Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-03
Make Common Cause with Their Hardy
Brethren of the Transvsal.
NATIVES ABOUT READY TO TAKE A HAND
General Whites Force is Still Shut Up
Tightly in Ladysmith,
TOWN IS NOW COMPLETELY INVESTED
Communication Is interrupted and
the Worst is Feared for the safety
of the British Forces at
That Point.

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copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Nov 2.-(New York World Ca
blegram--Special telegram m.)-The South
african situation Is again causing the deep
est alarm. The silence Of the war Office
which received today several dispatches from
Capetown and Durham, the holding back
of the list of casualties at Ladysmith and
finally the announcement of the mobilization
of the second army corps, the tenth this
month, all combine to show that the posi-
tion of British power in South Africa is
one of the greatest peril. The reported mo-
billzation of the army corps is not officially
confirmed, but is corroborated from Alder
shot, where arrangements arc actually in
progress for the operation
Your correspondent learns that the Dutch
are rising in northern CaDetown, and the
revolt has assumed menacng proportions,
owing to Boer successes, while native un-
rest all along the Transvaal and Orange
Free State borders has become most men
acing. The natives cannot be relied on by
either side, but will probably fight for their
own hand with sedtion spreading among
The Cane and Natal Dutch. The natives
are only waiting to jump in on their own
account. Whites force is Still beleaguered
at Iadysmith. This war mas suddenly be-
come Il e most momentous in which England
has engaged in since the American revolu-
tion.
General Jouberts movement to cut on
White from Colenso is being carried ou'
and 1t is regarded as quite probable thai
Maritzburg, the capital Of Natal, Will fal
into his hands before Butler and his rein
forcements arrive.
Mr.. Chamberlain who had proposed tt
take his case at his country seat near BIZ
mingham while the Transvaal was being
conquered, has found it necessary to come
to town and is in constant communication
with Milner.
LonsdaIe Offers His Services.
Lord Lonsdale proposes to take out u
South Africa 20S men of the Westmorelant
z aud Cumberland yeomaniy, OF which ne u
colonel, also three Maxims and two full!
equipped ambulance corps. He will plac'
himeelf in the hands OF the War office au
thorities. to whom he will make his ole
almost Immediately.
The Daily Mail correspondent at Pieter
maritzburg October 81, says: 1T Is reported
that the Boer force from Koomatiport Will
guns is making its way through lu2uland
1t intends to Welt each magsterial distric
and hoist the Transvaal flag in 1t. IN
force is expected to reach Mavuma on Sat
urday The authorities are entirely on tn
alert"
The Morning Leaders special from Lady
smith, October 81, 4:05 p. m, says: Il hav
lust been out to the spot where the Glou
cestershires and Irish Fuslleers were en-
gagged yesterday. / found the Beers IN pos
session and was accorded safe conduct owe
T.a plapa n
the top OF high mountain, where our in
fantry had thrown up entrenchments. In
mule battery had stampeded earlier. Will
the Beers were engaging the Fusileers an
the Gloucestershires from the hills facln
the precipitous front of the mountain o
which our men were entrenched. Anothe
party Of the enemy crept up gentler slor
of the same emnence and thus our me
were virtually encircled. They surrendere
at . D. M, after seven hours contnuot
fighting. ] counted over twenty Of our dea
lying on the open plateau which forms II
summit OF the hill. Quite hundre
wounded were collected during the morning
Eight hundred and seventy British prison
ers were sent TO Pretoria"
There is no news from Kimberley.
Mondny's Engagement.
Bennett Burleigh cables to the Tele
graph:
LADYSMITH, Monday Night, via Piete,
marltzburg Tuesday Afternoon, To-day
battle at Ladysmith was disappointing ac
tion, as the object-which was to roll bac
the Free Staters-was not achieved.
Yet our soldiers individually showed then
selves a match for the Beers, both in shoo
ing ability and pluck although they wei
faced by double their own numbers poste
,,,htn haI nrs
yiously prepared for defense and to resi-
cannonade.
The enemy had been drawing their col
closer around on the west, north and ca
sides OF the town, their forces being con
posed OF Free Staters, General Joubert
column and that OF Lucas Meyer, Gener
Whites plan included the fighting of thr,
simultaneous actions on Sunday and MOI
day night
Before daybreak our troops marched o
10 distance of several miles from can
and succeeded in securing certain points III
seen by the enemy. the advantage beiI
thus on our side Considering the natu
OF the subsequent contests our losses mu
be considered relatively light.
The enemy began battle at $40 o'clo
In the morning, firing with their fort
FOUNDER guns from ridge situated abo
four miles out to the east of the railw
and dropping shells into the town.
the missiles luckily proved almost harI
less.
The action soon became general and O
left center and right engaged the Boer pot
ton. AT frs: our batteries seemed unal
TO quite silence the Boer artillery-whi
was fought with indomitable energy a
pluck-the British gunners having to co
tend with the dificulty of being on /
ground.
General Whites right and center gain
some initial energy but the enei
arrived in great force and our right and |
were attacked with tremendous vigor.
Partially Hcmmed In.
Our left became partially hemmed in a
our right was driven in steadily. The e
eral retirement began about IL O'Clock
the forenoon and was executed with gr
coolness
1t was a serious misfortune to us Il
The Powertuls bluejaekets. with their