Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-10-27
GEN. YULE RETREATS
Dundee and Glencoe Abandoned by
the British.
EFFORT TO JOIN FORCES WITH WHITE

EFfUkl III JUN fUkgEo with WHILE
It Is Said to Have Succeeded, and
Hard Fighting LIZ Expected to
Occur Very soon-Anxicty
- in London.
London, Oct. 25.-The following dis
patch from Gen. Sir George Stewart
White to the marquis of Lansdowne, sec
rotary of state for war, received Tues
day evening at IL o'clock, was posted at
the war Office soon after midnight:
''Ladysmith, Oct. a. 9 p. m.-Informa-
ton received yesterday showed that the
Beers had established themselves in con-
siderable numbers in an exceedingly strong
position west of the main road leading from
Ladysmith to Dundee also had informa-
ton that the Dundee force, formerly COM
manded by Gen. Symons, and since his
wounding commanded by Cen Yule, was
falling back on Ladysmith by way of the
Helpmakaar road, Beth and the valleys OF
the Waschbank and Sunday rivers, and
was expected to reach Sunday river valley
to-day. l therefore moved out with strong
force to cover the movement of Yule's coll
umn. The enemy was discovered about
seven miles out of Ladysmith in position
of great natural strength, west OF the road.
When he saw that preparations were being
made against him, he opened fire with one
gun with great accuracy. Our artillery
soon got into position, and the gun was
silenced. Our troops were ordered to oc-
cupy strong ridge, parallel to the enemy's
position, but nearer to the road. confined
my efforts to occupying him and hitting
him hard enough to prevent his taking ac-
ton against Yule's column. Numbers of
the enemy fed to the west, and the firing
had practically ceased at two o'clock"
Yule's Retreat.
The war office dispatch seems to real
ize the worst fears. Gen. Yule has aban-
doned not only Dundee, but Glencoe
also, and, so far as present news would
indicate. he has neither joined Gen.
White nor reached Ladysmith. Gen.
Whites Successful action" announced
in parliament by Mr.. Wyndham, seems
to resolve itself into mere engaging of
the attention of the Free State troops
while Gen. Yule is slipping southwardi
1t is evident from the official dispatches
that both Commandant Gen. lJoubert's
column on the north and the Orange
Free State troops on the west now oc-
cupy strong positions and that nothing
binders the Beers from following up
Gen. Yule's retirement, and getting
around Ladysmith from the southeast.
Until requirements arrive it seems
that Gen. White is obliged to concen-
trate on Ladysmith.
Brilliant Movement.
London, Oct. 25.-The Cape Town cor
respondent of the Daily Mail, telegraph
ing at 9:45 p. m. Tuesday, says: Gen.
Yule has performed a brilliant strateg-
zeal movement. BY swift march to
the south, leaving Glencoe empty, he
has effected junction of his forces
with those of Sir George Stewart White
slightly to the north of Ladysmith. The
two are now in position to offer bat
tie. / believe the first attack will be
made on the large Free State force
which entered Natal by way of Tintwa
pass, and which has since been harass-
ing Ladysmith. The military authori-
ties decided that by joining their forces
the two generals would be better able
to cope with one large force at time
than by having two small detachments
to oppose simultaneously two big Boer
forces. Accordingly, after defeating
the Free State troops, they will offer
battle to Commandant Gen. Joubert.
Only 40 miles now separate the two
Boer forces. Hence the need for swift
and telling action.
Hard Fighting Expected.
'The two sections of the Boer army
together outnumber the entire British
force by three to one. Hard fighting is
certain at a very early date. Our men
are confident, and there is much en-
thusiasm.
''The fighting Tuesday outside Lady
smith was mere brush. The losses on
neither side were significant. 1t was
merely an artillery duel, in which the
Beers came off decidedly the worse"
Statement of the situation.
London, Oct. 25.-The parliamentary
secretary of the war Office, George
Wyndham, in the house of commons
Tuesday announced that Field Mar
shall Lord Wolseley, the commander-in-
chief of the forces, sums up the situa-
ton in Natal as follows:
"Gen. Yule has fallen back to, effect a
Junction with Sir George Stewart White
He camped yesterday about 16 miles south
of Dundee. without seeing anything of the
enemy during the march, and it has since
enreportedthat 'all's we'll on the Wasch-
bank river
Gen. White fought successful action
with an Orange Free State force to-day,
on the road between Ladysmith and New
castle. and should join hands with Gen.
Yule this evening.
Gen. Yule reports that his wounded are
doing we'll
THE Boer wounded on our hands are
treated Just as our own, and have every
erason to believe the Beers WILL treat any of
our wounded in their hands In q similarly
humane manner"
Kept Busy Explaining,
The war Office here has been attempt
ing to explain the summary of the sit
nation in Natal furnished by the COM
mander-in-chief of the forces, Field
Marshal Lord Wolseley. to the house
of commons Monday. His statement is
now said to have created unnecessary
alarm and it is asserted that what the
official rote called Gen. Yule's retire.
ment'' would be more accurately de-
scribed rs "a change of position for
tactical reasons" and that the alarm
for the safety of the wounded is not
justified. 1t is further explained that
the wounded could not be moved; but
the fact that they had to be left to their
fate while the British forces made a
strategic movement to the rear shows
the suspense of the house at the abb