The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-20
TWO BATTLES.
One on Wednesday and Another
on Thursday
Reported From Ladysmith
Through EstcOurt-
BEGAN AT DAYBREAK
And Lasted Until 2 O'Clock
Wednesday Afternoon.
Resumed Next Day-HeaYiest
Fighting Yet.
BOER LOSSES GREAT.
Dead Said to Reach Into the
Hundreds.
This of Course Is From British
Sources.
and Lasted Until 2 O'Clock
Wednesday Afternoon.
Resumed Next Day-HeaYiest
Fighting Yet.
BOER LOSSES GREAT.
Dead Said to Reach Into the
Hundreds.
This of Course Is From British
Sources.

London, Nov. 20.-A special dispatch
from Escourt, dated November 20. says
a report has reached there of a battle
at Ladysmith Wednesday, November
Is, lasting from daybreak until . in the
afternoon. Many Beers are said to have
been killed and many are reported to
have been taken prisoners. The British
losses are reported to be much less.
Another battle is said to have oc-
CURED Thursday. 1t is described as the
heaviest yet fought. The Boer dead, it
is added. number hundreds, while. the
British losses We're comparatively
small.
ESTCOURT SURROUNDED.
London. Nov. 2O.-The present week,
according to the dispatches from the
front ought to see a change in the de-
fensfve tactics hitherto maintained by
the British in South Africa. 1t is said
that the task allotted to Gen. Clery,
that of relieving Ladysmith will tax
his generalship to the utmost. The
Beers are developing a great deal of
strength in the neighborhood Of Est
court and Gen. JOubert is reported to
be moving southwark himself in order
to direct the movement to repel the
British advance, after it would seem.
attempting to isolate Estcourt. This
latter movement is already in progress.
The Beers practically surround the
town. Another small force was discov-
cred at Willow Grange south of Est
court yesterday Sunday evening.
Major Thornycroft with a detachment
of infantry made a sOrtie and engaged
the Beers but with no material result.
The sO-called BOer attempt to rush
EstcOurt on Saturday was merely a
reconnaissance resulting in the Beers
eaczga fVafr Ia nfraHa az
sired, namely that EstcOurt is fairly
strongly held and has naval guns in
position. The Beers then withdrew out
Of danger but remained at points COM
manding the exits from the town.
Gen. Clery is lamentably deficient in
cavalry and artillery though attempts
are being made to replace the former
by Outlander mounted infantry OF
which about 1500 have started for the
front.
The popular anticipations here re-
garding the relief Of Kimberley appear
too sanguine. The British force is not
ready yet and when it starts it viii
have dangerous road to travel. every
foot of which viii be contested.
1t is said possibly instead OF rushing
directly for Kimberley the British viii
advance across the frontier in the di-
rection of BiOemfontein which may
thus be threatened. This it is claimed
would draw off Gen. Cronje's forces
and enable the railroad to be restored
From the presence Of Cen Butler
near Gen Meuthen at Orange river it is
anticipated the main advances VIII be
made on the west side, but it is added
that unless Gen. Gatacre IS able to ad-
vance simultaneously ana push back
the Beers who are occupying so many
points south Of the Orange river the
British lines of communication viii be
seriously threatened
Gen. Buffers orders to his officers on
the subject of their equipment are
taken to mean that the officers are to
carry rifles like the troops. 1t is re-
ported today that the Beers have at
tackled Kuruman and sustained heavy
loss. It is hard, however. to conjecture
why the Beers would waste ammuni-
tion on a village far out on the plains,
defended by 200 police.
It is further asserted that the Beers
have no serious intention Of invading
Cape Colony but intend to concentrate
their scattered forces with the view of
opposing the British advance across
the southern border of the Orange Free
state.
The presence of the Beers in so many
of the towns in Cape Colony has caused
Sir Alfred Miner. the governor. to pro-
claim martial law in those places. The
British forces have retreated from these
points and are being concentrated on
he Ora river