The San Francisco call., 1899-11-07
NO NEWS, BUT PLENTY
OF THRILLING RUM0RS

LONDON, Nov. THE War Office an
nounced at midnight that no dispatches
had been received beyond those already
made public and that nothing further
would be issued before noon to-day. Thus
not a solitary official item of news has
been posted for nearly twenty-four hours.
This has given rise to a crop Of rumors
that Ladysnith's ammunition Is exhaust
ed that Sir George Stewart White IS NOR
tally wounded; that both facts are being
concealed and that other unlucky hap
penings have taken place. For all Of these
reports there is absolutely no foundation.
At the same time the Britisher has had
little to stimulate him within the last
twenty-four hours except the news or the
confident attitude of the Ladysmtth gaTri-
son and its slight successes last thursday
and Friday.
Advices from other parts of South Az
rica are distinctly unpalatable anu every
thing points to a critical situation in Ma
tai and ,he northern portions Of Cape
Colony, likely TO grow more acute until
General White is either relieved or de-
cisiyely defeated Nobody dares to think
of capitulation. Rather than that he IS
expected. III last resort, If Ladysmith be-
comes untenable, to make desperate ef-
fort to cut his way through the Beers
hack into lower Natal and to join hands
most certain TO be reinforced by the urst
arrivals of the corps from England ana
10 be pressed forward to renew touch
II Is generally assumed however, that
General White, with the aid of the naval
guns will be able to cope with any ooH-
bardment and the idea that tne DOL boTts
could take Ladysmith by assault IS scout
ed as absurd The defense thus depends
on the uninterrupted working OF the ma
val guns. Right here arises the lIilRoI- pr
Tr-hi q
have thrown no light, whether the nav al
guns which themselves only arrived % a.
the last moment, have with theIn sun sun
cjent ammunition to reply 10 d poIIIy@i 8
mont lasting possibly several weeks II
nor il is hardly likely that works exist ; n ~
. small town like Ladysmith LOT cdsIus
the special shell needed tor NJ 'Ie Mention f of Of
stores Of lyddite at Ladysnhilh ioi
charging these shells. /, +bo die
Meanwhile vague remarks ID iS tIio 70
patches point to the impending aT[lVdl ~ u
further big Boer guns from JohahiutGi95- ilti5
burg. to be mounted among the @ nIiIS
within range Of Ladysmith. SUCH ColI-
sfderatiODs explain the anxiety IelI re-
gardfne General Whites movements ana
position, not only by the public, but IN
official circles. -..,-4 hoe
The British retirement TO Eslc0uIL 5aS liaS
given the impression that 1t Is lntehuSu
to make a stand there. Estcourt IS lhe
last important town between the BoeIs
and the capital Of Ladysmith ana IL the
lIOeTS sweep past ESlCOulC
stop them from laying siege to Pietermar-
itZburg, which cannot be expected 70
make a prOtTacted defense, Whlle us IAN
would be a tremendous blow TO BRUSH
prestige throughout South Africa.
Already the British retirement south OF
Colens0 has given the Beers an oppor-
tunity to make a bid for the active sup
pert OF the disaffected Dutch in Natal
by prOclaimng the annexation of the
upper Tugcla section. Thus far the Dutch
cOlonists seem 70 have confined their sym
pathy with the invading Beers to pla-
tonic emotion. Except for surreputious
assistance there is no evidence that they
have yet joined the Beers openly in any
appreciable numbers.
fhe reported British retirement from
Stormberg Junction, however, will be fol-
lowed doubtless by a similar Boer procla-
nation anneXlng the portions Of Cape
Colony lying directly south Of the Orange
Free State. These proclamations, as in
the case Of Bechuanaland, have been and
will be Immediately followed by British
counter prOclamatiOns, but to the eyes Of
the Dutch farmers the presence of one
Boer commando is probably more impress
slve than the expectation of the arrival
Of the whole British army in the more or
less distant future
The British newspapers publish a list
Of the transports due to arrive at Cape
Town from to-day. According to this
some 10000 men should reach the cape by
the end Of next week, but the admiralty
Issued a chilling warning last evening to
the effect that no disappointment must
be felt by the public If the transports
should not arrive at the dates mentioned
dates, which the War Office saws are
based in many cases upon too sanguine
expectations:
The French press has been cheerfully