The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-11-17
ACTIVITY INCREASED

ACTIVITY INCREASED
London. Nov. 13.-This mornings
news from the seat of war in South
Africa continues fairly satisfactory.
The official cables are not very detailed
with regard to the Belmont incident,
which. except for the loss of Col.
Keith-Falcoher, was not a very serious
affair. There are signs of greatly in
creased Boir activity in Natal and
along the Western frontier. All the
dispatches tend to show that the Brit
ish are holding out ably. Col. Baden
Powell repo'ts that all was well at Ma
felSing on November 6. Ladysmith's
latest date was November 8. While
poning adverse is heard from the lat
ter point and confidence is felt in Gen.
Whites abiIity-previous experience
having shown that the Boer artillery
is not very eifective-it is beginning to
be proved thu the acquisition of artil-
lery, which has destroyed the former
mobility of the Boer forces, has also
failed to give them any compensating
advantage. On the con trary, the re-
verse is the case.
OultSS bilt DUCT utdNN dTIllltTY luSJl-
fies itself by reducing Ladysmith it
will again hamper Gen. Joubert in the
eventual retreat from Natal when Gen.
Butler sends the relieving force. 1t is
believed that the Boer retreat will be
made over the Drakensburg range into
the Zoutpansberg district, where every
preparation for provisioning and main.
tanning the Beers is said to have been
made for the last stand and where it
will be difficult to dislodge them. AL.
ready IL is rumored that they are in
straits for food around Ladysmith and
may, therefore, be obliged to abandon
the siege.
Dispatches from Estcourt say it has
been ascertained that the British have
laid concrete beds for firing the lyddite
naval guns, showing that there is no
foundation for the fear that the lyddite
ammunition at Ladysmith has been
exhausted. 1t is also reported from
the same quarter that some fires have
been seen in Ladysmith, indicating
that the Boer bonn bardment has been
to some extent effective.
A special dispatch from Cape Town
confirms the earlier report that it was
Gen. Butler who ordered the British
evacuation of Stormberg and Naauw-
port, as he considered the frontier line
too weak and too much extended. 1t
is understood, however, that Naauw-
poort will be occupied again as soon as
the advance from Queenstown is
ordered.
A DISPATCH FROM MAFEKING.
London, Nov. 13.-The following dis
patch from Col. Baden-Powell, British
commander at Mafeking, dated Octo-
Der 25 and forwarded by Gen.' Butler,
was posted yesterday evening by the
war office:
All is well here. After two days Smelling and
q heavy bombardment n body OF the enemy
made a general attack on three sides Of the
town which was repulsed by our Maxim fire
The enemy is now drawing of. Our casualties
were slight Lieut.. Llewellyn, with several
armored trains drove of the enemy at Croco-
die pool on Wednesday, killing eight
NEWS THAT MAFEKING WAS SAFE.
London, Nov. i3.-The following has
been received at the war office from the
general commanding at Cape Town
dated Sunday. November ~, afternoon:
Col. Plumcr is reported to have had a success.
full engagement near Tuli on October 20. The
enemy renewed the attack but with ammunition
much damaged by rain ana finally drew off, not
pressing the attack. Mai. Hollawell wires, by
way of Kuruman, t1at on october y Mafekinp
was safe. The Beers have a gI-pounder, but
the gun is doing little damage.