The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-14
Six Thousand Men Already on the Way to
Durham, and More to Follow.
The Simultaneous Attacks of Beers
on Ladysmith, Mafeking and
Kimberley Taken to Manifest
Full Recognition by the Beers
of the Fact That Each Day Less
ems Their Successful Onslaught
on Any of the British Strong
holds.

holds.
LONDON, Nov. 14.-4:5O a. m-The
paucity of news from the front still
leav es the chief interest centered in the
arrival of the reinforcements. EStcourt
dispatches say that heliograph COM
munication has been established with
Ladysmith, but so far no news has been
received here, the latest date being No
vember 9th. which shows that the. oc-
cupants of Ladysmith had no news of
the outside world since General French
reached Pietermaritzburg, and that
they were puzzled at the inactivity of
the Beers. Everyone was confident and
cheerful, but all were suffering the in
convenience of the siege, bread selling
at three shillings per loaf
Colonel Powells dashing sorties at
Mafeking encourage the hope that the
British garrisons along the western
border are able to hold out. Cecil
Rhodes is employing 5000 men, white
and black, at Kimberley, in roadmak-
ing, as remedy for restitution.
According to dispatch from De Aar,
the Beers at Kimberley have got the
exact range of the mines, and are con-
i,siantly throwing shells at the dynamite
sats. Several of the latter have been
l.plown up, and the damage done to the
mines already amounts to many hun
dreds of pounds.
Among the stories from Brussels is
one of that General Joubert and Sir
George White have been endeavoring
to negotiate for the capitulation of
T II I,,+ l, e.,
terms.
Lord Salisbury and Lord Wolseley
We're guests of the Queen at Windsor
Castle last night.
Mrs. Rudyard Kipling has donated
EGO and some books to the fund for fit
ting out the hospital ship Maine
The stories of Father Matthews,
cabled from Lourenzo Marquee regard
ing the surrender at Nicholsoil's Mex
are too vague to be very convincing
but in military circles it is considered
unpleasant reading, and it will be i'm
possible to learn the facts until the Of
f1cer concerned has been court-mar-
tailed
The report that the British cruiser
Megicienne had fired on the French
steamer Cordoba raises the doubtful
point whether Great Britain has yet
actually declared war. 1t is believed
however, that European nations have
been acquainted with the severance of
relations between Great Britain and the
two republics.
1t is understood that the Admiralty
on General Buffers advice has ar
ranged that cruisers at the cape should
go out to intercept all arriving trans
ports and inform them of the latest
orders respecting their destinations
which are to be kept secret.
A dispatch from Cape Town 20 the
War Office announces the arrival there
yesterday Monday) of the trc opship
Armenian with three batteries of ar
tillery and an ammunition column, and
the troopship Nubia with the Scots
Guards and half battalion of the
Northamptonshire regiment This
brings the total number of reinforce
ments to 1882, of which about 5000
are already on the way to Durham.
Nine troopships, carrying II. 900 men,
are due at Cape Town to day CTues-
day..
It is officially announced that the
transport Armenian left Cape Town
ban, and that the troopship Orient has
and 1,1S7 men.
JOUBERT MAY BE CAUGHT Be
TWEEN TWO ARMIES.
LONDON, Nov. 13.-The simultan-
eous attacks on Ladysmith, Mafeking
and Kimberley. which were opened
Thursday, manifest full recognition by
the Beers of the fact that every day
lessons their chances of a successful on
slaught on any of the three British
strongholds. General Jouberts chances
of reaching Pietermaritzburg can be
said to have vanished. This is already
reported to be admitted by Colonel
Schiel, the German officer commanding
the Boer artillery, who is supposed to
have been largely the author OF the
Boer plan of campaign, and who, in an
interview, is alleged to have said: The
Boer intention was to have captured
Pietermaritzburg and then to dictate
terms. But all hope of accomplishing
this must now be abandoned"
4 There is no doubt that from the Brit
ish point of view the general situation
in Natal is rapidly improving. Nearly
5000 troops reached South Africa dur
ing the last forty-eight hours, and by
the end of the week from 5000 to T.
600 more will be added to the British
strength in Natal. These will probably
be pushed forward to Estcourt bring
ing the British force there up to TO-
600 men, and making a general attack
on Ladysmith by General Joubert very
hazardous
AS the cavalry and artillery belong
ing to General Methuen's division will
not have arrived by then, the advance
from Estcourt may be delayed. But
if it is deemed essential to open COM
munication with the beleaguered town
at the earliest possible moment, General
Methuen it is expected, may decide to
replace the regular cavalry and artil-
lery by the Natal and Uitlander mount
ed forces and the naval guns. in which
case, it is claimed, it ought to be pos
sible to occupy Colenso and stretch out
a hand to General White by Monday,
though it is believed the course to be
followed by General Methuen must nee
essarily be dictated entirely by official
knowledge of General Whites position