Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-11-03
NOTHING FROM LADYSMHH.
Gen, VI Nesse Is Worrying
British War Office.
OCEAN CABLE BREAKS DOWN.
Oince the Ohclal Report from tho Front
Came Tuesday Night No Word Has
Been Received-StOry OF the Disaster
Told In Detail.


London, Nov. 3.-Not one word OF
special cable was received Wednesday
by any Of the London papers. This is
said to be due to the breakdown Of one
of the ocean cables and the press of
official messages.
Preference is also given to private
messages dealing with the fortunes OF
the officers and men. 1t Is considered
strange, however, that the war office
is without advices Of Tuesdays fight
at Ladysmith. "a
The Daily N s. Pietermaritzburg
special says: "a lumber of stragglers
from the Glouces regiment and some
of the stampedeL mules, with part of
the mountain battery, have returned
to Ladysmith."
There is an unconfrmed Cape Town
report that Gen. Butler has left for
Durham.
Gen. Whites message to the war Of
fee, dated Tuesday evening, giving
1urther particulars of the disaster to
the fusileers and Gloucester battalions
in the engagement, as we'll as express
ing confidence that he Y able to hold
his own, tends to a Ger in extent to
quiet the anxiety for the safety Of
Ladysmith
The sky has cleared and looks
brighter from a British standpoint,
notwithstanding the brief but positive
confirmation Of the report that an
other battle is on near the scene of
Mondays fight. The results of the Sec
ond battle are unknown, as the wires
are still working badly.
According to confrmatory dispatch
filed on Tuesday evening, shortly be-
fore 6 o'clock Tuesday morning Gen.
White ordered two of the 50-pounders
brought from the Powerful, which had
been placed in position on Monday
night to open fire on the Beers. Some
Of Joubert's guns were silenced for the
time, but not completely, and after
fighting all day the artillery duel was
still IN at on Tuesday morning.
It seems that Joubert has secured
several more guns since Monday and
that his gunners aim even better than
the British.
The losses, if any, are not given,
though the stereotyped assertion is
made that the Boer losses must have
been great, as the Britt shells were
seen repeatedly bursting among them.
Gen, Whites report of Mondays en-
gagement is not complete account
Of the movement of the two unfortu-
nate battalions, but is sufficiently de-
tailed 70 confirm the belief that the
fusileers and the Gloucesters made
good resistance and finally succumbed
after suffering heavy casualties.
Reading between the lines of Whites
explanation, it is quite plain that Col.
krlton made a serious blunder in
empting to carry out Whites or
,iOks is the letter without using any
discretion.
White adds no details to Mondays
dispatch regarding the British losses,
but states that the wounded we're
treated with great humanity by Jcu-
bert, who Immediately sent him let
ter offering a safe conduct for doctors
and ambulances White does not criti-
else Carlton, and lays the entire blame
on the mules, and closes by insisting
that the security of Ladysmith is in
no way affected. This statement, the
war Office hopes, is true, but it does
not feel sanguine about It.
The Standard says: 1T is believed
that Gen. Butler has proceeded imme-
diately to Ladysmith to assure him
self Of the exact status Of affairs
The Standard understands that con-
siderable acknowledgements have reached
White in the last forty-eight hours.
The Graphic says Gen. White will
not have to wait more than seven
Gays for three regiments of REINFORCE
ments from the first troops of the
army corps. as the Second battalion Of
the Royal West Surrey, the Second
battalion of the West Yorkshire, and
the Second Devonshire will arrive at
the Cape on the 9Th and probably be
selected to 20 to Natal.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF DISASTER.
Account Sent by Gen. White Regarding
Mondays Engagement.
London, NOV. 1.-The British war
Office has made public dispatch re-
ceived from Gen. White, describing the
operations of Monday, as follows:
"Ladysmith, Oct. 31.-Took out
from Ladysmith brigade of mounted
troops, two brigade divisions OF the
Royal artillery. the Natal field battery
and two brigades of infantry to recon-
hotter in force the enemy's main posi-
ton to the north and, il opportunity
should offer, to capture the hill behind
Farquhar's farm, which had the pre-
vious day been held in strength by the
enemy. In connection with this ad-
vance a column, consisting OF the
Tenth Mountain artillery, four half
companies of the Gloucesters and six
companies Of the Royal Irish Fusiliers
the whole under Lieut.-Col. Carlton
and Major Adye, deputy assistant ad-
iutant general, was dispatched at IL
70. m, the 29th to march by night up
Bells Spruir and seize Nicholson's
Mex or some position near Nicholson's
Eek, thus turning the enemy's right
] ank.
4 6The main advance was successful
wcarried out, the objective Of the at
tx being found evacuated, and an
L.. c>II