Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-21
GREAT BRIDGE BLOWN Up.
Beers Succeed in Destroying Struc-
ture Over the Tugela River,
Near Colenso.
ADVANCE OF BRITISH EAGERLY AWAITED
Latest News from Ladysmith Drought
by Runner Says That Gen. "hi'e
Reports All Well and Boer shelis
Doing Little Damage Anxious
Feeling SubsidinE at London.

Doinr Little Damage Anxious
Feeling SubsidinS at London.
london. Nov. 20.-The war office has
the following dispatch from
Gen. Butler:
"cape Town, Friday. Nov. H. : Report
from Kimberley, Saturday, NoVeiapef H.
says all well there.
"Reports from Ladysmith, Sunday, NO
yember u, and Monday, November 10, say
all we'll there
Big Bridge Blown Up.
Lorenzo Marques, Delagoa Bay, NOV.
eo.-The official Volkstem reports that
the great bridge over the Tugela RIVER
near Colenso, was completely de-
stroyed Wednesday, November Is.
The Beers are looking forward with
great interest to the impending en-
counter, between Colenso and Est
court, with the advancing British.
About 600 burghers, with cannon,
are guarding the Helpmakaar pass,
1s miles from Dundee. to battle
any strategical attempt to reoccupy
Dundee by the Observation-Disclosures
town route.
Estcourt, Natal, Nov. 20.-A runner
arrived here from Ladysmith bearing
dispatches from Gen. White, who re-
ports all well there. he adds that
the Boer shells have no effect. Gen.
White recently made a sortle ana
drove the Beers from their guns po-
sition. The British did not lose
no, Tho town is healthy,
1t is rumored that the Beers have
occupied the village of Weenen, 25
miles hence. What advantage they
hope to derive therefrom is not
known.
The bombardment of Ladysmith
was continued almost daily with big
guns. The Beers endeavored on tues
day. November IA, to make closer
investment, but were repulsed, Gen.
White following this up with sortie,
which drove the Beers from all their
positions with considerable loss.
The Beers are reported to be serl-
ously short of provisions.
Feeling Easier in London.
London. Nov. 2O.-The salient feature
of Saturdays war news is the arrival
of a runner at Estcourt from Ladysmith
and information from Ladysmith dated
Wednesday. November IS, that the in
habitants were cheerful and that the
only recent casualty was volunteer
killed in tent. The sortie referred to
in the runners report occurred Tues
day. November IA. The Beers were
driven from their guns and five were
killed and two wounded. There has
been no news later than this to justify
the belief that the comparatively cheer
full situation then prevailing at Lady
smith has in any way been altered; so
there has been visible relaxing OF the
extreme tension which existed all over
the country, owing to the long absence
of reliable news from the beleaguered
garrison.
The sortie referred to by the Lady,
smith runner is probably the same as
reported from Gen. Joubert's camp
mentioning heavy fighting between the
Free Staters and British.
1t is pointed out that while the posi-
ton at Ladysmith may momentarily
be less unsatisfactory, there will be nj
place is relieved. Ominous statement
are coming by mail that the British re
treat from Dundee was largely due I
the shortness of ammunition, and a
this, it is thought, is probably tn
plight at Ladysmith and elsewhere,
seems to furnish ground for anxiet
for the safety of the various isolate
garrisons.
With the Colenso bridge destroyed,
is claimed that Gen. Butler will hay
more difficult transport problems
solve.
Buffers Reply to German officer.
Belated dispatches from Cape Tow
give Gen. Buffers reply to the appl
cation of Col Schiel, the German of
Ger captured at Elandslaagte, for
parole, in accordance with the allege
promise of Gen. White. Gen. Bull
expresses regret that captivity is i
convenient to Col. Schiel, but declin
to admit there is any breach of e1
auette. He continues:
mo commander can give parole or
ercise control over the safeheepng
q prisoner outside the limits of his o,
command. BY the action of the forces
the republic Gen. Whites command
present, is limited to Ladysmith. and I
general commanding at Natal is perfea
justified in making arrangements for
safety of prisoners of war that the {
eumstances of his command require. CIR
Britain is 5000 miles from the Cape. 7
Transvaal declared war and invaded B.
tsh territory before a British force CO
be put in the field. They. therefore,
tanned an immense military advantage
the outset. They no doubt took into C
sideration the fact that the small Brit
force opposed to them would have few n
to spare to guard prisoners, who mig
therefore, be subjected to close restra
On the arrival Of the British force
do my best to remedy any inconvenienc
An official dispatch from Preto
dated Friday, November 10, confir
the statements to the effect that
Boer big guns had little effect
Aafeking.
Reports from Cape Colony ipdic
that the Boer sympathizers are gre
ly surprised at the inability of 6
Joubert to capture Ladysmith.
Interesting details are arriving
Cape Town, from the Orange river,
lating to the fighting at Belme
showing that when Col. Keith-I
coner was shot through the bre
he was just going to the assista
of a wounded lieutenant Be,
Lieut.. Brooke, of the Lancers, haa
marvellous escape. He had dismou
ed to sketch the Boer position,
ing at the time some distance ah'
of his troopers, when 80 Beers opel