The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-27

London, October 24.-The colonial Of
flee d received a cablegram stating
that President Steyn, of the Orange
Free State, has issued a proclamation
annexing that part of Cape Colony
which is north Of Vaal river. This
means Griqualand West and Buchu-
analand and is apparently in conse-
quence Of the Free States forces hav-
ing seized the railway and all stations
north Of Kimberley except Mafeking,
unless Mafeking has fallen since the
last news from there, which is a week
old.
The cOlonia office this evening pub
lished q cable dispatch received from
the British high commissioner in South
Africa, Sir Alfred Miner, communicate
ing a significant dispatch from Sir
Godfrey Lagden, the British resident
commissioner in Basutoland, calling at
tentlOn to the reckleSsness of the Ba-
sutos, who, he says, he has been try
ing to calm. The resident commission
er adds:
Our policy, however, has been made
difficult by the clustering of the Beers
who have freely threatened to attack
Masuru and other stations. Those
threats, combined with intriguing,
have contributed to arouse excitement
among the natives. l wish to place it
on record tina the Beers have unwise-
ly attempted to shake the allegiance of
the BaSutOs and Illustrate our efforts
toward tranquility. The Beers, there
fore, are responsible for any commotion
and for the alarm regarding native in
VaSiOnS which now prevails"
Ifaxla N~ryO 90
News has been received from Dundee
to the effect that the BOer disaster at
El~andslaagte staggered the Beers COM
pletely, rendering the attack upon
Dundee feeble. Therefore there is no
cause for anxiety.
GENERAL WOLSELEY'S SUMMARY
London, October 24.-The parliament
tary secretary of the war office, George
Wyndham, in the house of
today, announced that Field Marshal
Lord WOlseiey, the commandments
of the forces, sums the situation in Ma
tai today as follows:
General Yule has fallen back to eff
feet g. junction with Sir George Stewart
White. He camped yesterday evening
about sixteen miles south Of Dundee,
without seeing anything of the enemy
during the march, and it has since been
reported that 'Ali's we'll on the Wasch-
bank river
General White fought a successful
action with IN Orange Free State force
today, on the rOad between Ladysmith
and Newcastle, and should join hands
with General Yule this evening. Gen
eral Yule reports that his wounded are
doing well.
THE Boer wounded on our hands are
treated just as our own, and 1 have
every reason to believe the Beers will
treat any of our wounded in their
hands in q similarly humane manner.
IT nave also received from General
Walker, at Cape Town, the following:
The last message from Kimberley, Oc-
tOber 22nd, 2 p. M, reports all WE'LL"
Cape Town, October PA message
received this evening from Mafeking,
by way of Lorenzo Marques, says: "All
we'll IN Mafeking on October GOTH"
ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT.
London October 25.-The following
dispatch from General Sir George Stew
art White to the Marquis of Lans-
dOwne, secretary of state for war, re-
ceived last evening at II o'clock was
posted at the wal office soon after mid
night:
'Ladysmith, October 24-9 p. MIN
formation received yesterday showed
that the Beers had established them
selves in considerable numbers in al
exceedingly strong position west of the
main rOad leading from LadySmith tt
dundee. [ also had rma tha'
the Dundee force, formerly command
ed by General Symons, and since hi:
WOunding commanded by General Yale
was falling back on Ladysmith by wa!
of the Helpmakaar road, Beth and thu
valleys of the WaSchbank and Sunda.
rivers and was expected to reach Sun
day river valley today. /, therefore
moved out with a strong force to cove
the movement of Yule's column. Tn
enemy was discovered about sever
miles out Of Ladysmith in a position o
great natural strength west of tn
Dad. When he saw that preparation
were being made against him he open
ed fire with n gun with great accu
racy.
Our military soon got into position
and the gun was silenced Our troop
were ordered to occupy a strong ridge
parallel to the enemy'S position, blu
nearer to the road.
II confined my efforts to %occupyin
him in hitting him hard enough to pre-
vent his taking action against Yule'
column. Numbers of the enemy file
to the west and the firing had practi
cally ceased at 2 o'clock.
RETREAT OR STRATEGIC MOVE
London, October 25.-The Cape Tow
correspondent of the Daily Mai telt
graplhing at 9:45 p. m. yesterday says
General Yule has performed a bri
liant strategical movement. By a swi
march to the south. leaving Glenct
empty, he has effected a junction
his forces with those Of Sir Geors
Stewart White slightly to the mort
of Ladysmith. The two are now in
position to offer battle. I believe II
first attack will be made on the lart
Free State force, which entered Nat
by way of Tintwa pass, and which h;
since been harassing L~adysmith. II
military authorities decide that |
Joining their forces the two genera
would be better able to cope with OF
large force at a time than by havil
two small attachments to oppose sir
UNANIMOUSLY two big Boer forces.
Accordingly, after defeating Z
Free State troops they will oner bait
To Commandment General Joubert. On