Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-16
IN SUSPENSE.
Paris Report Says that Lady,
smith Has Fallen.
Hardly Believed at London But the
Greatest Anxiety Prevails.
Dispatches oil Nov. 9 Said Assault Was Nc.
man!ariIy Expected.

London, Nov. ia Paris paper,
this morning, fully announces the fall
and capture of Ladysmith, but while
reports from this source no longer
cause any excitement there will be
considerable anxiety here until the war
Office or some Independent version of
the latest developments at Ladysmith
is known.
If the news contained in the Pretoria
dispatch Of Thursday, Nov. 9, by way
Of Cape Town, Friday Nov. 10, is cor
rect, and the Boer dispatches have al
most invariably rendered fairly accur-
ate accounts. it is claimed here that it
implies that a general assault on Lady
smith was pending when Gen. Jou-
bert's report was sent off. Attention is
called to the fact that the date, Nov. 9,
is assumed TO be the date Of Gen.
Whites last pigeon post message, an
nouncing a renewal of the lombard
ment since which nothing has been re-
that the bombardment was suspended
Nov. TO- 1t is claimed that if the Beers
got their forces within 1900 yards Of the
British position it shows they fully
realize the necessity of utilizing the
brief interval before the arrival of the
British reinforcements to make a de-
termined attempt to storm General
Whites position.
To successfully advance so close to
Ladysmith, it is pointed out the Beers
must have been most active in en-
trenching and the nearness of the be-
sieging lines indicates their readiness
for the assault which there has been
a disposition in military circles to be-
81,
undertake. The cessation of the can
nonade mentioned in the dispatch and
the opening of musketry fire implied.
ii is said, that the Beers We're obliged
TO stop their artillery for fear of hit
ting their own men and that nothing
further has been heard from this
movement is regarded here as an in
dication either that the threatened as
sault was postponed or that the result
was indecisive.
A private message from Mafeking
reports that all was we'll there Mon
day. Nov. 6. The details of the fight
ing of Mafeking received by way of
Cape Town relate to the engagement
of oct. .. already reported The story,
however, is pleasant reading the Brit
ish as it shows that the garrison was
tt4tctI uI. tli-DION lSlOHeu ana CONN.,
dent.
Only % Of ID Squadron We're engaged
in the attack. though they were assisted
by the thanking fire of a gun of the Cape
Police. The Beers made a desperate at
tempt to drive back the British and their
rear trenches opened a terrific fire in ev-
cry direction, the flash of the rifles light
ing up the entire position. A hail of bull
lets ratified on the roofs of the houses of
the town. Upon completing a circuit of
the Boer front and a line of trenches, the
British withdrew in Independent lines of
retreat covered by the flank fire from
the Cape Police.
The Beers continued to volley at inter-
walls during the night. The Boer loss is
estimated at 100 killed and wounded. The
Boer commander informed an officer in
charge of a flag of truce that he esti-
mated the attacking squadron at 1000 and
he was not aware that the British force
az Mafeking was 50 large. The Beers
were observed from Mafeking burying
their dead all day long.
The possible revolt of the Basuto
chief Joel, who, it has been announced.
may join the Beers, is attributed to tribal
jealousy. There has been a long feud be-
tween the half-brothers Jonathan and
JOEL the latter refusing to recognize his
brothers nomination as chief Joel there
fore took an anti British side against
in 1850 and committed most
lideous atrocities
letter in the Times written by an Off
,er on board the transport Nubia asserts
nat Thirteen hundred rations of salt
'arrion labelled New York, $780, had to
De thrown overheard, as it was full of
lisease,' adding: "They only salt down
he very worst portions of very inferior
,easts and pigs"
This has aroused storm Of Indignation
gainst the ''rascally contractors and in
apable admiralty transport officers who
flowed filthy salted brisket beef to be
furnished to the troops
The war office has accepted a gift Of
1900 plum buildings for the troops in
outh Africa. These buildings will aggre-
ate upwards of 10 tons in weight
1t was officially announced this after
Don. that the British transport Goorkha
with the 1st Brigade staff, the Sd Bat
alton of Grenadiers and a detachment of
(cOntinupd on paDa oN