The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-27

coolness, bravery and good aim can be
judged from the fact that out Of the
seventeen or eighteen officers with the
half battalion of Gordon Highlanders
four were killed and thirteen wounded,
while the casualties among the rank
and file were II per cent. during less
than three hours fighting. Lieutenant
Campbell, of the Gordon Highlanders,
has since died from his wounds
A dispatch from Cape Town today
says that General White has engaged
the Orange Free State Beers who are
advancing on Ladysmfth, about seven
miles northward and that it was be-
lieved the advance had been repelled.
This is probably another version of
yesterdays fighting already known.
Other dispatches from Cape Town
say that advices from Mafeking con-
firm the statement that fifty Beers
were killed by the explosion of two
trucks of dynamite purposeiy sent out
by Colonel Baden-Powell to draw the
Boer fire.
STATION IN THE WEST
The situation in the west is becoming
complicated. The Boer proclamation
of annexation and the claims of a vic
tory at Glencoe are likely to induce the
Dutch to side with their countrymen
already in the field. 1t is said, for in
stance, that the Boer forces have evac-
be garrisoned by the local Dutch,
among whom are prominent bundites
and government employees. 1t is also
believed that the Dutch beyond Gri-
quatown are only awaiting encourage
ment to declare for the Transvaal.
Advices from Phillipstown yesterday
say that the searchlights of the Kim
berley Gefences were visible the pre-
vious night and that therefore Kimber-
| ley is still intact. The latest dispatch
from Kimberley gives details of the
arrangements made by the British
| commander. Colonel Kekewiche, for
| the defense of the town. The meat
/ consumption is limited to a pound
daily.
THE BASUTOS LOYAL.
A dispatch from Maseru, dated Octo-
Der oath says Commissioner Iagden was
then starting to meet Lerothodi and
other Basuito chiefs at Putiatsuz river,
where the chiefs have assembled at
| the request of Lerothdi to pledge their
| loyalty to the queen.
! A dispatch from Durham dated Octo-
| Der 23rd, says authentic information
! has reached there from Molmoth, Zu-
| luland, that on Sunday a large Boer
force was approaching. The inhabi-
| ltants forthwith entered Fort Maxwell,
| anticipating an attack ait dawn on
Monday
| THE BOERS' MILITARY STRENGTH
| According to a BRUSSELS dispatch,
! DR.. LeydS, the diplomatic agent of the
Transvaal in Europe, has issued a
statement that the Beers have now
| nearly 100000 men in the field, made
up as follows: Boer regulars $4,000,
! artillery 1850, Police !, $50, Orange Free
State Beers, including Uitlanders 35, 900,
| Natal Beers 5000, Buchuanaland and
| Rhodesian Beers 5000, Foreign legion
| 60o Americans 1000, Germans 5000,
| Dutch -Belg ans 2,OOO Irish 1000, Scan
| linavians 60o, French Swiss and Ital-
ians 600. The Jews, it appears, are
| doing police work.
| A special dispatch from Pretoria via
Larenzo Marquee dated October oath,
| purports to give an interview with one
of the highest Transvaal executives,
| who is quoted as having urged that
while the Boer successes were yet un-
| Important there was still time-for an
| amicable settlement, as he believed the
| Beers had been misled as to the real
| issue.
| HUSSARS CUT OFF BY BOERS.
| A dispatch ito the Daily telegraph
from Ladysmith, dated Monday says:
Thirty Of the Eighteenth hussars
| who were sent from Glencoe to inter
cept the retreat of the Beers from
| Elandslaagte, were cut off by the
| enemy. Under Sergeant Baldrey they
brilliantly fought their way across the
| Biggarsburg, the enemy pursuing and
! firing at them at distance of 300 yards
along the passes. They arrived here
| at 10 o'clock this morning. Three of
! the troopers are missing, owing to the
breakdown of their horses. The Beers
used a Maxim. A lieutenant Of the
| hussars with a party was driven back
| to Glencoe. The hussars were fired at
ioc fay LODI
THE NEWS SUPPRESSED.
London, October 26-With uncon-
scious humor,a Cape Town correspond
ent telegraphed yesterday: THE CEN
sorship,~ which is always a delicate
| matter, is working smoothly and with
| out a hitch
This exactly hits off the state or af-
| fairs today. An ominous veil is still
! drawn over the movements of General
Sir George Stewart White and General
| Yule. Beyond belated Ladysmith dis
patches concerning the Elandslaagte
| fight, which are still fiItering in, the
British public is left in complete dark
ness and Ito conjecture over cooked"
| war office dispatches. The officials Of
the war office last evening said that
| very few dispatches have arrived and
| that nothing further was to be expected
| until morning.
| Oluce 1t Is pIdCllCdlly c6IldlIl llldl
General Yule has now effected a juno
ture with General White-although
this was not brought about Tuesday
night, as announced by The Daily Mail,
but some time on Wednesday-and as
both are now in a position of safety,
conjecture concerns itself chiefly with
the manner of General Yules retreat
That it was hasty is evident. Was it
disorderly? Was any considerable
| camp equipment abandoned? Was
there any fighting on the way? Such
questions and others like them, the
public are anxiously asking. Since the
receipt of General Whites curious first
| description of Ladysmith fight, in
which the British lost 100 men, little
| reliance can be placed on the official
dispatches. While the concealing of
the facts regarding General Yules re-
treat can be amply justified on the
ground of keeping the intelligence from
the Beers, the hiding of the news re-
| specting the Hussars and Fusileers
I. who were apparently captured in the
| battle of Glencoe, is severely criticised,