Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-11-16

Estcourt. Natal, NoY. II. - Heavy
firing is now proceeding in the direc-
ton of Iadysmith. 1t began at day
break. Some reports are so hluch
heavier than any previously hearu as
10 lead to a general belief that the
British heavy naval guns are again
active. The safe arrival at Lady
smith of Lieut.. Smith, Of the Flfth
| Lancprs, shows that communication
with the garrison is possible. He was
anxious to join his regiment and start
ed heEce, accompanied 10y a Natal po-
liceman. They succeeded in traVerslng
the Boer lines. .
A party which rode out several
| miles about noon to observe the bonn
bardment of Ladysmith, could see
Long lom," a fOrty-pounder posted
on the railway side of Bulawar, firing
at intervals of six to eight minutes.
Another gun was observed in operation
a little distance away. Puffs Of smoke
were discerible on the opposite side,
showing that Ladysmith was with
standing n big bOmbardment. The To-
cality of the town was nothing but a
huge cauldron of smoke.
Increased BOer Activity.
London. Nov. 14.-There are signs Of
increased BOer activity in Ma
tai and along the western frontier.
All the dispatches tend to show that
the British are holding out ably. Col.
Baden-Powell reports that all was well
at Mafeking on Nov. 6. Ladysmith's
latest Gate is Nov. 8. While nothing
adverse is heard from the latter point
and confidence is felt in Gen. Whites
ability-previOus experience having
shown that the Boer artillery is not
very effective-it is borne in mind to
be proved that acquisition Of artillery,
which has destroyed the former mo
bility Of the British forces, has also
failed to give them any compromising
advantage. On the contrary the re-
verse is the case. 1t is held here that
If the Beers had not been hampered by
the transport of heavy guns and their
rescue from tight places Gen. Joubert
might ere this have been IN Pietermar-
Itzburg. Unless the Boer heavy ar
tillery justifies itself by reducing Lady
smith, it will again hamper him in the
eventual rNtreat 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 Soulspansburg district. where
every preparation for provisioning and
maintaining the Beers is said to have
been made for the last stand I'M
where it win be difficult to dislOdge
them. Already it is rumOred that they
are in straits for food around Lady
smith, and may, therefore, be obliged
to abandon the siege.
Beers Were Driven on.
London. Nov. 14.-The following has
been received by the war office from
the general commanding at Cape
Town, dated Sunday afternoon: "Col.
PlUmer is reported to have had q sue
cessful engagement near Tuli on Oct.
26. The enemy renewed the attack,
but with ammunition much damaged
by rain and finally dew off, not press.
Ing the attack. Maj. HollaweH wires
by way of Kuraman that on Oct, 81.
Mafeking was safe. The Beers have
a ninety-fOur-pounder but the gun is
doing little damage"
Beers RepuIsed mt Mafeking.
London, Nov. 14.-The following dis
patch from Col. Baden-POwell, COM
mander at Mafeking, dated Oct. %,
and forwarded by Gen. Butler. was
posted by the war office: "All is well
here. After two days Smelling and
a heavy bombardmen. a body of the
enemy made a general attack on three
sides Of the town, which was repulsed
by u Maxim fire. The enemy is now
drawing off. Our casualties were
slight. Lieut.. Llewellyn, with several
armored trains, drove off the enemy at
Crocodile Pool on Wednesday, killing
eight.