Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-11-10
rs KEPT In THE DARK.
British Public Unable to Secure
Much News of the War.
Latest Information from Lndysmith,
However, Is More Encouraging
Stories of Disaster Denied
More Heavy Fighting.

London, Nov. 7.-An immense weight
was lifted from the public mind by a
brief official dispatch, published Mon
day morning, by which the continental
stories of disaster at Ladysmith were
proved to be false, although the dis
patch itself revived the anxiety of the
more timid in another direction, as it
indicated that Gen. White, instead of
sitting tight and acting wholly on the
defensive, as it is held in many quar-
ters he ought TO do, persists in making
sorties and risling another Nicholsons s
Mex disaster. Generally, however, the
CHEEKY tone of the dispatch, showing
that there is no anxiety at Ladysmith
MS regards the ability of the be-
leaguered garrison to hold it's own,
has had an excellent effect on the coun-
try. From the fact that Gen. White
is able to take the offensive and shell
Boer camp it seems that Ladysmith
is not so closely besieged as was sup
posed. Not much Importance, however,
is attached to the shelling of the Boer
lager, as the war office has no con-
firmation of the story that the Orange
Free Staters' camp at Besters has
been captured. Were this true, it
might have considerable effect on the
future attitude of the Orange Free
State, which is not so directly con-
cerned in the conflict as the Transvaal.
Ladysmith Surrounded.
London, Nov. 1.-THE officials of the
British war office when shown the dis
patch from Durham of November said
they had no further news regarding the
military situation in Natal, but thought
no undue significance should be at
tached to the concluding phrase. They
could not say whether the railroad to
Ladysmith was intact, but they admit
ted that Ladysmith is now completely
surrounded.
Boers' Heavy Losses.
Estcourt, Natal, Nov. At is report
ed that the Beers lost 500 in killed and
wounded and captured in Thursdays
battle on Tathams farm, near Lady
smith.
Has No News.
London, Nov. 1.-THE war Office an
nounced at midnight that no dis
patches had been received beyond those
already made public, and that nothing
further would be issued before noon to-
day. Thus not solitary official item of
news has been posted for nearly "a
hours. This has given rise TO crop of
rumors that Ladysmith's ammunition
is eXhausted; that Sir George Stewart
White is mortally wounded; that both
facts are being concealed, and that
other unlucky happenings have taken
place. For all of these reports there
is absolutely no foundation. At the
same time the Britisher has had little
to stimulate him within the last "a
hours except the news of the confident
attitude of the Ladysmith garrison and
its slight successes last Thursday and
Friday.
situation Critical.
Advices from other parts of South
Africa arc distinctly unpalatable and
everything points to critical situa-
ton in Natal and the northern portions
of Cape Colony, likely to grow more
acute until Gen. White is either relieved
or decisively defeated. Nobody dares
to think of capitulation. Rather than
that he is expected, in last resort, if
Ladysmith becomes untenable, to make
adesperate effort to cut his way through
the Beers back into lower Natal and
to Join hands with the garrison there,
which is now almost certain to be reen-
forced by the first arrivals of the army
corps from England and to be pressed
forward to renew touch with him. 1t
is generally assumed, however, that
Gen. White, with the aid of the naval
guns, will be able to cope with any
bombardment. and the idea that the
Beers could take Ladysmith by assault
is secuted as absurd.
Meanwhile vague remarks in the dis
patches point to the arrival of further
big Boer guns from Johannesburg, to
be mounted among the hills within
range of Ladysmith. Such considera-
tions explain the anxiety felt regard
ing Gen. Whites movements and posi-
ton, not only by the public, but in Off
cial circles.
The British retirement to Estcourt
has given the impression that it is in
tended to make a stand there. Estcourt
is the least important town between
the Beers and the capital of Natal, and
if the Beers sweep past Estcourt, moth
ing can stop them from laying siege ~
Pietermaritzburg, which cannot be eX-
pected to make a protracted defense,
while its fall would be tremendous
blow to British prestige throughout
South Africa.
Heavy Fighting.
Estcourt, Natal, Nov. A reliable
messenger has just arrived from Lady
smith, passing the Boer lines during
the night, who reports that heavy fight
ing occurred on Thursday around Lady
smith. The hottest engagement was
on George Tatham's farm, on the
Orange Free State'sid of Besters. The
British drove the Beers back to their
camp. The enemy suffered great loss,
md an Inountad Rnarc xyara cauturad