Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-16
ALLEs ED caprbRB 0FLADrsMrrn.
The Rnnor Glsofui,y Pubiiahed Today by a
French NewsDappr.

inc hunor Glaefully Published To-day by u
French Newspaper.
London, Eng, Nov. 15. IF the news
contained Ia the Pretoria dispatch Of
November 9th, by way of Cape Town.
November 10th, is correct, and there Ia
every reason TO believe it is accurate.
as the Boer dispatches have almost In
valiably hitherto rendered fairly ac.
curate accounts, it is claimed here that
It implies that general assault ou
Ladysmith was pending when Gen.
Joubert's dispatch was sent. Atten-
tion is called to the fact that the date.
November 9Th, is assumed to be tho
date Of Gen. Whites last pigeon post
message, announcing renewal of tho
bombardinent, since which nothing has
been received, except rumors from Est
court that the bonlbardmeut was sus-
pended November 10th. 1t Is claimed
that, II the Boers got their forces within
l,5OO yards Of tho British position, IL
shows they fully realized tho necessity
of utilizing the brief interval before
the arrival Of the British reinforce
ments to make a determined atlompt
to storm Gen. Whites position.
BoEns ACTIVE IN ENTRENuHIYo.
To successfully advances SO close tc
Ladysmith, it is pointed out, the Beers
must have been most active IN entrench-
ing, and the nearness Of the besieginl
lines, it is added, indicates their
readiness for tho assault, which, there
has been disposition in military cir
eles to believe, the Doors were not
willing to undertake. 1t must, how
over, have been patent to Gen. Joubert
that Ladysmith would not fail to tho
fire of his artillery and, therefore, he
had no choice but to assault the place
or retirs to the passes of the Drakond-
belg, In the hope Of Involving the pur-
suing British In the intricate fastnesses
of the mountains. The cessation of the
cannonade, mentioned in the dispatch,
and the opening Of nusketry fire i'm
piles, IL Is claimed, that the Beers wore
obliged to stop their artillery, for fear
OF hitting their own men, and that
nothing further has been hoard from
this movement is regarded hero as an
indication either that the threatened
assault was postponed or that the result
was indecisive. Otherwise, 1t Is claimed.
something further would have leaked
out before now.
ALLEGED CAPTURE OF IADYsMITH.
A Paris paper, today, gleefully an
noiinces the fall and capture of Lady
smith, but reports from this source no
longer cause ripple of excitement.
Nevertheless, there will be considerable
anxiety here until the latest develop
inetts at Ladysmith are known.
A private message from Mafeking
reports that oil was well there Novem-
ber 9th. The details of the fighting at
Mafeking, received by way OF Cape
Town and Magaapye, relate to the
engagement of October 25th, already
reported. Tho story, however, is pleasant
reading TO the British, as il shows the
garrison was cheerful, we'll p1ovisioned
and confident.
The possible revolt Of the Basuto
chief joel, who, IL has been announced,
may Join the Boers, is attributed to
tribal jealousy. There has been long
feud between tho alf-brothers Jona-
than and Joel, the latter refusing to
recognize his brothers. nomination as
chief. Joel, therefore, took an anti
British side against Jonathan in 1880,
and committed most hideous atrocities
If he Joins the Beers, 1t is prophesied,
Chiefs Lerothodi and Jonathan and
others are liable to make short work Of
the recalcitrants
: A letter in the Times, written by an
officer on board the transport Nubia,
asserts that 600 ratlons Of salt car.
rion, labelled New York, 1899, had to
be thrown overheard, as II was full Of
disease,'' adding: "They only salt
down the very worst portions Of very
inferior beasts and pigs This has
aroused storm Of indignation against
the rascally contractors and incara.
BILE Admiralty transport officers, who
allowed filthy, salted brisket beef to be
furnished to the troops"
The War Office has accepted gift Of
10000 plum pudd,iings for ths. troops in i,
South Africa. These puddings will