The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-23
WHEELER WRITES Of CONDITIONS
NOW EXISTING IN THE PHILIPPINES
To Abandon the Islands After Gaining Possession Would Leave
Condition Of Anarchy and Make Matters Worse.

tne brftlSn Almost entirely on the defensive.
A correspondent of the Natal Advertiser
says Boer shell fell within a few yards of
the detachment of their infantry, that the
shells did little or no damage, and that fir
ing continued for about half an hour at
intervals of from three to five minutes. Ac-
cording to this account the British troops
prepared with the utmost promptitude and
advanced under cover wherever possible.
The British artillery was in position be-
mind the Motel, where General Barton and
his staff We're being accommodated. Major
Thorneycroft's mounted infantry moved to
cover on ridge on tine enemy's left. The
Devonshire regiment and the Royal Welsh
Fusileers occupied the trenches.
There was but libtle fire, The correspond
emit says, but the enemy possessed at
least one Howitzer, with a range of five
miles, besides several six x-pounders. Prince
Christian Victor has been appointed to the
staff of Captain Percy Scott, ae1e Durtoan
commandant
Pretoria, November 22-The following
dispatch has been received from the Boer
headquarters near Ladysmith: 1.-THE field
cornets of the Pretoria command are re-
porting that British gun carriages and
some horsemen have been heard moving
last night In Ladysmith. Our outposts
observed the British to sortie toward Lom-
bard's kopje and Bulawa hill, where our
maxims opened fire. The range was too
great ana therefore our artillery DeSdH
shelling, which drove the British back.
About daybreak the British batteries fired
upon our positions. Two burghers were
wounded.
'It is supposed that the object of the
sortie was to relieve the Estcourt force,
who had sent an urgent message to Lady
smith requesting aid. The burghers cap
tured the messenger, but finally allowed
him to proceed"
1t is reported that the Natal police have
captured number of Transvaal dispatch
riders
In his latest report General Joubert says:
81 am cutting off the retreat of the Est
court troops to Pietermaritzburg, and driv-
ing them back on the Tugela river"
1t is also reported that the Boer COM
mander with the forces at Ladysmith has
"comprehensively surveyed the different
points from which the fall of Ladysmith
can be insured.
London, November 22.-Sr Charles Dixie,
member of parliament for the Forest of
Dean, division of Worcestershire, speaking
at Chelsea this evening said:
''When the British forces enter Bloem-
fontein some declaration regarding the fu-
ture will have to be made. If the peace to
be offered is one in which Cape Colony
can concur, the Free State government will
abandon the parliament element in the
Transvaal forces.
1.-The settlement, IN order TO paclIy south
Africa, as Canada has been pacifed, must
be a settlement in which the constitutional
position of Cape Colony and Natal must
play the leading parts The big guns and
forts must be got rid off,
Pretoria, Tuesday, November H-The Of
fetal returns of the Transvaal casualties
since the outbreak of the war show that
ninety have been killed and 200 wounded, of
Whom a number have recovered and re-
turned to the front. Newspaper reports
from Cape Colony say a general rising OF
the Dutch farmers is imminent in Natal
and that the colonial Beers in those dis
tricts which have been proclaimed republic
can territory have already Joined the Boer
forces.
Pretoria, Tuesday, November 21.-General
Snyman, who is outside Mafeking, reports
heavy firing Monday at 8 p. m. They
briskly fired with French cannon. The
Beers replied bombarding the British forts
with good effect. The loss of the British Is
unknown One Boer was wounded.
Durham November 22.-About three
thousand Free State Beers, with guns, are
marching from the west by way of Fort
Nottingham.
Durham. November 22.-The Beers opened
with artillery on Mooi river camp from the
north, but without casualties to the British.