The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-24
BATTLE FOUGHT AT BELMONT.
TT WAS ALMOST LIKE THAT AT
ELANDsLAAGTE

opIv the Official Report Has Yet
1000 and Had Five Guns-EngIish
Had slightly Larger FOrce-Me-
tbuen's victory Gained at "A Heavy
Constellation at other Points Is
quiet.
Tondon. Nov "a, a. m.-Before anxiety
nc 10 the situation in Natal has been re-
ueved. there comes news of great battle
at Belmont. This has happened sooner than
was expected.
Only the official account is yet to hand,
but so far as can be gathered the fighting
appears 10 have been almost repetition
Of he battle of Elandslaagte.
A dispatch of the previous day estimated
that the Beers in that vicinity numbered
2WO and that they had five guns, and judg-
ing f1om the absence of any statement to
leved that the British We're slightly su-
per,or in numbers to the enemy.
The Beers had chosen a position with
their customary skill, and were strongly
intrencned. The British were obliged to
carry three ridges in succession.
Nothing is said as to whether the po-
suons so gained were held, and the de-
sructon of ammunition seems to indicate
that the contrary was the case.
While Gen. Methuen can be congratu-
lated upon a brilliant victory, it was gain
Ell at a heavy loss of officers and men.
At Mafeking and Kimberley.
The diary of events at Mafeking up to
Nov Is has arrived. 1t gives little that is
new AT that date Col. Baden-Powell had
no idea of being relieved for a fortnight,
or perhaps for q month. Both Mafeking
and Kimberley, however, seem to be quiet
Later details regarding the Arundel re-
connaissance say the Beers were engaged
IN destroying the railway One account
says that after the retirement, an ambu-
lance rain with doctors was sent out from
NauuwpoOrt If this were so, the British
casualties must have exceeded three
The situation in Natal remains obscure
Fighting is reported at both Estcourt and
Ladysmith 1t was at first reported that
heavy firing had been heard in the direc-
lion of Willow Grange, leading to a belief
that Gen. tildyard had made a sortie La
Ter dispatches announce that Gen. VIII te
sorted from Ladysmith and inflicted a
demoralizing defeat upon the Beers.
II would be premature to give full Gre
dence TO either report. What is quite
certain is that Ladysmith, Estcourt and
Mooi River station are all isolated, and
the Beers seem able after detaching
enough troops to hold three British forces,
4 aggregating 1900 men, to push on toward
Peiermartzburg with some 1900 men.
Disguieting Feature.
disquietins feature of the whole cam
pagn is the fact that all the advancing
generals report meeting the Beers in
Il force,
10 view of the brilliant success of Gen.
Jouoert in partially paralyzing the reliev-
lg columns, the question is being asked
"nat would have happened had he at the
outset of the war, instead of sitting down
before Ladysmith, pushed on to Pieter-
4 martzburg
Gen. Gatacre's reports that the Dutch
are rising, Increases public anxiety as it
a ends to confirm rumors that have long
n been current.
Late Iast evening it was asserted at AL
ueishot nat the sixth division. now in pro
e5sS OF mobilization, will actually be re-
guled t0r active service. Some of the yeo-
mairy agents have been warned to pre-
arc Tor mobilization, owing to the scare
~ ~ oI cavalry in AfIi,a. 1t is also reported
lal an ther brigade of horse artillery wiz
be mablized. 'l'