
Three Maxim belts were discharged into
the Beers, who must have Aad consider
able loss. They returned 10 shots with
no effect. Col Piumer'S OUTPOST has ha1
several skirmishes on the Crocodile river.
From later advices 1t was learned that
the Lewellyn train returned 10 Mochudi
100 miles north of Maleking. Liewellyn
reports all quiet
The latest news from the western Dor
der has apparently treasured the British
as to the ability Of Mafeklng
and Kimberley to withstand assaults
A dispatch from Fort Tull. forwa rded |
during the evening Of oct. - announces
that Blackburn's force. in the skirmiSh
at RhOdesdrift, killed u Beers a Kafir !
SPY reported that many more Beers were
lying in the drift dying.
Blackburn died Of his wounds on re-
Continued on page % !