New-York tribune., 1899-11-23
RoERs swARMING OVER NATAL
LARGE BODIES AROUND EsTCoURT-TELE-
GRAPH LINES CUT.

GRAPH LINES CUT.
,orson Nov. 22-There has apparently been
. communication with Estcourt, Natal, since
.oon ON Tuesday. and the Beers now control the
..uroad thence 10 the Mooi River. Consequently.
:, "a said. momentous developments may be ex-
nsc,ed at anv time The Beers, II seems, are
ror,oinp southward Large bodies Of them are
-snorted all around Estcourt, and parties Of
po<rs arrear even to be threatening Pletermar-
,,,hprr The Beers encamped at Highlands Sta
,,on are we'll supplied with artillery and all
.,.,5ence tends 10 show that the various Boer
.orces are being largely increased by accessions
from the disanected Cape Burghers.
The serious deficiency in cavalry is being felt
-, the British. who are unable TO keep in touch
Nth the mobile Boer forces. whose presence is
hor6lv reported before they are lost sight OF.
orlv 10 reappear at another vital point along the
live of communication. General Hildyards force,
o,,bored AZ Estcourt by the naval guns. can do
,..,e b,,t await an attack until General CIery's
column is capable Of taking the field.
According 10 Cape Town dispatch, General
,,.,bre,.e division has left Orange River and
raocbea Witteputs. half way to Belmont yes
.ardsv Tuesday and advices from orange
p;vsr to-day show that the Beers occupy Bel
~oor, IN force and that the neighbor!ng hills
oro crowned with Boer cannon. patrol Of
rsroers which has returned to Orange River
came Unexpectedly on two Boer laagers. Three
ebrapnel shells burst close to the Lancers. who,
however were unharmed.
Advices from Cape Town say that Mr.. Collet,
The correspondent Of THE London Daily
Grapbc." who was arrested by the Beers while
conveying a message from Mr.. Schrener. the
Premier Of Cape Colony. to President Steyn. Of
the Orange Free State. and who was taken TO
Bloemfontein, has been released and sent back
with President Steyns reply.
II is reported that Mr. Hofmeyr. the Afri-
kander leader, has taken an important step In
the hope OF Fastening the close Of the war. He
&c said 10 have charged Mr.. Sauer. the Minister
Of Public Works to get in touch with the Free
state forces In an endeavor TO arrange that
the Beers shall apply for an arm,stice. The os-
tensible object Of Mr.. Sauer's trip is to induce
his constituents at Aliwal North to remain
passive
Boer reuuisitioning of men and supplies pro-
ceeds briskly on the northern border Of Cape
Colony, but General Gatacre hopes soon to be in
position 10 push the Free Staters back within
their own border. The reoccupation Of Naauw-
poort by the British is the first step in this d.
rection. but strong forces Of Beers are laagered
at Colesberg and threaten further immediate
advance from there.
Durham, Natal, Nov. GA dispatch from the
Moot River says the telegraph line was cut
Tuesday evening near Highlands Station. The
dispatch adds that the railroad station is IN the
possession Of large force OF Beers, encamped
near MItcheson's Cutting. train bound to
Estcourt returned. 1t got only mile and a
half northward Of the Highlands Station.
The Natal Stud Company's farm has been
raided and three hundred blooded horses. valued
AZ $4,000 have been captured.
Durham Nov. 22.-About three thousand Free
State Beers. with guns. are marching from the
west by way Of Fort Nottingham
MORE TRANSPORTS REACH CAPE TOWN.
ABOUT THIRTY-FIvE THOUSAND OF Bull
LER's MEN HAVE ARRIVED THERE.
London. Nov 22-The British transport Kill
donan Castle said to be the largest transport in
the world, which left Southampton on November
4 with 5000 men, their kits, weapons, machine
guns ammunition. balloons, pontoons. wagons,
etc arrived at Cape Town this morning
About $4,000 Of General Buffers army corps
have now arrived. The transport Nubia. with
the 1st Battalion Of the Scots Guards, has sailed