Fair play., 1899-11-25
THE WAR IN THE TRANSvAAL.
The situation 1T Various Points of
Interest as Reviewed from
London.

London, Nov. 81, ) Il. m.-The re-
ports of heavy fighting at Ladysmith
last Wednesday have not been con-
firmed. On the contrary the most re-
liable adviccs from Estcourt indicate
that there was nothing more than 4
desultOry cannOnade. Probably the
rumor of 4 serious engagement grew
out of the fact that the Beers threw
few harmless shells late Tuesday
night, leading to the supposition that
an attack was imminent. Nothing,
however, happened Wednesday.
The Boer Invasion Of Cape Colony.
Beyond the fact that the Beers are
daily receiving fresh reinforcements
and supplies. there is practically moth
ing new from the front.
The Boer invasion of Cape Colony
continues steadily and rapidly. There
are 800 Beers at Cotesburg. and news
has reached East London that Lady
grey. near Aliwal North. has been de-
serted by the British and is now in
the hands of the enemy.
Severe Fighting Near MnfckinE.
\ Pretoria dispatch announces the
arrival there. among the British pris-
oncrs. of Maj. Haldane. Lieut.. Brochie
and Lieut.. Hallwey. 1t also declares
that the British. on Sunday, made two
unsuccessful attempts to roust the
Rusetenberg commando from n posi-
tion near Mafeking, and that severe
fighting took place.
German Officers and Artillerymen.
From Delagoa Bay comes the report
o: the arrival of more German officers
and artillerymen, who have volun-
teered to serve with the Transvaal
forces.
The war Office scmi-of1icially asserts
that all news received from Africa has
been published with the exceptions of
demands of the renewal of stores, war
material and the like.
There is an uncontirmcd report that
more troops have been ordered from
IEdia to the Cape.
Plans Slowly Unfolding.
The plan of operations on both sides
is slowly unfolding itself. Gen. Jou-
bert is evidently moving south to pre-
vert. if possible, the junction of the
british relieving force with the forces
AT Estcourt and Ladysmith, while on
the Orange river border the Boers are
believed to be concentrating at Doni.-
erpoort TO oppose Gen. Buffers ad-
vance. 1t is said 5000 Beers have al
ready laagered at Donkerpoort.
The English Plan.
The English plan seems to be a
throe-fold ady9nce from Durham ~
Ladysmith. from Orange river TO KIM
berly and from East London. by way
of Queenstown. to Burghcrs,lorp. Gen.
Eullcr has wired the commanding off
Ger ;it Queenstown announcing the dis
patch Of Gen. Grcaiacrc. with the first
battalion of the Seventh brigade. to
East London. This was the place from
which il was originally intended that
Gen. Greatacrc's column should start.
Thus il is possible that Gen. Buffers
first plans have suffered less modifi-
cation than some have supposed.
r" Keep the Beers Occupied.
Gen. Greatacrc will he able to keep
the Beers on the Orange border sufii-
cion,iy occupied To preserve Gen.
Mcthuen from undue molestation. es-
Z ''cially if rumors from various sources
are well founded that describe the
Free State burghers as in no wise ell
thEsiastic for fighting.
Gen. Bullcr's Headquarters.
II has been reported that zen. Butler
will take up his quarters at DE Aar.
but this seems doubtful. De Aar,
where IA vast amount of stores has
been collected. is the base for Gen.
MorhuenS advance. and Gen. Butler
may have been there for a dav or so.
IT is believed, however. that he still
has his headquarters 1T Cape Town.
May March Across the Free state.
Although Kimberly is supposed to
be the objective of Gen. Mcthuen,
many military critics are of the opin
ion that his advance will he not TO-
ward Kimberly, but across the Orange
Free State.