The Worthington advance., 1899-11-03
10 FIGHT Y ER 7. SOON.
British and Boer Forces Massed
at Ladysmith.

Latter Outnunbers Former by About
5000 Men-A Decisive Engage
ment Sure to Occur-Anx- !.
E iety inLondon. +
l.adysmith, Oct. 3O.-The Beers are
gradually closing around Ladysmith.
They have mounted two big guns on
Tinta IngoRi, 4,5oO yards from the
British camp. Antattack is expected. !
The British intelligence department
ls completely informed regarding the
l3oer plans. The: enemy have planted
two gums, said to be those used in she'll.
ing Dundee, ON copje 21a miles away,
in the direction Of Ehndslaagte.
The British believe the Boer plan is
to crush LAmysmith garrison with a
part of its force, while other burghers
overrun Natal, striking Pietermaritz-
burg and Durham. Beers from Will
moth are reported to be menacing Dur
ban.
Causes Anxiety.
London, Oct. 30.-The position at La
uysmlth, without being alarming, is
sutficiently dangerous to excite anxiety.
Evidently the Beers are trying to re-
peat their Dundee tactics. Roughly es-
timated, they have 1900 men, as
against $4,000 British. Gen. Sir George
Stewart White has the better artillery,
but his is of lesser range. The delay in
the Boer attack is reported to be due
to the nonarrival of Commandant Gen.
Joubert's column. This has given the
British much needed respite after
their recent exertions. Everything, it
is now considered, hinges upon Gen.
| Whites resource and judgment. Moth
ing is known regarding the progress of
| defensive works for the protection of
Ladysmith.
JOubert in Command.
London, Oct. 30.-The Daily Mail pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Pietermaritzburg, dated Sunday: NPa-
trolls from Ladysmith report that there
are four large Boer. camps within a
radius of ten miles, extending in semi
circle northeast of the town. Evident
ly the enemy is concentrating ALL his
forces. Co1nmandant Gen. Joubert is
in supreme command. One Boer lager
has a. Red Cross tent carefully posted
in conspicuous position. The British
had several skirnishes with the enemy
Sunday. Railway communication is
still intact.
Bomba rdment Of Mafelxing.
! Cape Town, Oct. 30.-A dispatch from
Mafeking, dated October 23, says: A
bombardment of the city was COM
menced by the Beers at 7:4O o'clock this
morning from range of 21s miles by
a battery of three krupp guns throw
ing seven, nine and twelve-pound ex-
| plosive shells. At the beginning the
craftsmanship was erratic, but ulti-
mately the gunners got the range and
sent number of shells into the town.
Comparatively little damage was done.
| A convent which had been converted
into hospital was the chief sufferer,
three of the shells striking the build
| ing. The ammunition used by the
Beers was apparently of an inferior
quality. There were no casualties. The
British returned only one shot, which,
being we'll directed, disabled one of the
enemy's guns. = "''@ .'."'>T
Refused to Surrender.
After three hours the Beers sent an
envoy to ask if the town was prepared
to surrender. Col. Baden-Powell replied
in the negative, but the shelling of the
town was not resumed.
A later dispatch from Mafeking,
dated October "a, says: The Beers are
in possession of the waterworks and
have cut off the supply. This occasions
no anxiety, because ample supplies are
available in tanks and wells. During a
sortie Tuesday evening the British en-
countered the enemy three miles off to
the north. The Beers had apparently
been warned and returned our fire in
earnest with well-handled machine
gun. AS our men had no intention of
pressing an attack they retired imme-
diately. Commander Sydney Webb was
severely wounded and left behind dur
| ing the retreat, but was afterward res
cued by Trooper Stevens. The conduct
of our men was splendid. The enemy's
loss could not be ascertained.
Losses Of the Beers.
Cape Town, Oct. 30.-A dispatch to
the South African News from Pretoria
says the Boer loss at Elandslaagte was
36 killed and 81 wounded.
According to dispatch to the Cape
Times from Ladysmith the natives say
that the Boer losses in the fighting at
Reitfontein last Tuesday were at least
80 in killed and 15O'in wounded.
The Boer losses during Fridays en-
gagement at Talani hill are estimated
| at 500 in killed and wounded.
To Mobilize More Cruisers.
London, Oct. 30.-It is reported from
| Plymouth that the admiralty is about
| to mobilize 20 cruisers.
Farmers Flee to the City.
London, Oct. 30.-Farmers in the
| neighborhood of Ladysmith have left
their farms and stock at the mercy of
the Beers and are congregating in the
! town.
| The wife of Gen. Jan Kock has arrived
at Ladysmith under flag of truce to
nurse her wounded husband. All the
unwounded Boer prisoners have been
sent to Durham to prevent any attempt
at rescue.
j. Slain by a Watchman.
Lincoln, ILL.,, Oct. 3O.-John Peter, a
recently discharged private Of company
| D, Thirty-ninth United States volun-
teer infantry, and native of Oakland,
| CAL, was shot and instantly killed by