The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-17
THE B0ERS' ARTILLERY
DOES LITTLE DAMAGE IN KIMBERLEY
OR LADYSMITH.
QUESTION OF RULES OF WAR
Raised Between the Boer and British
commander ut Observation-Disclosures
Threatens to Retaliate BY Shooting
SIX Officers Among His Prisoners IT
the Alleged spy at Ladysmith II EN-
ecuted still Greater Delay I'm Trans
mission OF News BY Cable.

1tAAA AfGAaN III al
mission OF News BY Cable.
Their is no additional news regarding
the progress OF hostilities in South AT.
RIGA this morning. except a dispatch
from Mafeking, forwarded by a run
ner. dated October 3lst. which SAYS
that during the afternoon General
CronJe, the Boer commander, sent an
envoy TO Colonel Baden-Powell, un-
der a flag OF truce. 10 declare that he
did not consider the Geneva oonyen-
ton authorized the flag of the Rel
Cross Society to fly from several build
ings at once in the town and that in
his opinion the employment of natives
against whites and the use of dynamite
mines were both opposed to the rules
of war.
Colonel Baden-Powell replied that
the Geneva convention did not stipu-
late as to the number of Red Cross
stations permissible, and that the
Beers were only required to respect
the convent, the hospital and the
Women's laager, all OF which were be-
yond the town limits. h British
commander also pointed out that mines
were recognized adjuncts of civilized
warfare, and that the d~efenses of Pre-
torla were extensively mined. More
over, he reminded General Cronie that
the Beers had fired upon natives. burn
ed their kraals and raided their cattle
and that the natives only defended
their lives n property.
Despite three warnings from Colonel
Baden-Powell the Beers continued de-
l~lberately to shell the hospital and the
Women's laager. The sending of the
Boer was regarded, the dis
patch says, as a mere pretext for pen-
etrating the British lines at Mafeking.
According to the latest reports, the
town is confident of its ability to hold
out until the end of the campaign.
SO far as Kimberley is concerned the
mental condition of the British there
may be judged from the fact that three
weddings have taken place since the
siege began, the last having beer cele-
brated on November Sth.
The great delay on South African ca
bleS, now amounting to practically five
days, and the lack of any definite news
from Ladysmith gives rise to some an
p~rehension, which is only relieved by
the fact that no adverse tidings have
come from either British or Boer
sources.
Nothing is known as to the where
abouts of Sir Redvers-Buller.
Pietermartizburg, November lot
is officially stated that the long range
bombardment of Ladysmith with heavy
guns continues daily, but without seri-
u damage.
London, November IA special
dispatch from Cape Town dated Fri
day, November 10th. says that State
Secretary Reitz has demanded that
General White Immediately release the
supposed spy Nathan Marks, who is
confined at Ladysmith, coupling his
demand with a threat to execute six
British officers.
General Butler reported, according to
the special dispatch, that he was en-
Titled to retain the man until he should
render a satisfactory account Of him
self.
Kimberley, Tuesday, November Z.
via Hope Town, November lO.-The
Beers are now throwing shells at the
reservoir n water works. The
weather is fine.
BEATS BLANCO'S MATANZAS
MULE STORY.
Hope. Town, November 1O.-An I'M
uoiSu ulSpdlCH TeCGlNGQ from hlmDeT-
ley says:
The Beers ceased Smelling November
7th about z o'clock p. m, having fired
at intervals all day long, some seventy
shells, a majority of them falling in
debris heaps n open spaces. The
average range was 8,160 yards. One
cooking pot was injured. There was
a brisk market for fragments, choice
specimens fetching two pounds. The
Beers, apparently, were Smelling at the
extreme range Of their guns. Yester-
days attempt was regarded as ludi-
crous. The weather is splendid. The
bombardment was continued briskly
all the morning, November Sth. One
shells narrowly missed the Dutch
church. There were no casualties. The
shells are of a very inferior quality,
and seemingly fired by amateurs. One,
almost intact, was picked up. II
weighs 81 pounds. The Beers have
been firing from three positions. So far
the Boer activity causes little alarm.
TROOPSHIPS ARRIVING.
London, November LIT was Of
fcially announced this afternoon that
the troopship Britannia has arrived at
Cape Town and that the troopships
Lismore Castle and Yorkshire have ar
rived at Durban.
1t was also officially announced that
the troopship Oriental, which left Lon
don, October 20th,. had sailed from
Cape Town for Durham, and the Donald
Currie Line steamer Carisbrook a
tie, which sailed from London, October
9th with the cavalry brigade staff and
naval reinforcements on board, a ar
rived al Cape Town.
III