The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-01
TEE BRITISH PosIrIox IN NATAL


The later details OF the lighting near Lady
smith on Sunday confirm the suspicion created
By the wording OF the British War ONCE
announcement based on Sir George Whites
report. that all had not gone we'll with the
British force engaged. From the IMPOSITION
OF the columns and the distribution OF tho
different arms IL would seem that Sir George
White calculated on finding the Beers
in the positions located by the captive
balloon the previo,1s day. The right and prin-
Opal column comprised three cavalry reRi-
ments. i've battalons Of infantry. with twenty
four field guns. The centre column was made
up OF two cavalry regiment and four infantry
battalions. with eighteen field guns: while the
left column was composed OF two infantry
battslions. with six seven FOUNDER screw guns
Issuing from Ladysmth. the right and centre
columns advanced with the evident pur-
pose OF assaulting the Bosr positions. whilo the
left column was detached to occupy the hills on
tho left OF the advance. The Beers. however.
had evacuated all their positions during the
night. Withdrawing their heavy guns with
which they had bonbarded Ladysmith from
Lombard's Kop. and had gone. so to say. into
the air. Disconnected by the change OF cir
cumstances. the British com ma der was forced
to alter his plan and turn what had been
intended as a movement OF assault into
reconnaissance In force. While feeling for tho
enemy he discovered them strongly posted in
considerable numbers and we'll supplied with
artillery. In the action that ensued the Doer
nro proved so effective and their position so
strong that the British force was Withdrawn
and returned to Ladysmith without accom-
plishing the purpose Of ito advance.
While the two main columns wero thus fruit
lessly engaged. the left column seems to have
b.eom. ent,no,.d in tho bIIl. and tsksn nj n
di.ndyantnps Inv n .unerior Boer foree wa,
after vbat anpenrs 10 have been , sharp resIst.
,,o. oo,n,.iIad 10 .urro,io-
m. r.n.s.i r..,,i, 80 ,,n.,,,.,,,, o.. Ga.
British in tho highest degree. and its conse-
uuencss are likely to bo no, les. So The pres.
among the natives and any anxiety they NAV
have had Of trouble from them will DO much
will impart fresh confidence to tho bursh-
e,s s ""'s 80 "n' ""e'"e,
victory or defeat. teaches them les
turn ~ ,cnonr, rhs r,ohiiI,V ", ,,siv .',,,,or,
, W." w ", ", '"e'r ",''''e''
mas ,ns nr',sn camp LOT tho
sn -. na' ,u..n.p .ol'e.' on ,ne
whole would appear that some OF the opin-
to tn. proeress and Jura,,oo y, Tho On mr,isn
On Monday. according to a Cape Town de.
snatch tho po,r. v.r. h,or 4, e.. ,o.,,,o,,.
.pa.'n' VIZ DIT" Nele oaes III inc POSITIONS
that were found evacuated on Sunday. and
had reopen ed fire with the heavy r,,ns roported
n b,y. bean dt.msn,I.d NV ,h. pr,,ish a..
,1.n - ooo" "I'"i"u''eu y, 'ne pr','sn hre.
Fighting was also reported to have begun at
tho foot OF tho TINT abnns hills a few miles
,ro,n J.d,sr,i,h rl. .,Llh - 49,
- 80 'tooaoN n's '"o
same mis- IN which the two Infantry
battaions and the mountain battery yers sur
round.d h, tho Roer. mi car,,,r.d ~ ,ho
io""usu W 'o DUETS anu chp'urou' ~ the
report is correct Sir George White may again
have assumed the offensive and come into
touch with the enemy: but in the sb.ence OF
deiinito Information az to the direction in
which the fighting was roin, on NO ssti.
mate can be formed OF IL object or
what Its result NAV have on tho
suffered hy Tho British on SUNDAY GrS%e'y i'm.
pairs th.ir Offensive mower to sny nnthing NJ
the announcement inevitable after the re-.
trent from dundee and hi. last disa,.
ter as sir George White terms IL, Tbs
movement from Dundee was made with a
force estimated at about twelve thousand
strong all told with forty-tvo guns: ths
result Of the day has reduced II hv 5.2IO men