The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-18
The Movement of British Troops
Kept Profound Secret.
Relief of Kimberley.
BOERS NEAR ESTCOURT
Another British Retreat May Be Necss-
sary Before Reinforcements Can Bs
Put in the Field-Aliwal North in the
Hands OF the Boers--Annexation Has
Been Proclaimed.

London, Nov. 1S, a. m.--The alb
sence Of news Of any serious move
ment against Ladysmith seems to show
that the Beers are repeating the STRAIT
egy adopted by them at Dundee when
they appeared in front and endeavored
to effect surrounding movement
This seems to have been their object
possible that relief should reach there
for some days to come it is not unlike
ly that further retiring movement on
Moei river will be made. Major Wolf
Murray has returned to PietermaritZ-
burg to take charge of the line of COM
munication. and Colonel Young of the
Royal artillery has taken command at
Estcourt The forces now az PETER
maritzburg are too weak to attempt to
reopen communication. Artillery and
cavalry especially are badly needed
and it necessarily win take long time
to obtain either, owing to the difficulty
of entraining and the necessity of al
lowing the horses to rest after the long
sea voyage. From the indiscriminate
distribution of the various divisions at
unexpected points It seems clear that
'AS Vi 'Sii1i I'ldAS Ol pGIlGIdl IullGr
have been wholly changed. Not the
slightest word regarding the new plans
has been allowed to escape.
1t has been reported that the Belmont
fight arose owing to the advance of a
British column to relieve Kimberley,
but this seems incorrect, all of the
most reliable accounts representing the
engagement as growing out of a re-
connoissanee. The announcement of the
arrival of General Methuen at Orange
river, however, doubtless means that
arrangements are in a forward state
for an advance from that point. if the
advance has not already begun. KIM
berly was safe on Friday, November 10.
Last Tuesday Boer force of 600 en-
tered Aliwal North, Cape Colony, hoist
ed the flag of the Free State. and de-
clared the town and district to be a
part of the republic. The activity of
the Beers in this locality would almost
point to the. necessity of insuring the
safety of the column marching to the
relief of Kimberley from an attack
from this direction or from Bloemfon-
tein.
In view of the reticence of Colonel
Butler. it is almost useless to speculate
regarding the report of a movement to
relieve Kimberley. 1t can only be in
tended to withdraw the Beers, if pos
sible. from Natal. The object of the oc-
cupation of Aliwal North, 1t is UNDER
stood, is to prevent the large quantity
of ammunition at Herschel being for
warded to jamestown and thence to
Queenstown. The Beers have notified
the inhabitants that no looting will be
allowed. There are reliable reports of
mysterious movements of Free State
commands along the Orange river, and
developments are expected. Every
thing tends to show that the relief of
Kimberley could only be safely under
taken by strong column.
Advices from Maseru, Basutoland
dated Wednesday, November s. saws
that Chief Joel, terrorized by false as
sertions that the British have been
beaten in every engagement and are
being driven out of South Africa, is
preparing to join the Beers, believing
this is the winning side. The Beers are
said to have supplied him with guns,
which they have accepted with specious
promises.