Abilene weekly reflector., 1899-11-23
A TRAIN AMDUSHED.
The British Seemed to Have Gone
into a Boer Trap.
CEN. JOUBERT'S DEATH DISCREDITED
Rumors That Boers Contemplate Retreat
--British Defeat Boers st Ladysmith-
War Unpopular In Orange Free
State--Lsdysmlth Bombarded.

London, Nov. 17.-Misfortunc stead
fastly pursues British employment Of
armored trains, the fascination for
which has given the Beers their first
and latest victories. On this last occa-
sion the British seem TO have walked
into deliberate trap, with the result
that, according to the best accounts,
90 men are either killed, wounded or
missing. OF these the fusiliers claim
80 and the Durham infantry 40. 1t is
believed that few escaped and that the
others are prisoners in the hands Of
the Beers.
The rumor Of the death OF Gen. Jou-
bert Is discredited. 1t Is understood
that the war Office has news that he
Is still directing affairs. 1t Is also ru-
mored from Pietermaritzburg that the
Boer losses at Ladysmith. on Thursday
were heavy and included Gen. Lucas
Meyer, who was either killed Or
wounded. 5,siisS
According to the Pietermaritzburg
correspondent Of tho London Outlook
rumors are current in the Natal capi-
tai that the Beers contemplate are
treat 1t is needless, however, to- sat-
tach Importance TO such reports, which
are spread in all possibility with a
view Of Turing Gen. White, Il possible,
to abandon shis defensive attitude.
Similar rumors are current regarding
the Beers at Mafeking and are spread
industriously by native spies.
Several dispatches from Lourenzo
Marques say that the Transvaal gov
ernment Is exercising severe censor
ship over all war news and will not al
low newspapers to leave the country.
0necorrespondent says the Beers are
hurrying new commanders to Lady
smith and declare that the place must
fall speedily in order TO liberate their
forces SO that these may go to meet
Gen. Buffers advance.
The latest dispatches from Estcourt
regarding the armored train engage
ment say that the train was capsized
by an explosion, presumably dynamite.
BRITISH DEFEAT THE poERs,
Estcourt, Nov IA missionary,
who arrived here Wednesday from
Ladysmith, reports that big Aght
took place there on November 10. He
says that volunteers went out in the
early morning and drew the enemy
from their positions on TO a fiat, where
the regular troops, under Sir George
White, out-manDuvered them by out
Aanking the Beers, administering a
crushing defeat and inAicting great
loss. More than 200 Katfirs, the mis-
sionary says, were employed by the
Beers to bury their dead, and the two
trains, each drawn by two engines,
carried away the wounded.
WAR UNPOPULAR IN ORANGE FREE STATE.
London. Nov. l7.-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Standard says he
has heard from an old resident, who
has just left the Orange Free State,
that the war is very unpopular there,
that apart from the government officials
the attitude of the people, who con-
slider themselves bound to England, is
very half-hearted, that disaffecton and
disobedience are spreading in the ranks
Of the Free State troops and that the
burghers would welcome any pretext
to return to their homes,
LADYsMITH B0MBARDED.
Lourenzo Marques, Nov. IA local
newspaper reports that Ladysmith was
subjected to a very heavy lombard.
ment all day Tuesday and that at mid
night all the cannons on the hills sur
rounding the town opened fire stimuli
taneously, pouring shells from all
points Of the compass. Several build
ing afire, the newspaper asserts, could
be distinctly seen from Bulwana hill.