The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-11-14
TROOPS IN AFRICA.
Many British Soldiers Are Arriv-
ing at Cape Town.
TwENTY-FoUR THOUSAND THERE

Tho Beers at De Aar Have Got tho
Range of the Mines and Are Con-
stantly Throwing Shells at the Dy-
Mantle Huts, Doing Great Damage.
London, Nov. 1.-THE paucity of
news from the front still leaves the
chief interest centered in the arrival
of the reinforcements. Estcourt dis
patches say that heliograph commune.
cation has been established with Lady.
smith, but so far no news has been
received, the latest date being Nov.
6, which shows that the occupants of
Ladysniti had no news of the outside
world since General French reached
Pietermaritzhurg and that they we're
puzzled at the inactivity of the Beers.
Everyone was confident and cheerful,
but all were suffering the inconveni-
ence of the sie-e, bread selling at three
shilling per loaf.
Colonel Raden-Powell's dashing sor-
ties at Mafeking encouraged the hope
that tie British garrisons along the
western border are all able to hold
out. Cecil Rhodes is employing 5000
men. black and white, at Kimberley
in road making, as remedy for des-
titution.
According to 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. Several Of the latter
have been blown up and the damage
done to the mines already amounts to
many thousands of pounds.
Among the stories from Brussels is
one that General Joubert and Sir
George White have been endeavoring
to negotiate for the capitulation of
Ladysmith, but have failed to come to
terms.
The story of Father Matthews, cabled
from Lorenzo Marques, regarding the
surrender at Nicholson's Mex, is too
vague to be very convincing, but in
military circles it is considered I'M
plea ant reading, and it will be in-
possible to learn the facts until the
officer concerned has been court mar
tailed.
Father Matthews, who has Just ar
rived at Lorenzo Marques from Pre-
toria says with reference to the sur
render of the Irish Fusileers and the
Worcestershire troops at Nicholson's
Mex, that after the mules stampeded
the force got hard pressed by the en-
envy. They would have held out, how
ever. but a young lieutenant, who
thought his batch of ten men were the
sole survivors. without instructions,
hoisted flag Of truce on his own
responsibility. Nothing then remain
ed but to surrender.
The report that the British cruiser
Magicienne had fred on the French
steamer Cordoba raises the doubtful
point whether Great Britain has yet
actually declared war. 1t is believed,
however. that European nations have
been made acquainted with the sever
ance of relations between Great Britain
and the two republics.
An armored train, with company OF
the Royal Dublin Fusileers, started
from Estcourt yesterday afternoon and
reached the break in the railway line.
about half mile from Colenso. with
out accident. Captain Hensley, with
several men, recOnnoitered and met a
native who said the Beers were &C.
cupying the town. While the CONVEX
sation was in progress the Beers open
ed fire from Fort Wyle, but did no in |
jury. Captain Hensley thereupon re-
tired on the train. after which the
FusiIeers volleyed on the fort. As |
there was no response the presump-
ton was that the Beers had retreated
7 he armored train returned to Est
court at O'clock. Captain Hensley
learned from the native that the Beers ]
were numerous on the Ladysmith side
of Colenso.
A dispatch from Cape Town an
nounces the arrival there of the troop
ships Armenian and Nubia. with ar
tillery and infantry. This brings the
total number of achievements to 49,
SO2 of which about 5000 are already
on the way to Durham. Nine other
carrying 1000 men, are
due at Cape Town today.