The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-14
BRITISH GROW UNEASY
OVER THE ABSENCE OF OFFICIAL NEWS
FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
RUMORS OF HEAVY FIGHTING
Received Through Several Sources,
But Generals White and Butler Are
SiIent-Kimberley and Mafekfng safe
mt Last Reports Beers Reinforced at
Former Place-A Siege Train Being
Prepared I'm England for Use Against
Pretoria.

Pretoria.
London, November 9.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from General Butler, dated Cape Town.
Wednesday,, November 8th, 11:50 p. m:
Colonel Kekewich ~telegraphs from
Kimberley, November 5th, tina all is
well and that there has been no seri-
Gus attack as yet. A slight lombard
ment did no damage. Information
from Mafeking shows that place was
safe October 9th. Colonel Plumer had
a successful engagement near Fort
Tuli October 26th.
General White reports by pigeon
post that the wounded and some civ
ilians from Ladysmith have been re-
moved four miles down the railroad,
by an arrangement with General Jou-
bert, to a neutral place, to save them
from the bombardmenc.
"Ninety-nine wounded from Dundee
have been sent in under a flag of truce.
They are all doing well.
THE b~ombardment was discontinued
November 4th and November 5th, but
it is expected to recommence November
9Th
BOERS REINFORCED.
Orange River, Cape Colony. Monday,
November 6.-The Beers investing
Kimberley have been reinforced by two
thousand men and have succeeded in
corralling about 5000 worth of stock
belonging to Kimberley merchants
which was intended for the sustenance
of the town.
London, November "a special from
Queenstown, dated Monday, November
9Th says:
THE railway Within the Free State
is completely wrecked. 1t is estimated
that it will take six months to repair
the damage already done in South At
rica and the army will hardly be able
to use the railway anymore than in
1881"
The colonial office has received a
telegram from the governor of Natal,
giving a cOp of the pigeon-post mes
sage received by the premier from the
c~ommandant of volunteers. It is as
follows:
"Ladysrnith, Tuesday, November T.
l sent you, November 3rd, by native
messenger, a report of the engagement
that day. There has been nothing i'm
portant since. The hospital was re-
moved to a spot IN the railway, three
miles south. AN was quiet on Sunday
and Monday. The enemy renewed the
bombardment today, but no damage
has been DONE"
Fstcourt, Natal, Monday Evening,
November Gam armOred train which
has returned from reconnoitering in the
direction of COlensO reports having
seen nothing of the enemy. The train
guard met a native unneT returning
from L~adysmith, who said that a party
of Beers had torn up the line within
a mile of Colenso station. The Beers,
he asserted, were in great numbers in
that vicinity. They brought big guns
down from Grablerskloof hill. pointed
on the main roadway, and fired five
shots into COlenso, only to ascertain
that it had been completely evacuated.
Then they entered with five empty
wagons which they filled with goods
from Edwards store.
The train party e scouting and
obtained reliable news that COlenso
was in possession of the Beers and
therefore, returned here, bringing the
rune with them.
London, November 9.-The c~orrespon-
lent of The Daily Telegraph at PETER
maritzburg, t~elegraphing Monday says:
"Estcourt, Piertermaritzburg and
Ladysmith are all safe for some time
to come. Owing to the fact that Lady
smith lies low and the Beers, unlucki-
ly have been permitted to occupy Mount
BulWan and other surrounding big
hills, attempts to open Geographic COM
munication have proved a failure"
London, November 10.-4:30 a. M
The scanty conflicting news from
the seat of the war n the fact that
General White has not yet said a word
about the alleged fighting around Lady
smith are again producing a feeling of
gloom. 1t may be that General White
has sent news n that General Butler
has thought best to keep it to himself.
Indeed, this is the version shat is be-
ginning to be believed, as it is he'd to
be impossible that the news of heavy
fighting brought BY Kaffirs in such cir
cumstantial detail can be wholly
~groundless. If this be so, it is ominous,
for there could be nc ground for con-
cealing favorable news.
1t cannot be long, however, before a
change occurs. General Buffers forces
will soon arrive at Durham, and will
probably begin the advance to the re-
lief of Ladysmith about November 18th.
Oredrs have been received at Wool
which and Davenport for h mobili-
zat>p of a siege train, which 1T is sup
posed is intended for the purpose OF
shelling Pretoria The force manning
fit will approximate the strength of
eight batteries and will consist of thir-
ty-two officers and 1,104 n~on-commis-
stoned officers and men. It's armament
will be thirty HowitZers, fourteen
6-inch guns, eight 5-inch guns and eight
4-fnch guns, the whole train weighing
over 5000 tons. This Will be the first
employment ola modernized siege train
by any European army n h prog
ress of the reduction of the forts by
lyddite she'll fire, a preliminary &c
storming by infantry, will be watched
with interest and curiosity by all pro-
| fessional soldiers