The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-19
THE ENGLISH FORCES
ABOUT $4,000 UNDER GEN. STEW
ART WHITE NEAR LADYSMITH
THE QUEEN CALLS OUT THE RESERVES
A Supplementary Army Estimate Issued a
London, Asking the House Of Com
mons to Vote $4,000 Men
and 10. 600 Pounds.
and 10000 Pounds.

London, October 1S-A special dis
patch dated at Pretoria at noon yester-
day says:
After a few shots were fired ait
Boer party bearing a flag Of truce was
sent to inquine whether the town sur
rendered. No definite reply was re-
ceived. The burgher messenger was de-
tanned for six hours and then released. =
The War Office has issued the follow
ing statement:
News has been received from Cen
eral Sir George Stewart White, the gem
ticipated movement of Boer forces across
the Drakensberg, already reported from
several quarters, was likely to be con-
tinued on October 18th and that more
of them might be expected to arrive
at Boaan Bank that night and probably
To come into contact with our cavalry
between Ladysmith and the Passes of
the Drakensberg.
..On the north the Boer forces from
Ingagane are advancing accompanied
by few batteries of artillery.
ION the Buffalo River the Beers from
yryheid are moving toward Wants and
Rorkers Drifts
Our cavalry remain in observation
and report movements In Orange Free
State. The Basutos are said to mani
fest an attitude hostile to the Beers and
they may neutraliZe a certain number
of the Boer forces"
CLAIM BOER VICTORIES.
Lourenzo Marques, October 1S.-The
Volkssten, the Boer official organ at
Pretoria, gives the following account
OF the occupation of the British camp
at Ramathlabama, just north of Mafe-
king:
..'rhe British camp at Ramathlabama
has been captured and sacked by Gen
eral Cronje after severe fighting. Many
bnrghers were killed or wounded The
British loss is not known"
The yolkssten added that success
has thus far everywhere attended the
burghers," although it admits that in
the various skirmshes near Mafeking
and at other points the Boer casualties
number some sixty or seventy killed
and wounded.
Al representative Of the Transyaal
ing up all the provisions obtainable.
One hundred and thirty persons just
released from the Barberton jail, Trns-
yaal have been put over the Portuguese
border.
MORE MEN, MONEY WANTED.
London, October 1S.-A supplementary
army estimate has been issued, asking
the House of Commones to vote an ad-
ditional $4,000 men and 10,000,O00
pounds sterling in consequence of the
situation in South Africa.
1t is expected that the $4,000 men rep
resent the probable maximum excess be-
yond the establishments fixed for the
year 1S9S-1900, and is III consequence Of
the calling out of the reserves and of the
temporary transfer of troops from the
Indian to the British establishment.
With the additional 10,000,000 pounds
the total estimates are 30617,000
pounds.
CALLING OUT THE RESERVES.
London, Oct 1S.-In the House of
Commons today the first Lord of the
Treasury and Government leader, Ar
thur j. Balfour. brought in the following
message from the Queen:
1.-The state of affairs in South Africa
having constituted, in the opinion of Her
Majesty, case of great emergency,
within the meaning Of the act of Par
lament. Her Majesty deems it proper
TO provide additional means for military
service She has, therefore, thought it
right to communicate TO the House that
Her Majesty is, by proclamation, about
to order the embodiment of the militia
and to call out the militia reserve force
or such part thereof as Her Majesty
may thnk necessary, for permanent
service"
The calling out of the militia and the
militia reserves has occasioned wide
spread wonderment. Old stories of pre-
parat6ons against Continental combna-
tions are revived. 1t is freely rumored
that the Government is determined 20
demonstrate to Europe that the British
army is not negligible quantity
AN ENGAGEMENT IMMINENT.
Camp Glencoe, Natal, Oct. 1S.-2 p. IN.
--Boer scouts have been sighted at Hat
ting Sprut, seven miles from the
British camp and am engagement is inn
minent.
THE BOERS BEGAN HOSTILITIES
Ladysmitb, Natal. Oct. 1s.--An Off
cial note published here says:
"A Free State Commando yesterday
commenced actual hosiilities. The Free
State has thus taken upon itself the re-