The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-24
Forty Prisoners Were
Taken.
Situation at Natal is Un-
changed.

London, November a4-(5 a. m. .)-Be-
fore anxiety as to the situation In Natal
has been relieved there comes news Of q
great battle at Belmont. This has hap
psned sooner than was expected. Only
the official acoountis yet at hand; but
90 far as can be gathered The fighting
appears to have bsen almost repetition
OF the battle of Eiandslaagte.
A despatch Of the previous day ssti-
mated that the Beers in that vicinity
numbered 5000 End that they had five
guns and iudg az from the absence OF
any statement The contrary In the
oficlal despstob. mis- believed that the
British were slightiy superior In num-
bsrs to the enemy. The Eosrs had chosen
position with their customary skill
and were strongly sntrsnched.
The British were obliged to carry thu es
ridges in succession.
Apparently the guards bore the bruut
In carrying the last ridge by tsyonet
charge, after Its defenders had been shak-
en- with shrapLel.
| Nothing is said as to whether the posi-
tion go gained were held and the destruc-
tion of ammunition seems to indies t.
that the contrary was the cass.
| While Gen. Msthuen can be congratu-
lated upon brilliant victory, 1t 10
again at cost Of n heavy loss Of officers
and men.
The diary Of events at Mafeking up 10
November 10 has arrived 1t gives little
that is new. At that dat, Col. Bader-
Powell mad no idea OF Icing relieved for
a fortnight. or perhaps for a mortb.
Both Mafsking and Kimberley, however,
sesm to be quiet.
| Later details regarding ths Arundsl re-
connaissance say that the Beers the Q
were engaged In destroyi Ing the railway.
One account says that after the retire
ment, an ambulance train with doctors
was sent out from Naaw poort. II this
were true the British casualties mt st
have exceeded three.
The situation In Natal remains o.
s,ure. Fighting 10 reported at both Est-
court and Lsdysmitn. 1t was at first re-
rortsd that heavy firing had bsen heard
In tine direction Of Willow Grange, lead
ing TO a belief that Gen. Hilyard had
made q sortie. sLs.er eespltctes an
nounce that Gen. White soItlei from
Lady smith and intiiotei q Gemoraiizir g
defe,t upon the Bees.
1t would he premature to give full ci e.
dence to either report. What 10 quite &c :
tain is that Ladysmith and III ooi river
station are all isolate and the Bee 8
seem able, after cetaching enough treoI g
to hold three British fore Se 4. aggi e ga ing
II, COO men to Ipush on toward Pie err
maritburg, with some 1900 men.
q disquietlng feature Of the whole CAM
paign is the fact that all the advancing
British generals report meeting the Bosrs
In force In view OF the brilliant success
OF Gen. Joubert In partially part lying
the re lieving columns. the question Ia te-
ing askei, what wouli have happened
had he, at the outset of the war, instead
Of sitting down before LadysAiith, pushed
on to oPstermsritizburg.
Gsnsr3l Gatacrs's report that the Dutch
are rising increases pullo anxiety as 1t
tends to confirm rumors that have long
been current. A special eelpatoh from
Durham announces that more big naval
guns were landed Wedresday and hurried
to the front. Prince Christian Vios;r llft
Mooi river camp before 1t Was invested,
bearing dispatches to Pieternsrlts sburg.
Lats this evening 1t was asserted at
Aliershot that the sixth division, now In
progress Of mobilization. will aotusllJ be
required for active service. Some Of q Q
yeomsnry regiments have bssn warned
for mobilization, owing to the scarcity of
cavelry In Africa. 1t Is slso reported that
another brigade Of horse art ll'ry will be
| Iuobilizsd.