The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-22
Fighting 1T TLiDYSMTTH
British Sally Out and Destroy a Sig
Beer Camp.
RETREAT ORDERED BY! BULLER.

General White is Completely Shut In ~
Ladysmitll-Anerican Women in Lon-
don Fit Out a Hospital ship-coienso
. Evacuated by tho British AN Ex-
change Of Prisoners Made.
LONDON CBy Cable) The War once is
Informed that the British troops have been
withdrawn from Colenso, south OF Lady
smith, and concentrated further south
The evacuation OF Coleuso Is most sert-
Gus matter for the British in Natal. as 1t
not only testiaes to the complete invest
ment OF LadYsmith by the Beers, but makes
the relief OF General Sir George Stewart
White an extremely difficult operation.
Colenso is the point where the railway
from Ladysmith crosse, the Tugela River,
which Is now in food. The town itself Is
Of small importance.
The seriousness OF the evacuation, how
sver, lies In the fact, that Commandant
General Joubert, while completely invest.
ing Sir George White at Ladysmith, can
seize this Tugela bridge and by destroying
the bridge and railway can prevent any
;eliet expedition reaching Sir George
White for some time. 80.
Many delayed dispatches are arriving,
telling Of the situation at LadySmith. a:
dispatch direct from Ladysmith says:
"While the naval brigade was pounding
away at the Boer batteries party OF Brit
ish cavalry and volunteers were sent out.
Creeping round the hills, they surprised
and captured one Of the enemy'a camps.
Another dispatch describing the fight,
Ing says: "The artillery duel at dawn, I'M
which the Boer guns were silenced, was in-
tended to occupy the Beers and to enable
Sir George Stewart White to achieve his
chief purpose, the capture OF the Boer.
camp behind Bester's Hill. For this purs
pose the lnncers, hussars, Natal Carbineers
and Natal Border Rifles started under
General French at sunrise and got within
striking distance before the enemy We
aware OF their presence. A field battefN
was also sent, and 1t secured q good posi-.
tion, commanding the enemy's camp, which
was large one, laagered with army wagons
and other vehicles. 81
"Bester's Hill was we'll fortified and proc;
vIded with good guns. At nine O'Clock tho
British opened fire, the Boers replying
with spirit, but bad aim. Tho British
quickly sent forty-two-pound she'll into
the camp, infllctlng terrible loss and
cavalry then stormed the position, the
Beers feeling precIpitately, leaving many:
dead and wounded, as we'll as the whole
camp and equipment, in the hands Of the
British.
"This success will upset the plans Of the.
Orange Free State commanders and, pos.
sibly, will prevent them giving the British
further trouble from the west"
The large British camp at Stofmberg
Junction has been broken up by the order
OF Sir Redyers. Butler. EVERYTHING, In.
:luding guns, stores, tents and the usual
paraphernalis OF a camp, was removed to-
Queenstown about fifty miles OF fStormberg.
The impression Is that the removal OF che
Stormberg camp may, result In large
number OF the colonial Beers joining the
enemy. The English section Is utterly
upset at the withdrawal OF the British
troops and the serious news from Natsi.
Deserters from both the army and navy
continue to give themselves up IN order to,
be returned to. their regiments and ships
for active service. Scarcely q day passes
without the London magistrates having to
deal with half dozen or so cases OF this
character, and as the deserters walked out
OF the dock In charge Of q military escort
they often turn to the magistrate with o..
hearty "God bless you" or "Thank you, !,
SIR" Many OF them come from foreign
countries, Including the United States.
The possibility OF Lady Randolph Chur.
chill accom- panylng the American hospital
ship Maine to the Cape, OF Good Hope has
aroused much interest here.
The American women who are equlpplng
the Maine are making particular enorty to
have It understood that the movement Is
entirely devoid OF political Significance as
the Red Gross knows no politics, and Will
treat Brlton and Boer alike. The fitting
out Oft vessel is attracting wide atten-
tion, and the efforts OF the American wom-
en- are receiving the heartiest recognition.
The heavy losses among the British of.5
fcers in Natal has led The Military jour.
nal to suggest that the sword be abolished,
not only on account OF its uselessness, but
also because fits glitter attracts the aim OF
an enemy and indicatesthe officer.
Transports have just been secured Tor
the Woolwlch HoWitzer Brigade, which
will be hurried to the Cape. The brigade
has 10, 900 rounds Of ave-inch lyddlte shellss
awaiting it.. According to the estimates,
q single shell, falling into compact body. 4
will Kill. 800 men.
General Joubert sent In Major @. z. Kin.
.caid, Of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, AMI nine
wounded prisoners. Eight Beers were sent
out In exchange, no others being at 70
travel. Lieutenant Egerton, OF the Power.
full, is dead. He was promoted TO tho rank
Of commander for services In the aeld Just
before he died. The officer was nephew
OF the Duke OF Devonsh1re.'