Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-17
TROUBLE AHEAD FOR THE BRITISH.
Disaster at Chievely Puts New Aspect
on Campaign.

Disaster at ChieveIy Puts New Aspect
on Campaign.
LONDON. November 1.-THE serious and
unexpected disaster to the Estcourt ar
nlored train, on the eve Of the forward
movement for the relief of Ladysmith, has
apparently convinced the British that the
advance would be contested step by step
The Beers are seemingly swarnIug south
of Colenso, while a large force has come
from the neighborhood of Ladysmith
much larger force mas arrived from else
where, and probably Will turn out to be
Gen Schalkbergen's corps. The Beers are
evidently straining every nerve and bringing
up every man to reduce Ladysmitn before
the British relief force is ready. Their op-
eratiOns southwark show considerable bold
ness and correctness of strategy If their
aim is TO isolate Estcourt by cutting off
communication with the MOoi river where
there is an important railroad bridge, every
thing points to the belief that the officer
commanding the relieving column will have
q more difficult task than is generally as
sumed. In front he will have broad river
to cross IN the presence of the Beers; on
his right and, probably in his rear, Will be
hostile bodies who are continually demon
strating their superior cunning.
British Loss at Chievely.
The official account of the disaster to the
Estcourt armored train show that a hun
dred missing men are now probably already
on their way to Pretoria to swell the large
number of British prisoners already there,
besides a score of wounded, demonstrating,
It Is claimed, that the British must have
encountered big odds, as all accounts agree
that the small British force fought with
the utmost bravery Winston Churchills 8
brilliant behavior IS compared with the
gallant action in the Tirah campaign which
won the Victoria cross for Lord Fincastle,
he also acting as a newspaper correspOn-
dent at the time. The railroad men Of Est
court have already forwarded dispatch to
the general manager of the railroad, ex-
pressing admiration for the coolness and
pluck of young Churchill, to whose efforts
they attribute the saving of the engine and
tender and wounded. and asking the man
ager to convey their admiration for the
brave men.
Rumor of Another Disaster.
There are rumors of another disaster to
an Estcourt armored train, and it is re
ported that twenty-five volunteers, who
formed the escort, are missing. But there
is no confirmation Of these reports.
When definite news from Ladysmith Is
available, ii will doubtless be found that
the garrison has been having a lively time.
Nevertheless. not much credence should be
paid to the stories of trainlOads of Boer
wounded taken toward Pretoria as the re-
suit of a crushing defeat sustained at the
| hands Of the British. Experience has shown
that these Kaffirgrams, even though ema-
mating from missionaries, are not trust
worthy. However. there seems no doubt
that there have been some sharp affairs.
Heavy rife firing followed by an explosion
was heard in the direction Of Ladysmith
befovre daylight Thursday, Indicating a
night surprise. and, possibly, the explosion
Of a magazine.
The transports already officially an
nounced today as having arrived at Cape
Town. carried the following troops: The
Malta-MOunted Infantry Reserves and the
| Coldstream Guards: total seventy-fve Off
GERS and 1857 men. The City of Vienna
| The cavalry brigade staff, the 18th Ian
GERS and field hospital total fifteen Off
| GERS and 80 men. The City of Cambridge
| The Second Scottish Rifles and field hos
| pital total f0rty-five officers and 965 men.
a dispatch from Pretoria gives the min
ister Of mines interim announcement of the
gold output for October as a total of II $40
ounces against 42S.556 in September and
4s910s IN August. The dispatch, adds
somewhat Ironically, that some of the com
panIes have not worked the full month
Beers Force In ZuIuIand
The Standard and Diggers' News an
nounces that 5000 Beers are marching
through Zuzuland. It also says that a de-
serter from Ladysmtth reports great .anx-
iety among the troops to escape. and that
the provision stores are loaded on wagons.
ready for the flight of the British.
The war office has received the following
CAPE TOWN, Thursday. November 16-
Evening.-Have received from HiIdyard
Pietermarttzburg, a telegram, dated No.
vember Is, OF which tho following is the
purport;
The officer commanding the troops at
Estcourt reports, at midday, that an ar
mOred train left EstcOurt this morning with
a company Of the Dublin Fusiliers and a
company of the Durham volunteers. North
| of Frere they encountered party of Beers
and began to withdraw. While retiring
some of the trucks We're derailed The
DUblins turned out and advanced toward
| the enemy, while the rest Of the train ap-
pears to have returned without them to
EStcOurt.
The officer commanding the troops re-
| ports that he was sending mounted troops
| in order to cover their withdrawal but that
about 100 are missing.
British May Abandon Estcourt.
The London Times publishes the follow
ing dispatch from Pietermaritzburg, dated
| Wednesday, November Is:
"Estcourt is short of artillery. The gar
risOn may retire to the Mool river, south
Beers should advance. The enemy's inten-
ton is 10 keep back the British relieving
| column"
According to the Pietemaritzburg cor
respondent of the London outlook, rumors
| are current in the Natal capital that the
Beers contemplate a retreat 1t is need
less, however. to attach Importance to such
| reports, which are spread in all probability
| with view of Turing Gen. White if pos
| sibIe to abandon his defensive attitude.
The West Yorkshire regiment, the
| Prince of Wales own" commanded NV
| Col. Kitchener, brother OF Lord Kitchener
/ of Khartoum, has arrived at E,stcourt from
Durham. The troops there sleep in their
I boots, aud the utmost vigilance is main
tained. and It is rumored that some impor-
| tant movement Is imminent