The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-24
DESULTORY CANNONADE
AT LADYSMlTH MAGNIFlED INTO A
HEAVY FIGHTING.
THE B0ER PROGRAMME CHANGED
BY Appearance OF British reinforce
ments at Es:court-Thcir Efforts TO
Prevent These Relieving L~adysmith.
Many bel Killed and Wounded Be-
fore the Latter Town Heavy Fight
ing at Mafekin. Beers Doing More
Looting Than Fighting.

London, November 21.-5 a. m.-The
reports OF heavy fighting at Ladysmith
last Wednesday have not been con-
firTned. On the contrary. the reliable
adyices from Estcourt Indicate that
there was nothing more thar a desul-
tory ~cannonade. Probably the rumor
OF a serious engagement grew out OF
the a that the Beers threw a few
harmless shells late Tuesday night,
leading to the supposition that an at
a was imminent. Nothing, however,
happened Wednesday.
Beyond the Fac that the Beers are
daily receiving fresh reinforcements
and supplies, there is practically Moth
ing new from the front.
The Boer invasion OF Cape Colony
continues steadily and rapidly. There
are 1900 Beers at Colesburg, and news
has reached East London that Lady
Grey. nea Aliwal North, has been de-
serted by the British and is now in the
hands Of the enemy.
A Pretoria dispatch the
arrival there, among the British pris-
oners, Of Major Haldane, Lieutenant
Brochie and Lieutenant Hallway. II
also declares that the British on Sun
day made two unsuccessful attempts
to Dust the Rustenburg commando
form a position near Mafeking and
that severe fighting took place.
From Delagoa Bay comes the report
of the arrival of more German officers
and artillerymen who have volunteered
to serve with the Transvaal forces.
The war office semi-officially asserts
that all news received from Africa has
been published with the exception of
demands for the renewal Of stores, wa
material and the like. There is an un-
confirmed rumor that more troops have
been ordered from India to the cape.
General Butler has wired the COM
manding officer at Queenstown an
nouncing the dispatch of General Cat
erie with the first battalion of the
Seventh brigade, to East London. This
was the place from which 1t was orig
inally intended that General Gatacre's
column should start Thus it is posi-
BILE that General Buffers first plans
have suffered less modification than
some have supposed.
London, November 21.-The Standard
publishes the following from Lady
smith dated November 18th: THE ar
rival of the relief column at Estcourt
has completely modified the plans of
the enemy and Genera Joubert has
moved to the south, in an effort to pre-
vent the ~juction OF the two British
forces"
EStcourt, Natal, November 90 Ma
jor Bethune's patrols have located the
enemy on the northwest, about seventy
miles off. The Beers would not be
drawn. Fighting is reported at the
Moot river. The Beers are doing more
footing than fighting, and all their par
ties south Of Ladysmith are foraging
on the farms.
Advices from Ladysmith tell of bril-
liant British victories, with COMPARE
lively slight loss or our side and heavy
slaughter Of the enemy. Ladysmith is
full of wounded and captured Beers.
1t is reported that in the fighting OF
November 9th, the enemy lost 300 killed
and 500 wounded.
Ladysmith, November 16.-By runner
to Estcourt-AH is well here, with
nothing important to report. We are
amply supplied with ammunition and
confident Of u ability to hold out.
Information from outside is very
scarce, but 1T is believed here that the
Beers now investing the town are only
a small force. The heavy weather con-
tinues, and the rain is hampering the
Boer operations severely.
CAPE COLONY READY FOR RE
VOLT.
Berlin, November 2O.-The Cologne
Gazette publishes today the following
dispatch from Cape Town: Every
thing is prepared for a general rising
OF the natives throughout Cape Colony.
They are ready at any to make
| common cause with the Beers"
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