Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-09
WHITE
SAVED
British General Beats Off
Boer Forces About
Ladysmith.
London Reports Boer Loss
Over Two Thousand
Saturday.
Strong Rumors at Cape
Upon Captures And
Fighting.

London, NOV, S-ENtueNtly more de-
tailed reports of Gen. Whites doings
at Ladysmith must be received before
the public will be able to form clear
idea Of what has happened, Reports
from various sources show that an
other important reconnaissance or on
gagement occurred Saturday to the
south of l.adysmtth, and the Capetown
newspapers report that 1000 beers were
captured there. The Daily Telegraph
publishes the following dispatch from
Pietermaritzburg, dated Saturday even
ing: "Since their occupation of Col
enso, the beers have attempted no adj
vance further south. Estcourt has
now become strong and growing
camp Major Wife Murray Ia In tenn
porary command The enemy bonn
bnrdcd Colenso Thursday until sunset
at the extreme range OF his 9 cent?
meter Krupp guns. Confirmation has
been obtained OF the report that Cen.
Schalkbergor Is the boer commander at
Nryburg A general boer advance Is
not thought probable. Means have
been taken to secure petormartzburg
against any possible attack and also to
relieve Ladysmith before the enemy
can come farther, Widespread rumors
of both Dutch and native origin have
been current since yesterday that, dur
ing q reconnaissance from Ladysmith
northward toward Mattawan's Hook
and Nicholson's Mex, the British
troops engaged tho enemy. It is said
that the Lyddlte battery drove the
beers into the valley where the British
cavalry charged through them. The
boer losses in this engagement are said
to have reached 900, tho British loss
being only about 100"
Gloom Is Lifted.
London, Nov. S.--Welcome dispatch
es from the front have rent the veil OF
gloom cnyeloping I4adysmith, showing
the British garrison not merely stand
ing on the logged defensive but exc
cutting a series of brilliant sorties. Ac-
counts from different sources agree
that the laconic official description OF
Thursdays engagement, as IAN effec-
tive Smelling of the boer lager" was
unduly modest 1t appears that Gen.
White sent a strong force OF cavalry
and infantry To attack the beers Mt
Tatham's farm, about 10 miles to the
northwest, near Besters' and APPARENT
ly achieved a surprise, the beers being
caught on the open wedt. cut to pieces
and their camp captured. Encouraged
by this success, Gen. White decided to
risk an even more important engage
inent on the following day, which was
again justified by success. Ladysmith
had been isolated and the beers force
had intercepted the railway between
Ladysmith and Colenso. This force
had descended upon Colenso on Friday
and as shown by the dispatches from
Estcourt, had completed hurried
o. : ,ienso upon the re-
tirement OF the British TO Estcourt.
Gen. White had ascertalned that the
beers were attacking Colenso but ives
not aware OF the British retirement.
He determined therefore, to attack the
beers In the rear, thus hoping TO
achieve the double object OF drawing
off an attack upon the weak garrison at
Colenso and, possibly, OF re-opening
southwark. The beers
had advanced southwark until they had
occupied the hills north OF the Tugela
river, dominating Colenso on the other
side OF the stream. The hills slope TO
the plain that reaches to the banks OF
the Tugela. Whites division caught
the beers In the rear and,
after the hills had been shellcd, the
British infantry stormed the position.
the British cavalry swept
round the hills. As the retreating
enemy descended into the plains with
British bayonets behind them and the
river in front, they were charged by
the cavalry and seem to have persisted
almost to man. The British then re-
turned to Ladysmith without coming
into communication with the Colenso
garrison, which had receded TO Est |
~
court. however. showed that the arm
orcd train had been sent back to Co !
lenso to repair the line and the next !
news may possibly be OF the restora- |
ton of communication with Ladysmith
as shown by the official dispatches
from Estcourt. There is a most satis- |
encouraging hope that Sir
George White may yet completely re-