The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-25

state
Get Together In Natal.
LONDON. Oct 25.-The following dis
patch from Gen. Sir George S .ewart
White to the Marquis of Lansdowne, sec
retary of state for war, received last
night at II o'clock, was posted at the war
office soon after midnight:
'Ladysmith, Oct. q, 9 p. m.-Informa-
ton received yesterday showed that the
Beers had established themselves in
strong position, in considerable numbers,
fifteen miles west of Dundee. I also re-
ceived information that the force COM
manded by Gen. Symons, and, since his
wounding by Gen. Yule, was falling back
on Ladysmith by the Helpmaakar road,
Beth and the valleys of the Waschbank
end Sunday rivers, and was expected to
reach Sunday River valley today. L
therefore moved out with a strong force
to cover the movement of Yule's column.
The enemy was discovered about seven
miles out of Ladysmith, in position of
great natural strength, west of the road.
When he saw preparations were being
made against him he opened fire with
one gun, with great accuracy. Our artl-
lery soon got into position and the gun
was si!enced. Our troops were ordered to
occupy a strong ridge, parallel to the
enemy's position, but nearer to the road
I confined my efforts to occupying him
and hitting him hard enough to prevent
his taking action against Yule's column.
Numbers of the enemy fled to the west
ward and the firing had practically ceased
at o'clock"
LOOKS LIKE RETREAT.
The war office dispatch seems to realize
the worst fears. Gen. Yule has aban-
doued not only Dundee, but Glencoe as
well, and so far as present news would
Indicate he has neither joined Gen. White
nor reached Ladysmith. Gen. Whites
Successful action" announced in parlia-
ment by Mr.. Wyndham, seems to be
mere engaging of the Free State troops
while Gen Yula is slipping south.
It is inferred from the dispatch that
both Commandant General Joubert on the
north and the Orange Free State troops
on the west now occupy strong positions.
and nothing now hinders the Beers from
following up Gen Yule's retirement and
getting around Ladysmith from the
southeast Until reinforcements arrive it
centrate on Ladysnlith. 1t is believed
that the government has other dispatches
which have not been published.
The secretary of state for war left Mr..
Choate's residence Immediately at the en1
of the banquet to Gen. Harrison, and
proceeded to the war Office, where, eV
after midnight there was great activity,
many visitors calling to inquire for in
formation, among them a sister of Gen.
Archibald Hunter
MORE HOPEFUL NEWS.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mail, telegraphing at 9:45 p. M,
yesterday, says:
Gen. Yule has perfected a brilliant
strategical movement BY a swift march
to the south, leaving Glencoe empty, he
has effected junction of his forces with
those of Sir George Stewart White, slight
ly to the north of Ladysmith. The two
are now in position to offer battle. L
believe that the first attack will be made
on the large Free State force which en-
tered Natal by way of Tintwa Pass, and
which has since been harassing Lady
smith. The military authorities thought
that by joining their forces the two gem
erals would be better able to cope with
one large force at a time than by having
two small detachments to oppose stimuli
taneously two big Boer forces. Accord
ingly, after defeating the Free STATE
troops they will offer battle to Comma2d-
ant General Joubert Only 40 miles now
separate the two 8oer forces. Hence the
need for swift and telling action.
THE two sections OF the Boer army to-
gether outnumber the entire British force
by three to one. Hard lighting is certain
at a very early date. Our men are conf
dent, and there is much enthusiasm.
The fighting today outside Ladysn.ith
was a mere brush. The losses on neither
side were significant 1t was merely an
artillery duel, in which the Beers came
off decidedly the worse
FIGHT NEAR MAFEKING.
The war office published tonight a dis
patch from Col. Baden-Powell, the Brit
ish commander at Mafeking, dated Oct.
IS, and forwarded from Cape Town:
"AIl we'll here In a fight today four
miles from Mafeling the armored train,
a section of the British South African
police and two squadrons Of the protec-
torate regiment repulsed the enemy, los
ing two killed and fifteen wounded, the
latter including Lieut. Bentinck. Ninth
Lancers, and Lieut.. Bray, of the protec-
to~ate regiment both slightly. The
enemy's loss is estimated at fifty-three
killed, besides many wounded. The names
Of our killed and wounded will follow
All worked splendidly and are very anx-
tous for the next meeting with the
enemy
DARING DISPATCH RIDERS.
The Daily Telegraph has the following
from De Aar, Cape Colony, dated
Monday evening:
'eThe Transvaal government is about
issuing a proclamation declaring the
district north of the Vaal river and in.
cluding Bechuanaland to be Boer terri
tory
"Commandant Cronie who has beer
twice repulsed at Mafeking, is said to be
advancing on Kimberley, and to be i'm
pressing man and Selling stores and
munitions in British territory. He left q
small force investing Mafeking. The
Free State Beers are moving westward
In order to join him for an attack or
Kimberley.
1.-THE dispatch riders who are coming
down to the Orange river from Kimber-
lev are performing daring feats They
ride through the Boer lines under cover
of darkness, and get to tEA Orange river
without taking any rest, %save for a
change Of horses. The distance is sixty
miles. One rider who got into Kimberley
last Friday was chased seventeen miles
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