Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-11-06
THE WAR IN AFRICA.

A special dispatch from Iadysmith,
describing Thursdays fighting, ssys:
1.-THE artillery duel at dawn, in which
the Beers guns were silenced, was in
tended to occupy the Beers and to en-
able Sir George Stewart White to
achieve his chief purpose, the capture
of the Boer camp behind Bester's Hill.
For this purpose the Lancers, Hussars,
Natal carbineers and Natal border rifles
started under General French at sun
rise and got within striking distance be.
fore the enemy was aware of their pres
eDce. A field battery was also sent, and
it secured good position, commanding
the enemy's camp, which WAS large
one, lsagered with army wagons and
other vehicles.
"Bes.er's Hill was we'll fortified and
provided with good guns. At 8 o'clock
the British opened fire. the Beers reply
ing with shot, but badly aimed.
1.-The British quickly sent forty
two-pound shell into their camp, caus-
ing terrible loss and spreading panic
among the enemy. The cavalry
then stormed the position, the Beers
fleeing precipitately. leaving many dead
and wounded, as we'll as the whole camp
and equipment, in the hands of the
British. This success will upset the
plans of the Orange Free Slate COM
manders, and, possibly, will prevent
them giving the British further trouble
from the west"
Another dispatch from Ladysmitb,
describing the engagement at Bester'a
Hill, says the Beers were comp etely
routed and suffered heavy loss. Their
entire camp was captured. The cor
respondent goes on to say: Gan artil-
lery duel is in progress. A British shell
struck Bosr forty.poander and com.
pletely wrecked it,"
Persistent reports that General Sill
George Stewart White, British COM
mander in Natal, has capitulated, were
in circulation yesterday in Lisbon, Der
lin and Amsterdam. Lisbon is land
ing place for the African cables, and i'm
portant news relating to Africa fire.
| quently comes from that city first
London war officials say that at their
last advices General White was still
holding out. Dispatches for the War
Office were sent from Ladysmith Fri.
day by carrier pigeon. At that time
the bombardment was proceeding.
Advices received yesterday state
that the evacuation of Oolenso, which
is admitted by the London War Office,
was preceded by fight. Messages sent
rom ColeDso Thursday night and de-
layed in transmission state that tbs
Beers shelled the town that day and
that 1000 of them were advancing
from the northwest. The press cable
grams stop at this point, but that the
| Beers forced the British to retire is
shown by the War Offices official ad.
| mission.
Colenso dispatches also state that General
Joubert had posted part Of his army on Grob
lerskloof Hill, south of Ladysmith, thus cut
ting off the line of General Whites retreat
From this position the Beers were Smelling
| Whites position.
The Beers have proclaimed the part Of Ma
tai which is north of the Tugela river annex
ed to the Orange Free State,
An army o, Beers has invaded Cape Colony
from Bethulie bridge and Norval's Pont ard
is threatening the advanced depot at Naauw
Port for General Buffers projected invasion
of the Orange Free State.
An unconfrmsd report comes from CaI e.
town that the Basuto natives have risen
against the Orange Free State.