The age-herald., 1899-11-13
Afrikanders Are Bidding for
 Dutch Support.
THE MISTAKE OF BRITISH GuNNERs
Shells Went in Wrong Direction, Kill ing One Member of the Cape Po- lice and Wounding Another.
 Kimberly is Surrounded

London, November 1S.-(4:SO a. m.)-This mornings news from the seat of war in South Africa continues fairly satisfactory. The official cables are not very detailed with regard to the Belmont incident which except for the loss of Colonel Keith- Falconer was not very serious affair.
 There are signs of greatly increased Boer activity in Natal and along the west ern frontier All the despatches tend to show that the British are holding out ably. Colonel BadenPowell reports that all was well at Mafeking on November 6. Lady smiths latest date is November 9. While nothing adverse Is heard from the latter point, and confidence is felt in General Whites ability, previous experience having shown that the Boer artillery Is not very effective. It is beginning to be proved that the acquisition of artillery, which has de- stroyed the former mobility of the Boer forces has also failed to give them any compensating advantage On the contrary, the reverse Is the case.
 Hampered by Artillery
 It is held here that, if the Boers had not been hampcred by the transport of heavy guns and their rescue from tight places, General Joubert might ere this have been in PietermarttzbuTg. Unless the Boer heavy atilery justifes itself by reducing Ladysmith, 1t will again hamper him in the eventual retreat from Natal when Gen. Jou- bert sends the relieving force. It Is believed that the Boer retreat will be made over the Drakensburg range into the Zoulapansburg district where every preparation for provis- ioning and maintaining the Boers is said to have been made for the last stand and where it will be difficult to dislodge them. Already 1t is rumored that they are in straits for food around Ladysmith and may, therefore, be obliged to abandon the siege.
 Dispatches from stcourt say it has been ascertained that the British have laid con- crete beds for firing the Lyddite naval guns showing that there is no foundation for the fear that the Lyddite ammunition at Lady smith has been exhausted. It Is also re- ported from the same quarter that some fires have been seen in Ladysmith dndica,t- Ing that the Boer bombardment has been to some extent effective.
 A special dispatch from Cape Town con- firms the earlier report that it was General Butler who ordered the British evacuation OI S5IrOMUSTS, dsS uio CoLSiuCi Oo chO iioh- tier lne too weak and too much extended It is understood, however, that Naauport will be occupied again as soon as the ad- vance from Queenstown is ordered.
 Want Dutch Support
 Strong bids are being made by the Boers tor the support of the Cape Dutch, but without much success, although it is be- Meved that the Dutch farmers, especially In Picquetberg district, are armed with Mausers and are watching the course of events before joining tine Boers. From 6tromberg it Is reported that the Free State forces are walking slowly toward the Dror decht, with a view of attacking Queenstown and tting off the towns in the northern districts of Cape Colony. The following telegram, undated, has been re- ceived from Kimberley via Cape Town, by a dispatch rider, via Hopetown, Novem- Der 1, morning:
 Tn yesterdays fight the Boers made their appearance near Carters farm. The British opened fire with a Maxim ,the en- emy replying with rifles. By mistake our fire went down into the valley, killing a member of the Cape police and wounding another. The British finally retired on the reservoir, where two guns were brought up to shell the Boers. The result is not yet known.
 Meanwhile some of the Boers had oc- cupied Hampers dam, firing with one gun on Ottos Kopje, but, not getting the range, they did no damage. It is believed that six Boers were killed in the first fight.
 ''The Boers now surround Kimberly in great numbers and are bent on lifting cat tie and harrassing the British. New alarm signals were sounded at 10 o'clock this morning, the enemy having been sighted in great numbers and close to our outposts. hhey fired on patrol under Major Peak man, which engaged them, but the firing was at long range The only casualty was the wounding of Major Ayleff, of the Cape police.
 Fired on Convicts
 ''The enemy lifted forty cattle north- east of the sanitarium, subsequently, firing eight shells in the neighborhood of Fels- mead's farm at Wentworth. They did no damage and retired. Later they fired on number of convicts who were working near the sanitarium, and eventually went off with a large number of cattle and don- keys.
 ..The Boers are well mounted. and from