The San Francisco call., 1899-10-27


contradictory three or four main
facts stand out prominently. Gen
eral Symons fight at Glencoe was
not ANYTHING like the decisive victory at
first alleged. and General Yule would IN
all probability have been annihilated or
have met with the same fate as the cap
1ured Hussars If he had not retreated.
General Whites artillery duel at Reit-
fontein was very severe engagement, in
which the rife did great execution and
which success was also achieved at dis
tressing cost.
The bombardment of N1afeking has com
menced with unknown result and the
Beers have got their Hussar prisoners
safely 10 Pretoria.
Altogether the campaign is being pushed
by the Beers so strcnuously and on such
sound strategical lines that the situation
Of the British must in all probability give
them cause for anxiety for some time to
come
1t is difficult to see how the concen-
trated force at Ladysmith will be able to
take the aggressive Immediately. Apart
from the fatigue, regiments like the Cor
don Highlauders and Riyal Rifles have
been practically without officers since the
fights and l35 additional officers have been
ordered to leave England as speedily as
possible.
The official announcement of the join
ing of General White and General Yule
has come as great relief, and all the
more so in view of the fact that later
dispatches have shown that only the in
capacity Of the intelligence department of
the Beers saved General .Yule's column
from great disaster.
It seems that on Friday night Dundee
was fun of alarms. Heavy firing was
heard at 1 O'Clock and again at 4. a Sc
we're thunderstorm soon after stopped the
ROer cannonade Saturday passed in the
same anxious manner. in momentary eX-
pectation Of an attack. The British finally
evacuated, taking all that they could. but
leaving plenty behind for the Beers to
loot.
The appointments Of the Boer hospital
at Dundee are described as very primi-
tive. The Beers themselves. in the alb
sence Of a nursing staff, get only scant
attention.
It is reported General Sir William Penn
Symons died on Wednesday-no on
Thursday-and was buried at Dundee yes
terday.
General Yule's column had a very ex-
hausting march, chiefly, it is believed, by
night. The reason Of a night march is
not given. but it was probably a fear of
Boer surprises. The heavy rains and mist
hampered the march. but were perhaps
the means Of saving General Yule from
molestation. It took the column twenty
four hours to cover the last sixteen miles.
The only news this morning consists Of
q more detailed account Of the battles al
ready reported. A correspondent who has
visited the hospital at Ladysmith, where
the Beers wounded at Glands Laagte who
were captured, are being tended. reports
that General Jan Kock. who was badly
f,, h., ~ i
the advance of the patrol under Comman>
dant Pienar without guns was simply
with the object of cutting the railway,
and that this body was subsequently re-
inforced without General Joubert's orders.
General Viljoen accompanying them. The
latter was killed early in the fight
According to another correspondent the
Boers say that General Kock. during the
battle, read his Bible and prayed for vic
tory. His brother, two sons and a nephew
were all wounded and taken prisoners
Colonel Schiel Of the German corps and
COmmandant Pretorlus were both severely
wounded. Many prominent Beers are not
yet accounted for. Philip Kock says the
Beers suffered most from Soldiers In lit
tie clothes-half men and half women
meaning the Gordon Highlanders. and in
the charge of the Fifth Lancers. They
say also that the quick-frtng guns cap
tured by the DeVOnShire regiment are
those that were taken from the Jameson
raiders.
Colonel Schiel assured correspondent
that nothing could stand against the ac-
curacy of the British field guns, which re-
peatedly drove the Transvaal gunners
from their embrasures. The British in
fantry fire was also, he said, complete
surprise to the Beers. who were confident
Of their ability to master any infantry at
tack
One Glands Laagte correspondent ex-
presses the belief that the British killed
fewer Beers than might have been ex-
pected considering the heavy fire of the
British artillery
The bullet OF the Boer Mausers, 1t ap-
pears, makes clean. healthy wound
where 1t passes out. No operations for
extraction have been necessary at the
Ladysmith hospital.
With regard TO the western frontier 1t Is
reported that President Steyn recently
visited n force of 1000 Beers encamped ten
miles south Of Kimberley
The war is having its natural effect in
Cape Colony. Everything is at famine
prices and horsefiesh is at a tremendous
premium.
A Dutch circular is being secretly cir
- a m-MMM n N