The record-union., 1899-11-02
Available Telegraph Wires Running
to South Africa
Mln,poIlzed by the Government and Brit
ish Staff Officers.
Late Particulars Of the Battle Near
Ladysmith Show That the Brit
ish Made an Heroic Stand in
Face Of Big Odds, Surrenderine
Only When Their Ammunition
Had Given Out.

Had Given Out.
LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE breakdown of
the Delagoa Bay cable route, combined
with the monopolization of the avail
able telegraph lines by the Government
and British staff officers, is responsive
for the fact that nothing further mas
arrived from South Africa The GOV
ernment has received dispatches rectl-
flying the casualty lists. These VIII De
published to-day (Thursday). Up TO
midnight nothing had been received
concerning Mondays casualties.
The War Office officials are working
under great strain Captain Perrlote'
staff Captain to the Military Secre-
tary, has just died, his end being hast
ened by anxiety and overwork-
An unconfirmed statement is pup-
hshed that General Sir Redvers Butler
has left Cape Town for Ladysmith.
A belated dispatch from Ladysmith,
describing Mondays fight, says: A
couple of squadrons of Hussars had a
narrow escape from disaster early IN
the day. They found themselves sud
denly fronted, within easy range, by
an overwhelming force of Beers, VINO
seemed to spring from the bowels OF
the earth. The Hussars We're splendldly
handled. and were extricated with only
one man wounded"
The Queen is credited with expressing
sincere pity for George Stewart White,
and the officials are in nowise inclined
to Judge him harshly. So far as the
public is concerned, however, while
which the isolated battalions surren-
dered, there is still severe criticism or
General White and Lieutenant Colonel
Carleton for allowing the column to get
out of touch, for the absence of proper
scouting and for not retiring when the
ammunition was lost In favor OF
Lieutenant Colonel Carleton the expla-
nation is hazarded that he believed 1t
was imperative to the success OF Cen
eral Whites operations that he should
hold the position at Nicholsons Mex.
BOERS CLOSING AROUND LADY
SMITH.
LONDON, Nov. lit was announced
to-day in a special dispatch from Lady
smith that the Beers again closed
around that place on Monday night.
sending shells into the British camp.
The two guns landed from the British
cruiser Powerful opened fire on the
Beers at dawn Tuesday. The Beers
brought up more guns, but some of
them were silenced. 1t is added that
the Beers loss must have been heavy.
The garrison of Ladysmith is described
as being in good spirits and confident,
and the troops are said to be full OF
rrvl.1 in
progress Tuesday night
CAPE TOWN, Oct 31.-(Delayed in
transmission Gums of the British
naval brigade have knocked the Boer
forty-pounder clean off it's platform,
and have silenced the Boer guns on
Hepworth Hill The Beers abandoned
their positions.
NEWSPAPER COMMENT ON THE
BATTLE.
LONDON. Nov 1.-The Morning
Post" comments severely upon the Brit
ish contempt for the enemy, as shown
by the belief that the large Boer force
at Actonhomes could be held in check
by Cartoons small column. 1t points
out that even If the British there had
been we'll supplied with ammunition
they could have held out only a few
hours longer inasmuch as they were
in the most complete sense detached,
and because nobody apparently at
Ladysmith had any idea of their dis
tress or took measures to rescue them
THE column was sacrificed" says the
Morning Post" because it was sent
into action gagged and blindfolded. II
had neither scout nor patrol Twelve
ffv
lack of cavalry which would not have
been missed from another part of the
field"
The STANDARD" which comments N
similar terms upon .'the fact that Gen.
eral White made no effort to extr1ca,c q
the colmun from the impossible situa.
ton into which he had thrust it, draws
a sad picture of the men "hoping fol
relief, and then realizing with bitter
ness of heart that some one hao
blundered that they had been forgot
ten by their General and his staff, ano
that nothing was left but surrender
and Imprisonment at Pretoria until the
end of the war"
The DAILY Chronicle" says: "It IS
evident that some one blundered, bui
more details are required befor TINS
blame can be apportioned.'
A PLEA FOR AMERICAN MEDIA
TION
BERLIN, Nov. 1.-The 'Tageblatt'
says Count Bothmer, President of thu
German Peace Societies, has telegraphe6
to Queen Victoria praying her to ac'
cept the mediation of the United States
in the war with the Transvaal.
BRITISH MAKE A HEROIC STAND
LONDON, Nov 1.-The gloom caus
ed by the British disaster at Lady
smith was in a measure relieved By
to-day's story giving an account o.
the heroic stand made by the deci-
mated battaIions until their last cart
ridges We're gone. The British nerve
was momentarily shaken by Genera
Whites use of the word "capitulate' ii
his first telegram. but now that it i.
known that the Gloucesters and Fusil
GERS fought against overwhelming odd
and upheld the best traditions of tn,
British army, the tension has been re
lieved. since there is no longer AM
ground to dread that the loss of lif'
was accompanied by dishonor.