The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-19

NEW YORK. Nov. lS-A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
News is beginning to dribble in with
details sufficient to form an outline
OF what has happened at Ladysmith
since the recommenoement OF the bom-
bardment on November Z. Severe en-
gagements appear TO have taken place
on the 9th. 10th. and l4th.
Lastly. early on the morning Of the
18th. heavy firing was heard in Est
court from the direction Of Ladysmith.
A Times dispatch states that the town
is being shellsd night and day and
hard pressed, the BOers doubtless
s;raining every nerve to crush the de-
fense and either force General White
TO surrender or abandon his stores
ane baggage and make a desperate ef-
fort to cut his way through their
lines.
The relieving column is slowing be-
ing formed at Pietermaritzburg where
General Hildyard appears TO be the
senior officer. The greater part Of the
first division is now in Natal.
The Beers have quickly followed up
their success in entrapping a hundred
Dublin Fusiiaders and Natal volun-
to..Ts. by advancing in strong force to-
ward Estcourt They were reported
Friday to be within FIVE miles Of the
town with eight guns and there were
unconfirmed rumors toward midnight
that the British garrison might be
compelled to fall back. General Hid
yards second brigade had sent him to
Durham with the Coldstreams from
the FIRST brigade and the sixteenth brig
ade and a Fusilier battalion from the
third division. and all had arrived.
from last reports. except the Cold
streams and the Second DevOnshires.
This with a strong infantry force. OF
which the Second West Yorkshires had
reached Es,court.
The garrison there was weak in artil-
lery. unless the naval brigade had
brought up its guns from the ships and
on this account it might not b. pre-
pared for attack from the Boer guns
These batteries Of field artillery We're
disemharked from the Armenian at
Durham yesterday, but time would be
required for carrying up the country
ana getting the horses into condition
after their long voyage.
Cool military experts to whom I have
been speaking cortended that every
thing could not be done in a day; that
the men and stores must be taken of
the ships, that arrangements must b.
made for feeding the troops and ami.
mails. and Pietermaritzburg was seven.
~ miles inland.
The war office yesterday ISSUED Gen.
eral Buffers account Of the armoreC
train ambuscade, confrming-pres dis.
patches. minimizing The affair, but ad
mitting thar 100 men were missing
Comment upon this episode in th'
clubs was bitter, although everyone
had a good word for he gallantry Of
Lieutenant Winston Churchill.
The only cavalry reserves at Cap'
Town are the Aldershot company o.
mounted infantry with a machine guT
section and force Of 600 Lancers ar
irving yesterday. The admiralty ha!
something to answer for in sendinl
cavalry and feld artillery on SLOW
ships, but scant provision has beer
made by the military staff for curinl
good scouting against an exceedingly
mobile enemy consisting mainly o
mounted infantry.
The tone Of the war office authori
ties remains confident and it is esu
mated that General Butler knows wha
is going on in Ladysmlth from day t
day.
Meanwhile there are many rumori
from Boer sources respecting the con
tinuance Of the bombardment from n,
hills and investment Of the town with
In narrow range Of fire. Publit
anxiety is increasing with lack 0,
authentic news from Ladysmith, bu