Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-27
THE BRITISH SITUATION,
Latest Reports Do Not Give Much
Confidence.

London, Oct. 27.-The combined Brit
ish forces under White and Yule in the
vicinity of Ladysmith have been
strengthened somewhat by the arrival
of valuable reinforcements at Durham,
as the distance is not great between the
two towns, and the addition of nine
guns and battalion of rifles will more
that repair the gaps caused by the bat
ties OF Glencoe, Elangslaagte and Reit-
fontein.
Besides this, two more transports
have passed the Canaries and are due
at the cape in ten days.
The total guns there now amount to
forty. the last arriving being rapid fir
ing ones equipped with Sir George
Clark's patent on trial.
But even with these reinforcements
the White and Yule forces are not as
secure as the war office would like, by
any means.
The exact location of the combined
Boer and Free State forces under Jou-
bert is not known, nor their real
strength. The fact that Yule was not
attacked on his march to Ladysmith is
set down by the London papers as evil
dence that the Beers are not anxious
for another battle, but a more likely
deduction is that Joubert Is concen-
trating and thoroughly organizing his
two forces for a fresh and sweeping at
tack.
So far as the British know the last
official reports contain no intimation
that Joubert may not be planning an
assault on two or three different TANKS
but the intentions of the Boer COM
mander will probably be known short
ly.
The belief is general that the biggest
battle Of the war to date, and perhaps
the deciding one, is not far off.
Furthermore, the confidence in the
superiority Of the British arms is not
SO great but that discussion has already
arisen as to what results will follow In
case White and Yule are defeated and
forced to surrender their army, now
England's main one. such as Cornwall
lis was In the American revolution.
The question is, therefore, If the com
bined British forces surrender, would
England then have to admit defeat and
withdraw and leave the Beers to run
their own country?
The official reports today that Yule's
force arrived at Ladysmith after a
heavy march. is puzzling.
Two days ago the official reports ex-
pressed great pleasure over the joining
of the White and Yule forces near
Ladysmith.
II this was done, it was asked, why
are the troops so worn out from the
march of Monday and Tuesday, or have
the two armies just met, the previous
report being sent out as a ruse, hoping
II would get to the Beers and forestal
a fresh attack until the two armies
could unite.
The mystery of the Eighteenth Hus-
Ers is finally cleared in the official re-
port from Gen. White, and there is no
doubt now that the Hussars went too
far in pursuit of the Beers after the
battle Of Glencoe, and We're captured
entire.
The captured force numbers nine Of
hcers. with Col. Moller commanding,
and from 100 to $50 men.
Since the British have some 800 cap
tive Beers, including several high OFF,
GERS, 1t Is likely an exchange will be
effected soon, and the Hussars re-
turned. The troop of the Eighteenth
Hussars reported returned by Core
spondent Stevens proves to be thirty
men, under Sergt. Baldry, sent to cut
off the retreating Beers, after the fight
at Elandslaagte. These also had mar
row escape from capture, and were
chased several miles, and fired at all
the way. They lost three men. whose
horses were shot These are perhaps
captives. and perhaps hiding and wait
ing for chance to return to camp
The other mystery. that of the pecuI-
lar military situation at Dundee on
Saturday, is cleared up somewhat by
the Daily Mails Pietermaritzburg cor
respondent. who on the day the Beers
under Joubert established themselves
on the hills overlooking the town began
bombardment. The residents were or
dered to leave, and he walked forty
miles to the nearest town. arriving in a
pitiable condition, having lost every
thing In his hight.
Dsapite the secrecy maintained by