The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-10-26
KEPT BUSY EXPLAINING.

British Public Clamorous' for Authentic
South African News.
LONDON, Oct. 25.-The war Office here
has been attempting to explain the
summary of the situation in Natal fur
nished by the commander-in-chief of
the forces, Lord Wolseley, to the
house of commons on Monday. His
statement is now said to have created
unnecessary alarm, and it is asserted
that what the official note called Gen.
eral Yule's retirement" would be more
accurately described as a change of
position" for tactical reasons, and that
the alarm for the safety of the wounded
is not justified. It is further explained
that the wounded could not be moved,
but the fact that they had to be left to
their fate while the British forces made
q strategic movement to the rear shows
the suspense of the house at the alb
sence of subsequent news is amply JUS
titled and that the heavy fighting on
Friday and perhaps Saturday is only a
prelude to still sterner work. In some
quarters, the view is taken that the Sec
ond attack of the Beers has actually oc-
Cured and was so successful that Cen
eral Yule's withdrawal was imperative
and urgent to the extent of compelling
him to leave his hospitals in the hands
of the Beers, while the more sanguine
express the opinion that General Yule,
far from retreating, has in reality ad-
vanced to meet the attack threatening
Glencoe, leaving Dundee behind, safely
sheltered from Boer assault.
Many Contradictory Rumors.
In the absence of authentic news
there are a number Of contradictory
rumors afoat, but the most reasonable
Interpretation of the various reports
seems to indicate that there was some
artillery practice at Glencoe Saturday
and Sunday, but no fighting at close
quarters. As, however, communica-
ton between Glencoe and Ladysmith,
which was thought to have been re-
stored by the British victory at Glands
laagte has again been broken by the
destruction of the railroad at Wach-
bank, north of Ladysmith and between
Elandslaagte and Glencoe, the difficult.
ties of the British commander in Natal,
General Sir George Stewart White, in
reinforcing Glencoe have been enor-
mously increased and until the British
forces at Ladysmith and Glencoe are
united and the main body Of the Boer
force broken, the situation must remain
disquieting for the British.
Newspaper CRITICISM.
The newspapers here sharply criticize
Lord Wolseley's summary Of the Natal
situation. They say it has a distinct
resemblance to the statements Of Span
ish ministry when preparing their
countrymen for news Of the disaster at
Santiago. This, however, is probably
an overstrained view. There is no de-
nying, however, the great suspense and
anxiety existing which has been in
creased by the report in circulation,
purporting to emanate from official
quarters to the effect that the Beers
have secured the service Of $4,000 ma
tives. 1870 '
The vague and varied estimates OF
the Boer loss and the absence Of any
thing official on the subject are also
arousing misgivings as to whether the
beaten enemy suffered proportionately
to the disastrous losses of the victors.
One of the most disquieting stories
comes from Ladysmith. It is to the
effect that an Englishman who arrived
there from Dundee on Sunday evening,
after escaping through the Boer lines
4 on the previous night, said that the
enemy was then Smelling the camp and
town with heavy guns, while the shells
of the British were unable to reach the
enemy's batteries. Consequently, the
man is said to have added, the camp
was shifted mile or SO, in order to be
out of reach of the Beers, who were
firing on the magazine in the town.
A dispatch from Kurarnan. dated
Oct, 10, via Orange river. says dis