The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-30
CLOSING ON LADYSMITA
The Beers Prepared For an Attack
on the British Forces.
THE BoERs INDULGE IN LooTING.
Villages and Farms Raided by the Sol
diers of the Transvaal = The Boer
Casualties at Talani Hi Estimated


Casualties at Taiant Hin Estimated
At Five Hundred.
London, Oct. 30.-A dispatch from
Ladysmith says: The Beers are grad
ually closing around Ladysmith. They
have mounted two big guns on Tinta
Ingoni, $500 yards from the British
camp. An attack is expected. 1t is
expected that the Beers will adopt
tactics similar to those pursued at
Dundee-demonstra in one direc-
tion while attacking in another. The
British intelligence department is
completely informed regarding the
Boer plans. The guns planted by the
enemy are said to be those used in
Smelling Dundee.
Roughly estimated the Beers have
1900 men, as against 1900 British,
for the battle of Ladysmith. General
Sir George Stewart White has the bet
ter artillery, but his is of lesser range.
The delay in the Boer attack is re-
ported to be due to the non-arrival Of
Commandant General Joubert's col
umn. This has given the British a
much needed respite after their recent
exertions. Everything, it is now con-
sidered, hinges upon General Whites
resource and judgment. Nothing is
known regarding the progress of de-
fensive works for the protection of
Ladysmith
The natives say that the Boer losses
in the fighting at Reitfontein last Tues
day were at least so in killed and 1850
in wounded. The same correspondent
says that small Boer raiding parties
continue their depredations among the
villages and several farms have been
looted. The rains continue and the
volunteer camp is almost flooded.
A Pietermaritzburg dispatch says:
1t is officially announced that the
British troops who left Ladysmith on
Friday to meet the enemy returned
Saturday after slight brush. the
Beers retiring on Elandslaagte. Dis
quieting rumors are current regarding
the Umvoti country, but the official re-
ports say that all is quiet there.
The following official data are made
public regarding the fighting near Dun
dee:
The Boer losses during Fridays en-
gagement at Talani Hill are estimated
at 500 in killed and wounded.
Saturday the divisional staff was re-
constituted The country was clear of
the enemy eastward, but as big forces
were reported closing in on Dundee
from the north and west it was con-
sidered advisable to move the British
force across the railway to a new po-
sition south of the camp. During the
afternoon the infantry moved out and
began, entrenching new position. All
available transport was utilized to
carry stores.
At n'rlnnls in tho -aftnrnonn tho
enemy opened fire on the entrench-
ments ami the camp from the shoulder
of Impati mountain with two six inch
guns, getting fairly accurate aim over
range of 1000 yards. The soft
ground rendered the percussion fuses
useless. III spite of the falling shells
the wagons were loaded with stores.
Lieutenant Hannah and an artillery
sergeant were killed.
During the night of Oct. % fresh
position was occupied about 1900 yards
from the enemy's guns. News was
OF the victory at Elandslaagte and
division was moved toward Glencoe
junction for the purpose of cutting Off
the retreating enemy, should they use
Glencoe Pass. Two fugitiyes we're cap
tured.
A dispatch from Mafeking, dated
Oct. "a. says: The Beers are in pos
session of the water works and have
cnt off the supply. This occasions no
anxiety, because ample supplies are
available in tanks and wells.
During d sortie this evening the
British encountered the enemy three
miles off to the north. The Beers had
apparently been warned and returned
our fire in earnest with a well handled
machine gun. Us our men had no in
tention of pressing an attack they re-
tired Immediately. Commander sgd
, ney Webb was severely wounded AMI
left LyLind during the retreat, but was
afterwards rescued.
There is no fresh news from the
western frontier. The mines are still
working at Kimberley, where there
are provisions enough to last nine
and fully equipped a town guard OF
400 men. at a cost of G15,000.
The Durham correspondent of The
Daily Mail says: 1t is reported on the
authority of the British residents in
Pondoland that the Pondos are in con-
slant communication with the Beers,
whom they are anxious to help.
The special correspondent of The
Daily Mail at Ladysmith, telegraphnG
Sunday, describes the arrival of the
war balloon there on Saturday. 1t was
welcomed, he said, with wild dances
by the kaiilrs. who regard it as a
deity General White and General 81"
Archibald Hunter both assembled on
Sunday and reconnoitered the enemy's
position.
Predicts Decisive Battle.
Paris, Oct. 30-The Echo De Paris
publishes an interview with DR.. Leyds,
special representative of the South Al