The record-union., 1899-11-24

charge, after it's defenders had been
shaken with shrapnel
Nothing is said as to whether The po-
5ltions so gained were held, and the de-
struction of ammunition seems to in
dicate that the contrary was the case.
While General Methuen can be con-
graduated upon brilliant victory, it is
again at the cost of heavy loss OF
officers and men.
The situation in Natal remains OBJ
scure. Fighting is reported at both
Estcourt and Ladysmith 1t was al
first reported that heavy firing had been
heard in the direction of Willow Grange
leading to the belief that General Hid
yard had made a sortie. Later dis
patches announce that General White
SORTED from Ladysmith and inflicted a
demoralizing defeat upon the Beers.
1t would be premature to give full
credence to either report. What is
quite certain is that Ladysmith, Est
court and Mooi River stations are all
isolated, and the Beers seem able, after
detaching enough troops to hold three
British forces aggregating 1900 men,
to push on toward Pietermartizbur
with some 1000 men
A disquieting feature Of the whole
campaign is the fact that all the ad-
vancing Generals report meeting the
Beers in force. In view of the bril-
liant success of General Joubert in par
TALLY paralyizing the relieving columns,
the question is being asked what would
have happened had he at the outset of
the war, instead of sitting down before
Ladysmith, pushed on to Pietermaritz-
burg?
General Gatacre's reports that the
Dutch are rising increases public anx-
iety, as it tends to confirm rumors that
have long been current.
A special dispatch from Durham an
that more big naval guns We're
landed Wednesday and sent to the
front. Prince Christian Victor left
Mooi River camp before it was invest
ed, bearing dispatches to Pietermaritz-
burg.
Late last evening it was asserted at
Aldershot that the Sixth Division, now
in process of mobilization, will actually
be required for active service. Some of
the yeomanry agents have been warned
for mobilization, owing to the scarcity
of cavalry in Africa It is also reported
that another brigade of horse artillery
will be mobilized
BRITISH INUNDATED.
LONDON, Nov. 23.-The fact that
fresh portions of Natal are being over
run daily by the Beers is producing
evaporation in that colony, and in
tense humiliation in Great Britain,
where the idea of a possible extensive
violation of British soil was contemptu-
ously dismissed in the early stages of
the war
Operators on the Stock Exchange
here are becoming nervous, and the
continuous fall in consols exemplifies
the restlessness of the market The
rumors that a peace deputation from
President Kruger is on it's way to
Cape Town for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the terms upon which an i'm
mediate cessation of hostilities could
be secured are discredited here, and it
is said that if such a deputation has
been sent it will meet with scant cour-
tesy, as those who are conducting the
war will be satisfied with nothing less
than debating the terms of peace at
Pretoria after a parade of the British
strength throughout the Transvaal.
Meanwhile, from the scanty and
emasculated dispatches which are drio-
bling in from the front, it is difficult
to form an opinion of the true situation
The Boer invaders are occasioning con-
stant surprises. They have already
cut off two portions of the Ladysmith
relieving force from their base of sup
plies, and with great rapidity are adj
vancing on Pietermaritzburg with
howitZers and other artillery. General
Cleary's situation, it would appear,
must be becoming intolerable, so seri-
Gus fighting may be expected at any
time, as, it is pointed out. the General
must clear his line of communication
in order to complete the concentration
of the relieving force.
1t is believed that Mafeking is suf-
fering from lack of water and that fe-
Yer is rife there.
Advices from Lorenzo Marques say
Transvaal recruiting agents have been
visiting arriving steamers, and have
succeeded in enlisting three passengers
from the German steamer Kaiser
A force of Portuguese police has gone
to Gazaland, where the natives are
e1SNiiS III iii SdtcilIiiS lIldIhCl, ti-C
stores at Koomapoort having been
looted.
The British transports Pavonia and
Cephalonia arrived at Durham to-day
with about 5000 troops, making the
total arrivals of the first division l1,G00
men. Another force of men is expected
in a few days.
The Admiral announces that the
First Dragons left Cape Town to-day
for Durham to reinforce General
Clearys force, whose advance is delay
ed by lack of cavalry
BULLER STARTS FOR NATAL.
CAPE TOWN, Nov 23.-General
Butler has started for Natal. He is
expected to return here shortly.
EVENTS ABOUT KIMBERLEY.
LONDON, Nov. 23.-The War Office
this evening issued dispatch from
Cape Town, which is a brief diary OF
events at Kimberley from November
18th to November 18th. 1t shows that
no serious engagement occurred be-
tween those dates: that the British
losses have been infinitesimal, and tina;
the Beers anticipating the advance OF
the relief column under General
Methuen, have taken up defensive posi-
sions to the south of the town. The
dispatch was as follows:
kimberley, Nov. 1.-THE Beers fired
400 shells yesterday. Our expenditure
up to date is about 200 shells.
November 13th.-There was a desul-
tory bombardment to-day, the Boer
practice being Indifferent
.sNOyember 14th-The bOmba rdment
continued to-day.
November 16th.-At daybreak our
mounted troops made sortie This