Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-11-04
AFRICAN
AFFAIRS
Telegraph Communication Con-
tinues Interrupted In the
Transvaal.
NO ANXIETY FELT OVER WHITE
Orange Tree Staters are Prepar-
ed to Invade Cape
Colony.


noon today announced that nothing
had been received there, in any way
modifying or altering the statement
issued yesterday afternoon, and say
ing that belated dispatches from
Ladysmith were coming through.
Nothing has been received to corrobo
rate the reiterated reports from Ber-
lin of the capitulation of General
White. A dispatch to the Exchange
telegraph company, from Pietermar-
itzburg, dated November 1st, said
Ladysmitha was perfectly quiet that
morning. Other dispatches of the
same date say the women and chill
dren had left Ladysmith escorted by
an armored train, and announced that
the Beers had entered Cape Colony
at Norvaispruit, destroying several
bridges. The British troop ship Pap.
lian, which sailed for South Africa,
November 1st, from Liverpool, is re-
turning in a damaged condition, hav-
ing encountered yesterdays storm.
Colesburg, Nov. 1.-Delayed-An
explosion was heard this afternoon
in the direction of Colesburg bridge.
1t is supposed the Beers destroyed the
bridge
Colesburg, Cape Colony, Nov. q
(Delayed.) Bridge is intact. Explo
sions heard yesterday were only sig
nails.
London, Nov A Kimberly cor
respondent of the Daily Mail, in dis
patch filed Nov. 1, forwarded by way
of Orange river, says: "The Beers
are still in force in this vicinity
Saturday evening our patrol was fired
on in the neighborhood of Wesselton
mine, the enemy expending quantity
of ammunition Intellectually, however,
owing to the long range. A burgher,
with a pass from the enemy brought |
200 oxen into the town. The enemy |
is reported to have three siege guns |
in position at Oliphantfontein, four |
miles from Wesselton.
Eonuon, Nov. 4. Gunnery
Lieutenant Egerton, of the British
cruiser Powerful, who was wounded
by an explosion of a shell at the bonn
bardment of Ladysmith, has been
promoted to the rank of commander
for services in the field. His legs
have been amputated. The officer is
a nephew of the Duke of Devonshire.
London, Nov. 4.-The war office has
issued the following announcement:
"The colonial office~has received JIM
formation that tae troops have with
drawn from Jeolanso and concentrated
further sofh, but we have no news of
any ep<dgement in that neighborhood.
PUrt Tuli, Rhodesia, Oct. 29, delay
ed d)-There have been few skirmishes
with the Beers who with main body
retired southwark.
London, Nov. Following is an
official announcement from the war
office: ''No news received from Lady
smith up to 2 O'Clock this afternoon.
We therefore presume the wire is still
interrupted"
In spite of the silence the officials
81 at the war Office do not credit the va
rious rumors as to the position of the
garrison and no grave anxiety is felt
at present regarding the ability of
General White to hold his own.
Capetown, Nov. 2.-(Delayed). ).-Ac-
cording to an undated dispatch from
Ladysmith, the bodyof General Kock,
the Boer commander, wounded at the
battle of Glencoe, captured and taken
to Ladysmith, where he died recently,
has been taken to Pretoria. The dis
patch added that Ladysmith towns
people, including the women, wit
messed the battle of Ladysmith. It
was also said~that resumption Of the
fighting is hourly expected. The Beers
are traversing Zululand, hoisting flags
over British magistrates,
London Nov. 4. 4.-Dispatches today
show that the forces Of the Orange
Free State are at length prepared to
invade Cape Colony. These forces are
not overwhelming but the Dutch in
neighborhood of Colesburg and Burgh-
ersdorp, are exceptionally pro-Boer,
and their support is evidently expect
ed. The objective of this force of
Beers will probably be Naauwpoort,
one of the most important stratgetic
railroad points in South Africa, which
will probably be, it is said, here the
first advanced depot of the second di-
vision of the army corps. Naauwpoort
Is understood to be well garrisoned and
able to take care of itself. Trains
thence to Coleshurg have been almost
suspended. 1t is understood that the
feeling of security at Ladysmith has
been greatly increased since all the
Natal guns have been mounted
there in spite of the knowledge by the
garrison that the Beers made streonous
efforts to cut the railroad south. In
spite of the optimism of military men,
there is a feeling of general anxiety at
Cane Town. The Orange river is re-
ported SO swollen that crafts are i'm
Dassable and the Beers hold the wagon
bridge at Phillopolis as the only means
of crossing.
Burghe ssderp, Cape Colony, Nov. 2,
fdelared1. The Beers crossed the