The record-union., 1899-11-09


resources of two republics are exhaust
ed will they acknowledge defeat.
The news of great victory which
was circulating here last night is not
confirmed, and the Boer losses report
ed by what may be designated "Kaffir-
grams ought to be greatly discounted,
as the Kaffirs, knowing the British
wish to hear of Boer losses, are likely
to supply them with reports to their
taste. However, allowing for all ex-
aggeration, General White seems to
have given General Joubert's forces
several home thrusts, and the War Of
flee is justified in it's contention to-day
that the news demonstrates clearly that
General White is able to more than
merely hold his own, and can strike
blows of such force as not only to in
sure the safety of Ladysmith, but also
probably to have a telling effect on the
duration and results of the pending
operations of General Buffers army
corps. In short, the War Office Off
Gals take a decidedly hopeful view of
the entire situation, and believes that
even the advance section of the Brit
ish forces at Ladysmith have seen the
worst days.
One of the most important items to-
day is that General French is going to
Cape Town. This is taken as a con-
firmation of the statement already
made by the Associated Press that the
main advance of the British troops will
be through the open fiat country of the
Orange Free State ard the southwest
ern part of the Transvaal. Otherwise
so skillful leader as General French
would hardly have been withdrawn
from Ladysmith at the present time
There is much speculation regarding
the next Boer move 1t seems clear
that it will be impossible for them to
closely invest Ladysmith, owing to the
fortunate arrival of long range guns,
which keep the Beers at least four miles
off, making the circle of investment
about twenty-five miles in circumfer-
ence, which. it is claimed. would be
impossible for the Boer forces to fully
occupy. 1t is beyond belief, however,
that General Joubert will remain long
inactive, and it is conjectured here that
his present Quiescence is due to the
fact that he is waiting the arrival Of
heavy guns from Pretoria and johann
nesburg, to effectually lombard and
render untenable the British position.
Further reports of the GroDlersklof
affair tend to confirm the Statement
that the British were successful. A
kaffir declares that fully a hundred
Beers were killed on the hilltop by thu
"Men-women.' which is supposed to in
dictate that the Gordon Highlanders
were there. Cyclist scouts have since
been across the Tulega bridge They
saw a number of killed lying on the
plain.
Apparently when the Colenso garri-
son evacuated that place Friday the
British troops missed a grand oppor-
tunity of carrying out an effective at
tack on the rear of the disconnected
Beers. The latter appear to believe
that the Colenso column evacuated the
place rs a ruse, and are lying in am
bush to surprise them if they advance,
hence the immunity of the town from
occupation by the Burghers.
The special service squadron has been
ordered to assemble at Spithead No
vember 18th, where it will be joined by
four battleships The whole fleet. if is
asserted, is intended to welcome En-
peror William on his arrival at Ports
mouth on November Goth.
A dispatch from General Butler saws
the press censor telegram of yesterday
evening was obtained from Ladysmith
through the energy of the correspond
ent of the Daily Telegraph The
papers are already Directing to the
holding of private newspaper dis
patches. They admit that the Govern
ment is fully entitled to use the in
formation for it's own purposes. but
they think that wholesale confiscation
is not justifiable
BOERS DO NOT NOW HOLD
COLENSO.
ESTCOURT (NataD. Sunday. Nov ).
$40 p. m.-Brigadier General Wulfe-
Murray has received important dis
patches from Ladysmith by a runner,
but their contents have not yet been
divulged.
The armor trains with a detachment
of the Dublin Fusileers and a railroad
engineering staff, which left here for
Colenso to repair the line yesterday
evening, and which also intended to go
through Ladysmith if possible, has re-
turned here. The commanding officer
reports that he proceeded beyond
Colenso, and found the dwellings there
untouched. There had been no looting
except in the single case Of a store,
which was looted by Kaffirs.
Several prisoners were arraigned be-
fore General Wulfe- Murray this morn
ing.
+ G od hot 1,a
within twenty miles of here.
The bullet holes in the uniforms of
Durham volunteers show the narrow
ness of their escape from Fort Wylie
which was only effected after thu heavy
fire of the Dublin Fusileers had inflicted
severe loss on the Beers A member OF
the garrison who was hard pressed by
the Beers leaped into the river amid
shower of bullets, and, diving re-
peatedly, he reached a far bank un-
scathed.
General French managed to leave
Ladysmith by the last train from there
Four miles from Colenso the Beers fired
on the train, but no one was hit. The
General is going to Cape Town, in or
der to take command of the cavalry.
The Border Regiment arrived here on
Friday.
Sub-Inspector Petley Of the Natal po-
lice says that his men alone, forming
one of several burial parties, inferred
sixtyfour Beers who were killed at the
battle of Talana Hill.
The Dublin Fusileers are being served
with new kits. as they lost everything
in the retreat from Dundee.
The Colonial forces are already fight