The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-24

London, November pa dispatch to
The Daily News from Nottingham
Road, Natal, dated Tuesday, says the
Beers have arrived near there.
The Daily Mail publishes a dispatch
from Naaumpoort, dated Wednesday,
which says that a large force under
General Methuen has crossed the Or
ange river and is advancing to the re-
lief of Kimberley.
Durham, November 22.-About 5000
Free State Beers, with guns, are
marching from the west by way Of Fort
Nottingham.
The Beers opened fire with artillery
on Mooi river camp from the north,
but without casualties to the British.
Owing to the proximity of the Beers
to Pietermaritzburg, it has been found
necessary to alter the defences of Dur
ban.
Estcourt is still silent. All accounts
point conclusively to a determined
rush Of the Beers toward PietermaritZ-
burg with very large force. Seven
thousand men, with guns, are report
ed twenty-five miles from Howick
command of General Joubert.
Durham, November pa dispatch
from the Mooi river says the telegraph
line was cut Tuesday evening near
Highlands station. The dispatch adds
that the railroad station is in the pos
session of a large force of Beers, en-
camped near MitchesOn's cutting A
train bound to Estcourt returned 1t
only got a mile and a half northward
of the Highlands station.
The Natal Stud Company's farm has
been raided and 800 blooded horses,
valued at G15,000, have been captured
Pretoria, November 21.-General Sny-
man, who is outside Mafeking, reports
heavy fighting Monday afternoon. The
British briskly fired on the French can
non and Boer forts. The Beers replied
bombarding the British forts with good
effect. The loss of the British is un-
known. One Boer was wounded.
TOTAL BOER CASUALTIES.
The official returns Of the Transvaal
casualties since the outbreak Of the
war show that ninety men have killed
and 200 wounded, Of when a number
have recovered and returned to the
front.
Newspaper reports from Cape Colony
say general rising of the Dutch farm
ers is imminent in Natal and that the
have been proclaimed republican
territory have already joined the Boer
forces.
A SORTIE AT LADYSMITH DRIVEN
BACK.
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived from the Boer headquarters near
Ladysmith:
1.-The field cornets of the Pretoria
commando reported that British gun
carriages and some hOrSemen had been
heard moving last night in Ladysmith.
Our Outposts observed the British en-
deavOring to sOrtie toward Lombard 5
kOp and Bulwama hill, where our Max
inns opened fire. The range was too
great and, therefore, our artillery be-
back About daybreak the British bat
teries fired upon our positions. Two
burghers were wounded.
"It is supposed that the object Of the
SortieS was to relieve the Estcourt
force, who had sent an urgent message
to Ladysmith requesting aid. The
burghers captured the messenger, but
| finally allowed him to proceed"
1t is reported that the Natal police
have captured a number of Transvaal
| dispatch riders.
In his latest report General Joubert
says: II am cutting off the retreat of
| the Estcourt troops to Pietermaritzburg
| and driving them back on the Tugela
| river"
1t is also reported that the Boer COM
mander with the forces near Lady
smith has "comprehensively surveyed
| the different points from which the fall
| of Ladysmith can be insured"