The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-20
WAR PROBLEMS.
Strengthening Of Estcourt
Considered a Hard
Task.
WILL TRY 10 CALL OFF CROHJE
Beers Reported Attack Was
Simply a Reconnais-
sance.
WILL TRY TO CALL OFF GROEJE
fBy Cable % lne Associated Press. ]

LONDON, Nov. 20 1S9s-The present
week, according to the dispatches from
the front, ought to see change In the
defensive tactics hitherto maintained by
the British in South Africa. 1t Is said
tilat the task allotted to General Clery,
that Of relieving Ladysmith, will tax his
generalship to the utmost The Beers
are developing a great deal of strength
in the neighborhood Of Estcourt, and
General Joubert is reported to be moving
southwark himself in order to direct the
movement to repel the British advance.
after; It would seem, attempting to iso-
late Estcourt This latter movement is
already in progress. The Beers practical
" surround the town. Another small
Boer force was discovered at Willow
Grange, south Of Estcourt, yesterday,
Sunday evening. Major Thorneyeroft,
with a detachment of infantry, made a
sortie and engaged the Beers. but with
no material result.
The so-called Boer attempt to rush
Estcourt on Saturday was apparently
merely a reconnaissance. resulting In the
Beers obtaining the information which
they desired, namely, that Estcourt is
fairly strongly held and has naval guns
in position The Beers then withdrew out
of range, but remained at points conn
manding the exit from the town.
General Clery is lamentably deficient in
cavalry and artillery. though attempts
are being made to replace the former by
a Uitlander mounted infantry, Of which
about 1900 have started for the front.
The popular anticipations here regard
ing the relief of Kimberley appear too
sanguine. The British force is not yet
ready and when it starts it will have
dangerous road to follow. every foot OF
which will probably be contested II the
British attempt direct advance. So, il
is said, possibly instead Of rushing d.
rectly for Kimberley the British will ad-
vance across the frontier in the direction
Of Bloemfontein, which may thus be
threatened. This. it is claimed, would
draw off General Cronje's forces and en-
able the railroad to be restored.
From the presence of General Butler
near General Methuen at Orange River, il
Is anticipated that the main advances will
be made on the west side. But, it is add
ed. unless General Gatacre is able to adj
vance simultaneously and push back the
Beers who are occupying so many points
OF rht SOuIn Orange LNlsSls liAo iisasi "a
lines of communication will be seriously
threatened.
General Buffers orders to his officers on
the subject of their equipment are taken
to mean that the officers are TO carry
RIFLES, like the troops.
1t is reported today that the Beers have
attacked Muruman and sustained heavy
loss. But it is hard to conjecture why
the Beers would waste ammunition on
village, far out on the plains. defended by
two hundred police.
It is further asserted that the Beers
have no serious intention of invading
Cape Colony, but intend to concentrate
their scattered forces with the view OF
opposing the British advance across the
southern border of the Orange Free State.
The presence of the Beers II 50 many many
Of the towns In Cape Colony has caused
Sir Alfred Miner, the Governor, to pro-
claim martial law In thos places.