Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-11-17
To-DAY's TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
The Situation in south Africa.

The Situation in South Africa.
Estcourt, NV. 16.-Nalive runners
arriving here report that battle oc-
Cured at Ladvsmith November 10 b..
Gen. White, they say, drew the Beers
into an opeu plain and then fanked
them and routed them. According to
the natives 200 Kaffirs were employed
to bury the Boer dead. Their wound
ed filled two trains. The fighting was
renewed on Tuesday.
Estcourt, Natal, Nov. 16 The am
bulance train sent cut yesterday TO tend
the British wounded 10 the fight at
Frere station, where the Beers wrecked
the armoIed train, has returned. The
Beers informed the surgeon in charge
that three of the British were dead and
had been buried. There were nioe
British wounded in their hospitals.
Capetown, Nov. 17.-Dispst ches from
Natal seem to Indicate that two armor-
ed trains are missing near Estceurt, the
second one having twenty FIVE volun-
teers on board.
London, Nov. ia dispatch from
Capetown says that General Hildyard
reports from Estcourt that 80 of the
Dublin Fusiliers who were on the arm
ored train wrecked at Frere station
are missing, together with Captain
Haldane, If the Gordon Highlanders.
General Hildyard says he sent 8
mounted force to cover the British re-
treat. Up to that time 100 of the Brit,
ish are missing.
London, Nov. 1.-THE War Office
is informed that the bombardmebt Of
Ladysmith by the Beers WIS renewed
yesterday with redoubled fury. The
news excites alarm here as it is btliev
ed the Beers are straiping every nerve
to take the place before the arrival Of
re-enforce ments from the Suu'h. a
dispatch from johannesburg says Their.
ia official Coo ifDalion OF the report tha
5000 Beers are advancing on Estcourt
This, coupled with q dis. atch saying
the Estcourt garrison might fall back to
the Moot river, twenty five miles to the
south, is regarded as ominous and adds
to the gloom caused by the disaster to
the armored train north of Escourt. Ii
Estcourt is taken by the Beers, another
barrier ia thrown up for Buffers re
lief force to overcome before it Can
reach the Tugela river, where th'
supreme trial strength should take
pace. If Butler is not ready for
the advance in shoit order, it appear;
that the Beers will score on him heavily
in tactics south of Ladysmith. The
disaster to the armored train at Fferes
station, constituting the third notable
reverse to British arms in Natal, has
hit Englishmen in a sore place. The
public feeling is split between admira
ton for the bravery displayed by the
British troops and impatieDce at the
foolish holiness which brought about
their defeat. 1t seems incredible that
| any commander should permit an arm
ored train to proceed through coun.
try infested by the enemy on an un-
guarded railroad and the feeling is
widespread that some explanation for
this sort of tactics is due. A Durham
dispatch says another armored train
has been sent to the front.
Durham, Nov. ia report that
reached here saying two armored trains
we're missing near Estcourt, proves to
| be incorrect. Besides the regulars on
the captured train, there were % volun-
teers.
Pretoria, Nov. 17.-From the Boer
camp at Elandslaagte comes the official
report dated November 9: "Ladysmith
has been completely encircled by the
Boer forces. Our second big gun
was successfully placed 10 posi-
ton on Bulwan bill in front
of Ladysmith. The firing of the heavy
guns commenced this morning with nc
casualties to the burghers up to the
present. Botha has photographed from
the south that the British batteries
opened heavy fire with his guns and
continually dropped shells into the
works around Ladysmith. The Pretoria
force was in tight place, having taken
up position commanded by the British,
which was so hot that the position be,
came untensble. The big gun, how
ever, saved the day"
Estcourt, Nov. 1.-THE investment
of Estcourt has begun. Numerous
bodies OF Beers with eight guns have
appeared at Ennerdale station, FIVE
miles to the northeast of the town, and
ere throwing up entertainments.