New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-26
WAR NEWS "DOCTORED."

1ondon oct 25-The Commander in Chief.
Field Marshal Lord Wolseey, has apparently
teen now convicted Of "doctoring" official re-
ports from the front and there is strenuous
demand on all sides for recurrence OF the
earlier practice. when the reports OF General Slr
George Stewart White. the British commande9
in Natal. were given out textually as soon as
received The commandments summary
read in the House OF Commons yesterday spoNe
Of General White having fought succeSs'"' "
t,on whereas General Whites own account puts
an entirely different complexion on the si'ua"o"
and reduces the movement 10 It's proper proper
t,ons and shows that further exciting "'ein-
rence may he expected from the same quarter
ut any moment. n,s
IT is quite evident that the war IN Na'a' "as
or,v borun and that the Beers are by no means
discouraged at losing the first two battles anu
,narv exnerts are satisfied that General Joupei'
,s even now close to the heels OF the BRUSH anu
q decisive action may begin at any hour.
--b. main fact that the British were forced 10
evacuate the Natal triangle whlch the Doe''
naturally rightly claim as a conspicuous su0-
ress and which they may even emphasize by
nroclamation annexing Northern Natai' Is pio'-
ing an unpalatable pill 10 the public whose ap-
petite had been whetted by the previous sue
r.sses which had been assumed TO he greater
no
esuantrv OF the Beers enabled them TO reorgan-
,ze quickly and achieve desired objects ny o'her
methods.
Later estimates OF the Boer losses al hia"uS-
laarte give three hundred killed. Their coolness
bravery and good aim can be judged from the
foot that ont Of seventeen or eighteen officers
With the half battalion Of Gordon Hiehlanders
four were killed and thirteen were wouhoeu
while the casualties among the rank ana NE
were o. per cent during less than three hours
fighting. Lieutenant Campbell, Of the Gordon
Highlanders, has since died from his wounds
A djspatch from Cape Town to-day says that
General White has engaged the orange rec
State Beers who were advancing on Ladysmith
about seven miles northward. and that II was
believed the advance had been repelled This IS
probably another version Of yesterday hghuns'
as already known.
Other dispatches from Cape Town say that 40
vices from Mafeking confirm the statement that
ffty Beers were killed by the explosion OF TWO
trucks Of dynamite purposely sent out by
Colonel Raden- Powell TO draw the Boer fire
The offer Of General Cronje. the Boer COM
uander in the vicinity Of Mafeking 10 Colonel
Baden Powell to exchange prisoners referred 10
Cantain Nesbitt and others Of the armored tram
wrecked at Kraaipan.
Some significance is attached AT Cape IoWh 10
the proclamation issued at Pretoria ny the
Transvaal Government with the view to SAFE
guard British property.
The situation in the West Is becoming comph-
Gated The Boer proclamations OF annexation
and the claims Of q victory at Glencoe are apt
10 induce the Dutch TO side with their country
mon already in the field. 1t is said, for in
stance that the Boer forces have evacuated
vryburg. which. it is added. will be garrisoned
uh
Bundites and Government employees
II Is also believed that the Dutch beyond
Criouatown are only awaiting encouragement
10 declare for the Transvaal.
Advices from Philipstown yesterday say that
the searchlights Of the Kimberley defences were
visible the previous night. and that therefore
Kimberley is still intact
A dispatch from Kimberley dated october u
and brought by a dispatch rider 10 the Orange
River has arrived at Cape Town II says
The position IN Kimberley is unchanged The
siege continues. Yesterday the armored train
found the enemy In the same posltlon IN the
Spytfontein neighOrhood.
The prisoners who captured when the
arrnored train was destroyed by the Beers at
N Kraaipan are now reported alive and well treat
n ed The Beers hoisted the flag of the Trans
Vaal over Nryburg on October j. ana are ABOUT
issuing proclamation that Bechuanaland now
forms a part of the Transvaal. This is regard
ed as a move the part Of the enemy to IN
duce the Colonial Dutch TO Join the repubhc
without mourning the risk hereafter OF the
charge Of high treason. If the Beers are ultl-
mately defeated
Colonel Kekewich, on hearing Of it. immedi-
ately issued proclamation notifying the peo-
pie that. II any British subject were found as
sisting Her Majesty's enemies, either directly or
Indirectly. such person would be punished sum
marily as base rebel Several arrests of Cape
Dutchmen were made here yesterday.
The latest dispatch from Kimberley gives de-
tails Of the arrangements made by the British
commander. Colonel Kekewich, for the defence
of the town The meat consumption is limited
10 pound daily. fire brigade has been formed
and its members are prohibited from joining
in the defence OF the place. their services are
liLelu 70 be otherwise renuired. The toNnsfOlk