The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-10-26
Real State Of Affairs Differs Con-
siderably From the Official
Statements.
The Great Percentage of the Cor
don Highlanders Put Out Of
Service.

practice, when the reports Of General
Sir Stewart White, the British com.
mander in Natal, were given out textu.
ally as soon as received. The comman'
der-in-chief's summary read in the
house of commons Tuesday spoke of
General White having fought sue
cessful action, whereas General Whites
own account put an entirely different
complexion on the situation and reduces
the movement to its proper proportions
and shows that further exciting intelli-
gence may be expected from the same
quarter at any moment.
War Has Only Begun.
It is quite evident that the war in
Natal has only commenced and that the
Beers are by no means discouraged at
losing the first two battles, and many
experts are satisfied General Joubert is
even now close to the heels of the Brit
ish and that decisive action may be
fought within day or two.
The main fact that the British were
forced to evacuate the Natal triangle,
which the Beers, naturally, rightly
claim as conspicuous success, and
which they may even emphasize by a
proclamation annexing Northern Natal,
is proving an unpalatable pill to the
public, whose appetite has been whetted
by the previous success which had been
assumed to be greater than they were
really, as the determination and gal
lantry of the Beers enabled them to
quickly reorganize and achieve desired
objects by other methods.
Boer Eyesight Still Good.
Later estimates of the Boer losses at
Elandslaagte give 800 killed: Their
GOODNESS, bravery and good aim can be
Judged from the fact that out of II or
IS officers with the battalion of Cor
don highlanders, were killed and -
wounded, while the casualties among
the rank and file were 81 per cent dur
ing less than three hours fighting.
Lieutenant Campbell of the Gordon
Highlanders has since died from his
wounds.
A dispatch from Cape Town says that
General White has engaged the Orange
Free State Beers, who were advancing
on Ladysmith, about seven miles north
ward and that it was believed the adj
vace had been repealed. This is practi-
cally another version Of Tuesdays fight
ing, as already known.
General White has officially notified
the war Office that the bullet had been
extracted from General Symons' wound
and that he was doing we'll.
Other dispatches from Cape Town
say that advices from Mafeking con-
firm the statement that so Beers were
killed by the explosion Of two trucks of
dynamite, purposely sent out by Col
onel Baden-Powell to draw the Boer
fire.
The offer Of General Cronje, the Boer
commander in the vicinity of Mafeking
to Colonel Baden-Powell, to exchange
prisoners referred to Captain Nesbitt
and others Of the armored train wrecked
at Kraaipan.
Complications in tho West
Some significance is attached at Cape
Town to the proclamation issued at
Pretoria by the Transvaal government
with the view to safeguard railroad
property.
The situation in the West is becom
ing complicated. The Boer proclama
tons of annexation and the claims of 6
victory at Glencoe are likely to induce
the Dutch to side with their country.
men already in the field. It is said, fo1
instance, that the Boer forces have
evacuated Vryburg, which, it is added
will be garrisoned by the local Dutch
among whom are prominent Bundite
and government employees.
1t is also believed that the Dutch be
You'd Griquatown are only awaiting en-
couragement to declare for the Trans
vaal.
Boef Forces Number 100. 900.
According to Brussels dispatch, DR.
Leyds, the diplomatic agent of tn
Transvaal in Europe, has issued a state
ment that the Beers have now nearl,
100000 men in the field, made up a
follows:
Boer regulars $4,000, artillery 1, 1850
police 1,470; Orange Free State troops
including outlanders, $4,000; Nata
Beers 5000, Bechuanaland and Rhode
sian Beers 5000, foreign legion soc
Americans 4,0O0,. Germans 5000, Dutc]
Belgians 1000, Irish ], 900, Scandina
vans 900, French, Swiss and Italian
20O: The: Jews, it appears, are dom
police work. ~ -.
A special dispatch from Pretoria, VII
Lorenzo Marquee, dated Oct. "a, pu,
ports to give an interview with one 8
the highest Transvaal executives, VII
IS quoted as having urged that Will
the Boer successes were yet unimport
ant, there was still time for an AMIGA
ole settlement, as he believed the Boe1
had been misled as to the real issue.