The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-11-11
B)ER FORCE A SURPRISE.
British Contempt for the Followers
Of Kruger Has Been Modified
by Singing Defeat.
GEN. WOLsELEy HAD TO CONFESS IT.
In Number of Men and Exeellencs of Ar
tillery the Beers Ara Thorn 10 tho
side of the British Commanders--Ac-
tive strength of the Burghsrs Numbers
More Than $4,000 Men.

London, Nov. 7.--Such scanty intelli-
gence as is filterlng from the front is
generally accepted here as reassuring,
although the latter reports agree that
the fighting outside Ladysmith on
Thursday and Friday was much more
severe than indicated by the official
accounts.
There is no longer such disposition
to Jump at the conclusion that crush
ing blow has been inflicted on the
Beers as was shown before. British
contempt for the burghers has been
modified by defeat. The best informed
are-iHclined to discount the stories Of
the cutting up of the Beers until fur
ther confirmation is received. But the
mere fact that Gen. White was enabled
to undertake series of successful re-
connaissances Is taken as an indication
that the Boer investment has been re-
laxed by the withdrawal of a portion
of Gen. Joubert's force southwark.
While, however, the anxiety in re-
gard TO the immediate stress Of Lady
smith is alleviated, there is wide
spread fear that the authorities are
badly laundering and may find too late
that the main expedition will prove
too weak to complete its task with
safety and dispatch, as the Natal
force has already admittedly failed to
perform what was expected of it.
The confession of Gen. Lord Wolse-
| Ia, tl,a NJ N do o.ohtaf that tho
Beers were more powerful and more
numerous than had been anticipated,
sufficiently explains the present hap
penings, and the war office will here
after have awkward questions TO an
swer in regard to its apparent colossal
ignorance of the Boer strength, which,
both in numbers of men and excellence
of artillery, is apparently complete
surprise to the British military au
thorities.
Mail news from South Africa shows
how inaccurate have been the esti
mates of the intelligence department
and the government experts. 1t II
CLEANED therefrom that fair estimatt
OF the Boer forces is as follows: Arount
Ladysmith, $4,000; traversing Zulu
land, 1000; advancing on Burghersdorp
5000; Colesburg, 5000; Kimberley, I,
900; Mafeking, $500, and on the north
, ern Transvaal border, 1000.
Though the absence of official ad
vices broadens the scope OF speculation
and anxiety, it is certain that amonl
the elect interest is centered on th
Boer menace of Pietermaritzburg. On
burgher force is reported advancing
south from Colenso and another is re
ported starting from Zululand.
Gen. White Ia apparently holding hi
II Are Of the BosSifss Zig guns planted 8
the hillsides; and the cavalry sortie a
I Bester's Hill shows that the Britis
! are following up every chance to pro
Joubert's forces in return for his pei
sisting harassing of Ladysmith.
Report of a severe Boer Loss.
7, London, Nov. Tt is announced /
: cable dispatch from Cape Town date
. Sunday, November 5, morning, tha
: the British have been victorious in q
= engagement at Ladysmith and ths
u the Boer loss was very heavy, incluC
= ing 1000 prisoners,
y Fighting Every Day at Mafeking.
e Cape Town, Nov, IA dispatch frol
/, Kuruman, dated Friday, November
e says dispatch-rider arrived here frol
Mafeking that morning announcin
that Col. Baden-Powell had captured
'. number Of mules and horses. Fightin
was occurring daily at Mafeking, al
o. 1t was added, in favor of the garrison
Found Colenso Intact.
Escourt, Natal, Nov. 7.-An armort
>, train went over the Tugela bridge ye
II terday, found Colenso intact and al
= found the road and railroad bridg
n strong.
Il No HostIlities Since Friday.
V London; Nov. 7.-An official dispatt
!, from Ladysmith dated Monday, N
- vember 8, says; "There has been
:, cessation of hostilities since Frida
:, = Only one Kafiir was killed by the Bo
- bombardment. The total British 10
was eight killed and 90 wounded
y Thursdays and Fridays engagement
- The town is well provisioned and is |
- lieved to be entirely safe"