Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-09

George Stewart White, British COM
mander in Natal, has capitulated to
the Beers.
BoERs DESTROY A RAILROAD.
London, Nov. Cit appears that the
Beers have destroyed the railway at
Knapdaar, IS miles south Of Bethulie.
--S---s.--
London, Nov. This mornings
news carries public knowledge with
respect to hostilites in South Africa
very little further than the evacuation
OF Colenso and Stormberg. Those
movements, taken together with the
admiralty announcement that the pub
lie must not be disappointed should
the transports not reach their destina-
ton on the dates indicated in the pub
lished lists, may indicate some change
of plan necessitated by the bad posi-
ton Of affairs in Natal. 1t was ex-
pected that the army corps would land
near Cape Town for an invasion OF the
Transvaal through the Orange Free
State, but the landing may now be di-
verified to Durham, Natal, whittier it is
fully expected Lieut. Gen. Sir Butler
will go within week to investigate
the situation for himself. There is also
a possibility Of a movement through
Delagoa bay and the admiralty notice
regarding the transports simply means,
in all likelihood, that news OF their
movements is to be suppressed.
Reports that Rosmead and Naauw-
poort are also to be evacuated seem to
corroborate the idea that Gen. Buffers
first business will be to relieve Sir
George Stewart White.
1t is believed that the Orange Free
State commanders now have 11,OO0 men
concentrated against Kimberley and
on the Free State southern frontier.
Opposed to them are 1000 British
troops. The towns which lie open to
their attack are Aliwal North, Burgh-
ersdorp, Steynberg, Barkley and Mol
teno.
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg,
dated Friday, reports that railway
communication with Ladysmith is
severed, the Beers having effected a
Judgement at Nolthorpe, south OF Lady
smith about seven miles,
| All the Cape railways are now in the
hands OF the military authorities. Five
hundred tons Of food stuffs were seized
on board the steamship Maria, at Dur
ban, consigned to Delagoa bay for the
Transvaal.
There are renewed rumors of another
engagement at Elandslaagte with
severe Boer losses.
The American hospital fund is in
creasing steadily. More than ell,OoO
is now in hand, including $1,000 from
Mrs. Samuel Newhouse, and alOO each
from Mrs. Eugene Kelly and Mrs. c. P.
Huntington. The executive committee
decided that the whole personnel OF
the ship, doctors, nurses and crew,
shall come from the United States, the
only Englshman being the chief
medical officer. An allied fund will be
opened in Paris. Mr.. Harges, Of
Drexel, Harges & Co., has issu ed a call
for meeting to form committee.
Everything points to critical situa-
ton in Natal and the northern por-
: tons Of Cape Colony, likely to grow
more and more acute until Gen. White
is relieved or decisively defeated. No.
body dares to think Of capitulation.
Rather than that he is expected, in the
, last resort, If Ladysmith becomes unten-
able, to make desperate effort to cut
his way through the Beers back into
lower Natal and to be reinforced by
the first arrivals Of the corps from En-
gland and to be pressed forward to re-
new touch with him. 1t generally as
sumed, however, that Gen. White, with
the aid Of the naval guns, will be able
to cope with any bombardment, and
the idea that the Beers could take
Ladysmith by assault is secuted as alb
surd.
The British retirement to Estcourt
has given the impression that 1t is in
tended to make a stand there. Est
court is the last important town be
tween the Beers and the capital of Ma
tai, and il the Beers sweep past Est
court nothing can stop them from lay
ing siege to Pietermaritzburg, which
cannot be expected to make protract
ed defense, while Its fall would be
tremendous blow to British prestig'
throughout South Africa.
THE BoERs LOSE HEAVILY.
. Pietermaritzburg, Nov. THE ma
tives report that the Beers received
, crushing blow at Ladysmith Thursday
This is not officially confirmed, but |
Q is generally believed. A dispatch say
, that the British forces at Ladysmith
it now appears, were engaged twic
Q successfully on Thursday and on Fri
. day. 1t Is reported that the cavalr.
3 scored heavily and that the infantr,
!, uu great execution with Uayonets, tn
/, Gordon Highlanders carrying the prin
cipal Boer position at the point of tn
bayonet. The Beers lost heavily IL
!, killed and wounded and number sur
rendered.
DYNAMITE MAGAZINE EXPLODED.
a London, Nov THE Daily Ma
!. publishes the following dispatch fror
: kimberley, dated Wednesday, by wa