Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-11-06
FIGHTING AT
LADYSMITH
White Yet Able to Assume Or
fensIve-War office Rails
Inc Troops.
BOERs ARE GAINING RECRUITS
Have Larger Forces than First
Anticipated and Buffers Task
VIII Not Be Easy.


New York, Nov. GA dispatch TO
the Herald from London says: The
Telegraph's Cape Town correspondent
under date of Nov. 1, cables: A cor
respondent of the Times telegraphs
that a large commando of Cape Beers
attacked Norvalspont at 5 o'clock this
morning and then surrounded the
Cape police who being greatly out
numbered by the enemy were obliged
to yield to the demand for surrender.
The telegraph station at the bridge is
in the hands of the enemy.
London, Nov. 6.-The war Office is
sued the following from General Bull
Ter yesterday: Cape Town.-Com-
mandant at Durham sends the follow
ing received from Ladysmith by
pigeon post, dated November 3. Yes
terday General French went out with
cavalry and field artillery and effec-
lively shelled the Boer laager without
loss on our side. Lieutenant Eyer
ton of the Powerful, is dead. Gen
eral Joubert sent in Major G. S. Kin
caid, of the Royal Irish Fusileers and
nine wounded prisoners. Eight Beers
were sent out in exchange, no others
being fit to travel Colonel Beckle
hurst with the cavalry, field artillery
Imperial light horse and Natal mount
ed volunteers Was engaged today
with the enemy to the southwest of
Ladysmith. The fighting lasted sew
eral hours. Our loss was very small.
The bombardment of Ladysmith con-
tinued yesterday and today, many
Boer shells being pitched into the
town. Our troops are in good health
and spirits, and wounded doing we'll
The message ends. l think General
French's name is given by mistake for
Becklehursts. AS beleaguered White
is able to take the offensive and shell
the Boer camp is seems Ladysmith is
not so closely besieged as was sup
posed. The movement of Beers into
Cape Colony is beginning to awaken
the British fear that they have greatly
underestimated the forces they will
have to meet, and General Buffers
task may not be SO easy as antici-
pated. 1t is becoming apparent that
British calculations, based on the 10y
atty of the population, are hopelessly
at sea or there has been a serious
leakage of Dutch sympathizers from
the Natal and Cape Colony. Other
wise there is no accounting for the
large forces of Burghers reported in
all directions. The war Office, conse.
quently, is being urged to have more
troops in readiness for all possible de-
mands. Advices from Cape Town un
der date November 5th, say that mar
tial law has been proclaimed in the
districts occupied by British troops
between the Orange river and Deaar.
Premier Schreiner sent circular to
magistrates and others warning all
persons against the statements to the
effect that parliamentary institutions
and constitutional government would
be lost or detrimentally affected. He
adds that the proclamation of martial
law is only matter of temporary
urgency in some districts and does not
compel Burghers to participate in the
deplorable hostilities.
Prince Christian Victor, of Schles-
wig-Holstein, grandson of Queen Vic
toria and captain in the Kings Royal
Rifles, and other officers, left Cape
Town for Ladysmith to replace the
dead and wounded.
Durham, Natal, Nov. 3.-(Delaved)
1t is said the Colenso garrison saved
all stores, tents, kits. ETC.. The Beers
numbered about 5000 men compris-
ing fresh corps of Orange Free
Staters. An armored train did splen-
did service taking a detachment of
OuUllu Il uSllCCio " ICllSFC luC Oubly'
ing fort garrisoned by volunteers.
Reassuring reports have been receiv-
ed regarding the position at Pieter.
maritzburg.
Cape Town.-Dispatch from Ma
sera Basutoland dated Friday evening
says since Magistrate Lagdens warn
ing that their interference with Ba
sutos would cause uprising, Beers
have been letting Basutos cross the
river into Basutoland Natives how
ever, continued to complain of being
robbed of their savings by the author
tiles. There is no Disgusting from the
natives that British suffered a reverse
at Ladysmith.
Election Notes Condensed.
Senator Hanna declared today that
Nash would be elected governor, but