Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-03
ARTILLERY DUEL
Between British and Beers
at Ladysmith Continues.
Force Of 5000 Beers Massed Before
Nmber|ey--City Besiegcd.
Marquis Of Lansdowne Defends Course Of
Government in War.

London, Nov. Especial dispatches
from Ladysmith. dated, Thursday. give
further details regarding the renewal
Of the bombardment. The Beers hav-
ing reoccuped their old positions re-
mounted big guns. Their firing was
accurate. but almost harmless. Some
of the troops We're slightly injured by
splinters.
Lieut.. F. G. Ergeton and his men
from the Powerful did splendid work
and quickly silenced the Boer guns.
The Beers acknowledge having suf-
fered heavy losses in men and horses In
the previous battle
Gen. Jan II. NJ. kock, who was second
in command of the Transvaal forces
and who was wounded in the battle Of
Elandslaagte, died in the hospital al
Ladysmith; Monday night
Little light is thrown on the actual
situation by the news at hand. today.
The magnitude Of Mondays fight, how
ever, IS more than ever evident. Wiz
tually three actions We're raging stimuli
taneously but it is obvious thai the in
tention to roll back the Orange Free
State troops was not achieved
Lord Frederick Roberts Of Canadian.
commander of the forces in ireland.
while reviewing the troops at Kilkenny
said: 1T is useless to disguise the fact
that we are engaged in a very serious
war. war which will put our resource $
ard courage to q severe test"
The Daily News has dispatch from
Ladysmith dated. Tuesday. at 1890.
which gives the first independent ac-
count Of the cutting of Of Lieut.. Col.
Cartoons column in the engagement
at Furquhar's farm. The correspond
ent says: THE column was sent out.
Sunday night. made wide detaur and
reached the spurs of the Drdkensberg
before dawn. COL. carleton stormed
the heights with Inc bayonet ana
maintained his position against great
odds until his ammunition was exhaust
Cd and surrender had become inevita-
BILE. Nearly 200 had then been killed
ana wounded
All was quiet at BulUWayo in Rhode
sia. according to dispatches received,
this morning. up to Oct. -. There
had been some skirmishing on the Dor
der. Apparently extensive prepara-
tons are in progress at De Aar. Cape
Colony. for the concentration Of Lieut..
Gen. Buffers army. Thousands of
mules are corral!ed in that neighbor-
hood and transport material is being
hurried up from the south.
According to another dispatch the
naval brigade at Ladysmith has mount
ed four more guns from Durham.
The report comes from Rome that
Portugal will permit the landing of
British troops at Lourenzo Marques
This comedies with the view, strongly
prevalent in some quarters here, that
the British invasion OF the Transvaal
will he made from that point. The
morning papers are divided in opinion
as to whether Sir George Stewart
Whites latest list of casualties i'm
cludes the losses of Lieut.. Col. Garlic
tons column before its surrender. The
preponderance of opinion inclnes that
these are not included.
\ report that "A Boer force with guns
from Koomatipoort is making its way
through Zuluand is held to indicate an
intention of seizing the railway between
Colenso and PietcrmaritZburg, if it has
not already been seized. Armored trains
are patrolling the line.
The real question now is, can the Brit
ish hold out 10 days or two weeks. until
the army corps arrives? Less anxiety
would be felt on this account We're it not
for the fact that every day seems to
bring fresh list of casualties. showing
that much has been concealed as to the
real state Of affairs. At the best. the
coming week must prove a critical ana
anxious time.