Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-23
ESTE CURT is NUW ISOLATED
Beers Surround the Place and swarm
southwnrd-Reportc Efforts
Toward Peace.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EnOrh
Toward Peace.
LONDON, Nov. 22.-There has apparently
been no communication with Estcourt, Natal,
since noon Tuesday and the Beers now con-
troll the railroad thence to the Mooi river.
Consequently, momentous developments may
be expected at any time. The Beers 1t
seems, are swarming southwark. Large
bodies of them are reported all around
and parties OF Beers appear to be
threatening Pietermaritzburg The Beers
encamped at Highlands station are well sup
piled with artillery and all evidences tend
20 show that the various Boer forces are
being largely increased by accessions from
the disaffected Cape burghers. The serious
deficiency in cavalry is being felt by the
British, who are unable to keep in touch
with the mobile Boer forces, whose presence
is hardly reported before they are lost sight
of, only to reappear at another vital poin'
along the line of communication. General
Hilyard's force, anchored at Estcourt by
the naval guns, can do little but await an
attack, until General Clery's column is
capable of taking the field.
According to a Capetown dispatch General
Methuens division left Orange river and
Belmont, yesterday, and advices from orange
river today show that the Beers occupy Bel
mont in force and that the neighboring hills
are crowned with Boer cannon.
A patrol of lancers which has returned
to Orange river came Unexpectedly on two
Boer laagers. Three shrapnel shells burst
close to the lancers, who, however, were
unharmed.
bot. rs,v to r.fx
The British transport Kldonan Castle,
said to be the largest transport in the
world, which left Southampton November 4
with 5000 men, their kits, weapons, machine
guns, ammunition balloons, pontoons,
wagons, etc, arrived at Capetown this morn
ing. About $4,000 of General Buffers army
corps have now arrived.
The transport Nubia, with the First bat
TALON of the Scots Guards. has sailed from
Capetown for Durham
The transport Carinthia arrived at Cape
town yesterday.
Advices from Capetown say Mr. Collett
the correspondent of the London Daily
Graphic, who was arrested by the Beers
while conveying a message from Mr.
Schreiner, the premier of Cape Colony, 20
President Steyn of the Orange Free State
been released and sent back with President
Steyn's reply.
Wants Beers to Ask for Armistice.
1t is reported that Mr.. Hoffmeyer. the Afri-
kander leader has taken an important step
in the hope of Fastening the close of the
war He is said to have charged Mr..
Sauer. the minister Of public works, to get
in touch with the Free State forces in an
endeavor to arrange that the Beers shall
apply for an armstice The ostensible OBJ
ject of Mr.. Sauer's trip is to induce his con-
stituents at Aliwalnorth to remain pas
s!ve.
The Boer requisitioning of men and sup
plies proceeds briskly on the northern bor-
der of Cape Colony, but General Gatacre
hopes soon to be in a postian to push the
Free Staters back within their own borders.
The reoccupation of Nauuwpoort by the
British is the first step in this direction,
but strong forces of Beers are laagered at
Colesburg and threaten a further imme-
diate advance from there.
No Complaints of American Meats.
Various officials of the British admiralty
have been interviewed by the Associated
Press regarding the London Daily Chron-
icle's bad beef assertions, and they say they
the quality of food furnished on the trans
ports. The chief of the victualling depart
ment said:
1.-The first we heard of the matter was
through the press, and though doubtful of its
accuracy, we have set on foot inquiries on
the subject The only specific instances
mentioned is that of the Nubia. We bought
large quantities OF provisions in New York,
but we have there responsible agents who
are not likely to accept rotten meat or meat
which has been already refused by other
governments. 1t Is understood the term EN-
balmed beef is applied in the United States
to canned meats. We have not bought any
OF these. Our supplies are confined to salt
beef and pork packed in casks, commonly
known at sea as salt horse the same as
served in all the navies of the world for
years past. We have not so far heard
word against this form of food and judging
from the health of the men in the United
States navy during the war with Spain 1t
must have agreed pretty well with them
at is barely possible that our soldiers,
who are not accustomed to salt food, are not
altogether satisfied with this diet and are
perhaps inclined unofficially to declare 1t
unfit for consumption. We have yet to learn
that the provisions purchased in the United
States are not all as represented, and though
investigating the allegations We have no rea-
son to suppose we will discontinue purchas-
ing in the United States when circumstances
demand outside resources"
The British transport Montezuma has also
arrived at Capetown.