Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-11
RUMOR OF BIG LOSS
Reported at Amsterdam British Regiment is
Dsoimated by Free staters,
SIX HUNDRED ARE KILLED OR WOUNDED
Also Stated That Three Hundred Horses
Were Captured by Enemy.
SPEEDY RELIEF FOR GENERAL WHITE
Buffers First Task Will Be to Free the
Garrison at Ladysmith.
ARTIlLERYlACKSL LoNe-RANGE AMMUNITION
OmciaIs Fear that Quiescence of Boers
VIII Not he Long Continued
DuIIer's Force VIII Approach
Hundred Thousand Men.


mating from Amsterdam sources says "a
British regiment was decimated Friday by
Free Staters."
II Is added that 600 Of the British soldiers
were killed or wounded and that 300 horses
were captured
The British war Office has received from
General Butler the following dispatch:
"CAPETOWN, Thursday Evening, Nov. 0.
Have received by pigeon post from Gen
eral White today the following: The bonn
bardment ait long range by heavy guns con-
tinues daily. A few casualties are occur
ring, but no serious harm is being done.
" The Beers sent in today number eof
refugees from the Transvaal under flag
of truce. flag of truce from Ladysmith
met them outside the pickets. When the
party separated the Boer guns fired on it
before 1t reached our pickets.
g Major Gale of the Royal Engineers was
wounded today while sending a message.
" The entrenchments are daily growing
stronger and the supply of provisions is
ample"
BeIGians Warn DR.. Leyds.
The Belgian government, it is said has
warned DR.. Leyds that Belgium is a neu-
tral country.
A corps of engineers from Gibraltar will
accompany lue siege IIdlu W lue cape anu
the men will be used in mounting the
heaviest guns in embrazures. Two battal-
ions of mounted infantry, every man Sc
looted for his riding and shooting qualities,
will be sent to the front
Among the few items that have arrived
from the Cape today is one saying that the
Beers are planting more guns in the hills
surrounding Ladysmith, All the corre-
spondents in the beleaguered town are safe
and anxious to reopen communication. A
gentleman who visited Nicholson's Mex
after the engagement counted twenty-five
in killed and seventy in wounded.
The latest advices from Kimberley, datel
November 2, say that all was we'll there
then. An explosion had been heard and
the supposition was that the Beers had
blown up the railway culvert south OF
Deconfe!d.
LONDON, Nov 10.-With the arrival at
Capetown of the British transports Roslyn
Castle and Moor, to be followed by a con-
tinuous succession of troop-laden ships, the
real campaign in South Africa may be said
to have commenced, and the fact that the
first named ship was ordered to proceed to
Durham, Natal, forthwith, is said to indicate
at least a modification in the plan Of ad
vance 1t seems that General Buffers first
move will be to free General White, thus
somewhat departing from the earlier plan
credited to him, of advancing through the
level country of the Orange Free State and
southwestern Transvaal
1t has been apparent for some days that the
situation at Ladysmtb could not be indef-
nitey prolonged, and 1t is understood that
information has reached the government
that the quiescence of the Beers will shortly
be changed by the arrival Of the siege train
from Pretoria int0 "a determined IN
deliver telling stroke. This, it is added,
led General Butler to prepare a counter
stroke and endeavor to push the Beers back
by a direct attack. Such operation, If
attempted, will necessarily entail great ex-
penditure of life, as during the month the
Beers have occupied northern Natal they
have forfeited most of the passes and other
positions suitable to their style of lighting.
While tho pigeon dispatch of General
White shows the beleaguered garrison was
holding its own yesterday, it is feared here
that the silence about what the British ar
tillery doing in reply to the Boer guns
indicates that the dread that General White
is short of long range ammunition is not
altogether groundless. II this is true, the
reported further destruction of the railroad
near Colenso assumes greater Importance
One very serious passage in General
Whites message gives the first official con-
firmatlon of the statements of Boer treach-
cry, which there has been disposition hith-
erto to dlscredit, but which must now be
accepted as at least partly true.
Immense Force Under Butler.
With the additional division announced by
General Woseley at the lord mayors ban
quet yesterday evening General Buffers
forces will aggregate about $4,000 men by
Christmas.
The prince OF Wales, the duke OF Cam
bridge and Lord Wolseey reviewed three
squadrons OF the Household cavalry at the
Albany barracks this afternoon previous to
their departure for South Africa. The prince
of Wales and his party were greeted with
royal salute, After the parade the prince
congratulated the troops. He said he was
proud to be their honorary colonel, was con-
WINGED that they would give good account
of themselves and, he added, his heart would
be with them across the sea. His royal
highness also wished the soldiers safe re-
turn.
Tenders for $4,000 900 in treasury bills,
the first installment of the war fund were
opened today. The total OF the applications
amounted to 910721 900. The issue was al
lotted as follows; 100000 900 at six months
and e. 900 at twelve months. The aver
age rates were G9 lss Sd for the six-month
bills and 93 5s Cd for the twelve month
bills.