The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-26
LADYSMITH WILL FALL.
WlthIp I Week, n Beer Predictions Are
True.
THIRD BIG GUN is NOW IN POSITION
with Three BclcnEuered Garrisons
In Natal. Kimberley and Mafekins
Surrounded, outlook Is Bad.

Pretoria. November 25.--An official DIS
patch from the Boer headlaager outside
Ladysmith dated Friday, November "a,
says: The garrison at Ladysmith WAS
strangely quiet yesterday The cannonade
today hardly evoked response. The bsl-
loon no longer scars. The third big can
non which the Beers have baptized Suzer-
ainty was placed In position today. The
German officers arrived last night. The
Boer generals think they Will encompass
the fall OF Ladysmith at the end OF this
week.
There was q terrible thunder storm last
night. Four Beers guarding cannon
were seriously hurt.
London, November ga special from
Durham dated Friday November "a. says:
Tho Natal Times has received news by
way of Delagoa Bay that both Matching
and Kimberley have been relieved.
This is not only improbable, but 1t is
Cape Town. which states that General
Methuen is in photographic communication
with Kimberley, which indicates that the
relieving force pushed forward after the
battle ut Belmont. If this be true, stirring
news may be expected shortly 40 the
Beers are In force at Modder river and
Springfontein.
London November 2s.--The position In
Natal remains full of pcrplexities which
the censorship has increased. Although
a division aud half have now reached
Durham, that place is practically power
less unless supplied with cavalry and ar
tillery and until these arrive the situn-
ton viii undoubtedly remain grave. with
three beleaguered garrisons In Natal, be-
sides Kimberley and Mafeliing and no signs
of succor in tho Immediate future. 1t is
no wonder that the outlook vs. regarded
as distinctly gloomy tonight aud that the
most possible Is made OF General Meth
uen's success, such as 1t WAS, That the
battle decided nothing It seems certain,
and many experts are of the opinion that
the story OF the return of the pursuing
cavalry without getting into retreat, in
time that IL it had gone on 1t would soon
have been on the Pretoria race course
with its comrades. thus. 1t Will not sur
prise anyone greatly IL the Boecs are
shortly again discovered in an entrenched
posi.ien near the spot from which General
or t.a aut cd
From no other point can even a
semblance of success be received. Mafeking
is apparently in worse plight than the
Britishers have hitherto cared TO admit
and 1t is difficult to see how 1t can DO
relieved for some time 20 come. While
the official dispatches from the Boer head
lager outside Ladysmith, dated November
a. showed that the town was still flying
tho Union Jack Friday, the cheerful tone
OF the message and the evident anticipa
ton of the speedy reduction of Lady
smith Is not calculated 10 cheer anNiouj |
relatives The reported silence of the Brit |
ish guns also again arouses fears OF a |
shortness of ammunition and the fact that |
The Beers have just placed in POSITION |
another siege gun shows that they naye
not yet done their worst.
The arrival of the German officers, some
OF whom. it is understood, gained large
experience In reducing fortified towns in
1878. is calculated to lead to change |
OF tactics which will add to the suspense
OF the sorely tried garrison. The situation |
IN the northern portion of Cape Colony
rs about az unsatisfactory as II can be- |
Tho Beers are turning up in all direc-
tons.
A Capetown dispatch received at late
hour tonight reports that Che enemy have
blown up every bridge between Rossmead |
Junction and Middleburg with the object |
OF preventing an advance from Port Eliza
beth. This was effected by small COM
mando which. II is said remains in the
neighborhood The effect Of blowing UP
this bridge VIII tend 10 isolate Naauw-
poort, which was recently reoccupicd by
the British and must delay the advance
OF the troops Just arrived at Port Eliza
beth.