Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-09
soANr NEWS nEcEIvEp.


London, Eng, Nov. 7.-Such scant
intelligence rs is filt1ring from the
front is generally accepted here as reas-
suring, although the later reports agree
that the fighting outside Ladysmith ON
Thursday and Friday was much more
severe than indicated by the official
accounts. There is no longer such "a
disposition to jump at the conclusion
that crushing blow has been inflicted
on the Beers as was shown before.
British contempt for the burghers has
been modified by defeat. The best
informed are inclined to discount the
stories Of the cutting up Of the Beers
until further confirmation is received,
but the mere fact that Gen, White was
enabled to undertake a series Of sue
cessful reconpoissances is taken as an
indication that the Boar investment
has been relaxed by the withdrawal Of
o portion of GeE. Joubert's force south
ward.
While, however, the anxiety in regard
to the immediate stress of Ladysmith
is alleyiated, there is widespread fear
that the authorities are badly blunder-
| ing, and may find too lato the main ex-
pedition will prove too weak to com.
plete its task with safety and dispatch,
as the Natal force has already ad-
mittedly failed to perform what was
| expected of it. The confession, last
evening, of Gen. Lord Wolseloy, the
commander 10 chief, that the Beers
were more powerful and numerous than
had been imagined, sufficiently explains
the present happenings, and the War
| Office will hereafter have awkward
| questions to answer in regard to its
apparent colossal ignorance of the Boer
strength, which, both in numbers OF
men and excellence of artillery.,is ap-
parently complete surprise TO the
British military authorities
STRENGTH OF THE BoERs.
| Mail news from South Africa shows
how inaccurate have been the estimates
of the Intelligence Department and tht
ligovernmental experts. 1t is gleanee
therefrom that fair estimate of the
Beer forces is as follows: Around Lady
smith, $1,000; traversing Iuluand
1000; advancing on Burghersdorp
5000; Coleshurg, 1900; Kimberley
TOGO: Mafeking, d,500, and on thu
Northern Transvaal border, 1000. Exac
information about the Boer artiller,
is lacking, but it is known that Gen
Joubertis detachment before it wa
reinforced consisted of 16 Krupp fislt
, pieces of the latest pattern and tw'
heavy Creuzot siege guns. which,. bu
: for the opportune arrival of the Britisl
Naval Brigade, would have rendere'
Ladysmith untenable. |
In connection with the naval guns,
Innost interesting and important expert
; ment has been successfully carried OIL
at Cape Town with a 4.7inch gun s
serviceable at Ladysmith. One of th
British cruiser Terrible's guns, mounte
!, on Scott travelling carriage, was fire
i id the same way as a field gun wit
. entire success. The Terrible, with
/. number of guns thus mounted, is o
! her way to Durham. and, though tn
F, guns cannot now reach. Ladysmitt
$ they may be of the greatest value j
9 the defence of Peteimaritzburg, which
$ it seems. will probably have to stand
n siege. The arrival Of the Terrible
Q with the relief crews of China and otht
Q available men, must have placed in th
o neighborhood of 5000 more men at tt
y service Of the military authorities.
! PRECAUTIONS OF CHANNEL SQUADRON
. Interesting news comes from IL
. Channel Squadron at Gibraltar, shcv
n ing precaution against all eventualitl
r almost unknown in European waite
4 in peace time. On the way to Gil
n n raliar, the fleet spread out four mil
Il L apart, and sharp outlook was keI
II for suspicious craft. At Gibralta
: extra sentries are posted at night
). different parts of the ships, with
:. rounds of ball cartridges each; Il
"a small guns on the upper deck and
ss the fighting tops are kept ready I
,s immediate use, the ammunition beil
! on deck few men sleep at the gun
! the searchlights are kept working, al
Il. all boats are hailed and not allowed
approach without the permission of t
II officer of the watch.