Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-14
MORE CANN0NADING is HEARD
Heavy Engagement is Said to he on
somewhere i'm the Vicinity of
LaIysmith.


(Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
EsTCoURT, Nov. 9.-(New York World
Cablegram-Special Telegramo-1:35 D. NJ
Loud and continuous cannonading was heard
around Ladysmith today from daylight till
IL CLOCK Evidently heavy engagement is
proceeding The result is unknown
IL is quiet at Estcourt. A British force
reconnotered toward Coenso with an ar
mored train. detachment entered the
village, exchanging shots with the Beers
hoialng the fort, with no loss. The renewed
attempts to heliograph Ladysmith have been
successful.
The Standards Capetown correspondent
wires under date OF November 0: Thanks
10 the courtesy OF the admiralty officials /
was enabled today to interview the Boer
prisoners on board the Penelope off Simons-
town. The most striking feature in the con-
versation of the prisoners is the complete
confidence they express in the ultimate sue
cess Of Boer arms. They admit the brilliant
courage shown by our men at Elandslaagte
but declare our troops outnumbered theirs
and that they themselves were captured
solely through faulty generalship. Even as
matters stand the prisoners absolutely de-
ride the idea of the British flag ever being
hoisted in Pretoria"
According to a dispatch from De Aar the
Beers at Kimberley have got the exact
range of the mines and are constantly
throwing shells at the dynamite huts. Sew
eral of the latter have been blown up and
the damage done to the mines already
amounts to many thousands of pounds.
Chances of zioers Lesseninm.
LONDON, Nov. 13.-A special dispatch
from Durham Natal, dated Thursday, No
vember 0, evening, says: Native runners
who have just arrived here from the
Drakensburg district report that the
Beers have suffered a severe defeat at Lady
smith this morning. The Boer guns were
silenced after four hours fighting, during
which the Boer losses were heavy: No de-
tails have been received"
The simultaneous attacks on Ladysmith
Mafeking and Kimberley, which were opened
Thursday, manifest full recognition by the
Beers OF the fact that every day lessons
their chances of a successful onslaught on
any of the three British strongholds. Cen
eral Joubert's chances of reaching Pieter-
maritzburg can be said to have vanished
This is already reported to be admitted by
Colonel SChiel the German officer command
ing the Boer artillery, who is supposed to
have been largely the author OF the Boer
plan of campaign, and who, in an interview,
is alleged 10 nave said:
THE Boer intention was to have captured
Pietermaritzburg and then to dictate terms
But all hope of accomplishing this must now
be abandoned"
There is no doubt that, from the British
point of view, the general situation in Natal
is rapidly improving Nearly 5000 troops
reached South Africa during the last forty
eight hours and by the end of the week from
5000 to 900 more will be added to the Brit
fish strength in Natal, These will probably
be pushed forward to Estcourt. bringing the
British force there up to $4,000 men and
making general attack on Ladysmith by
General Joubert very hazardous.
Mny Advance Monday.
As the cavalry and artillery belonging to
General Methuens division will not have ar
rived by then, the advance from Estcourt
may be delayed. But II II is deemed essential
10 open communication with the beleaguered
town at the earliest possible moment. Gen
eral Methuen, 1t Is believed may decide TO
replace the regular cavalry and artillery by
the Natal and outlander mounted forces and
the naval guns, in which case, II is asserted
II ought to be possible to occupy Coenso and
stretch out a hand to General White by
Monday though. 1t is added, the course to be
followed by General Methuen must neces
sarily be dictated entirely by official knowl-
edge of General Whites position and re-
sources, and the experts hope General Meth
uen will be able to await the concentration
OF the whole division before advancing and
thus have a better chance of dealing a tell
ing blow at General Joubert's main army.
which, It is asserted, will be caught be-
tween two British forces and compelled
either TO fight general action or retire
Adyces received here today announce that
the British troop ship Oriental with sew
enty-iye officers and l,21S men on board. has
arrived at Capetown.
EuuIgsh ssan French stenner