Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-10-26
MUCH ANXIETY IN LONDON
Increased by Rumor That Beers Have
Secured Services of $4,000 Natives.
WOLSELEYS SUMMARY CRITICISED
Intended to Prepare People for
News of Disaster2
DISQUIETlNG STORY FROM lADYSMITH

OfnCe, InlS morning, attempted TO eX-
plain the summary of the situation in
Natal furnished by the commander IN
chief of the forces, Field Marshal Lcrd
Wolseley, to the House of Commons
yesterday. His statement is now SAID
to have created unnecessary alarm, and
it is asserted that what the official
note called Gen. Yule's retirement
would be more accurately described as
reasons, and that the alarm for the
safety of this wounded IS not justified.
1t is further explained that the
wounded could not be moved but the
fact that they hao to be left to their
fate, while the British forces made
stiategic movement to the rear, shows
the suspense Of the public at the
absence of subsequent news is amply
justified, and that the heavy fighting
on Friday, and perhaps Saturday, is
only prelude to still sternor work. In
some quarters, the view is taken that
the second attack of the Beers has
actually occurred, and was SO SUCCESS
full that Gen. Yule's withdrawal was
imperative, and urgent to the extent
of compelling him to leave his hos
pitfalls in the hands cf the Beers, while
the more sanguine express the opinion
that Gen. Yule, far from retreating,
has really advanced to meet the attack
threatening Glencoe, leaving Dundee
behind, safely sheltered from Boer
assault. tt
CONTRADICTORY RUMoRs AFLoAT.
In the absence of authentic news
there are number of contradictory
rumors afloat but the most reasonable
Interpretation of the various reports
seems to indicate that there was some
artillery practice at Glencoe Saturday
and Sunday, but no fighting at close
quarters. As, however, communication
between Glencoe and Ladysmith, which
was thought to have been restored by
the British victory at Elandslaagte.
has again been broken by the de-
struction of the railway bridge at
Waschbank. north of Iadysmith and
between Elandslaagte and Glencoe, tho
difficulties of the British commander
in Natal, Gen. Sir George Stewart
White, in reinforcing Glencoe havo
been enormously increased, and, until
the British forces at, Ladysmith and
Glencoe are united, and the main body
OF the Beers is broken, the situation
must remain disquieting for the
British.
In0 dlL6IuOOn nbWDpdDoE5 bfEH
sharply criticise Lord Wolseley's SUN
mary of the Natal situation. Thcy
say it has distinct resemblance toitne
statements of the Spanish ministry
when preparing their countrymen for
news of the disaster at..Santiago. This,
however, is probably an overstrainotl
Wow. There is no denying, however,
the great suspense and anxiety exist
ing, which has been increased by the
report in circulation, puiporting to
emanate from official quarters, to the
effect that the Beers have secured the
services of $4,000 natives. The vague
and varied estimates of the Boer losses,
and tine absence of anything official on
the subject, are also arousing mis-
givings as to whether the beaten enemy
suffered proportionately to the dis
astrous losses of the victors. %
One OF the most disquieting stories
comes from Ladysmith. 1t is to the
effect that an Englishman, who arrived
there from Dundee on Sunday evening,
after escaping through the Boer lines
on the previous night, reported that
the enemy was then shelling the camp
and town with heavy guns, while the
shells of the British were unable to
reach the enemy's batteries, Com
sequently, the man is said to have
added, the camp was shifted mile or
SO, in order to be out of reach of the
Beers, who were firing on the maga-
zine in the town. Yl g5.sfi
The Parliamentary Secretary of the
War Office, George Wyndham, in tEe
House of Commons, today, announced
that Field Marshal Lord Wolseiey, the
communicative of the forces, sums
up the situation in Natal today as fol-
lows: NJ.
junction with Sir George Stewart
White. He camped yesterday evening
about 16 miles south of Dundee, with
out seeing anything Of the enemy DUR
ing the march, and it has since been
repoi ted that all is we'll on the Wasch-
bank River
"Gen. White fought successful ac-
tion with an Orange Free State force
today, on the road between Ladysmith
and Newcastle, and should join hands
with Gen. Yule this evening.
Gen. Yule reports that his wounded
are doing well.
1.-The Boer wounded ON our hands are
treated just as our own, and have
every reason to believe the Beers will
treat any of cur wounded in their hands
in similarly humane Manner
Mr.. Wyndham added:
II may remind the House that the
Transvaal is party to the general con-
vention.' ..
Lord Wolseley further says:
81 have also received from Gen.
Walker, at Cape Town, the following:
The last message from Kimberley,
OcfOber Odd. r. m . rerurts all wall ~