The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-03

London, October 30.-The war office
has received a dispatch which says
General White has fought an engage
ment. presumably with General Jou-
bert's forces, which were pushed back
after several hours fighting. The Brit
ish lost about 100 men and the Boer
losses. were much greater. The Beers
were in larger numbers and had better
artillery.
Ladysmith, October 3O.-The naval
brigade arrived this morning at $50
o'clock and has just commenced firing
with six quick-firing guns with great
precision. The Boer 40-pounders, which
a again begun to shell the town.
were temporarily disable at the fourth
and fifth shots. Brisk fighting is in
progress on the right and left TANKS.
Firing commenced a 500 o'clock this
morning. the Beers Smelling Ladysmith
with 40-pOunders. After seven shots
the British guns succeeded in silencing
the BOer fire. A force Of Beers is now
advancing on the British left flank.
London, October 30.-A war office dis
patch from Cape Town, dated October
26th, says:
AN armored train under Llewellyn,
got within 1900 yards of the Boer
laager, three miles south of Crocodile
pOort. The Beers had driven in their
horses on the approach of the train.
Three Maxim belts were discharged
into the Beers, who must have had con-
siderable loss. They returned ten
shots with no effect. Colonel Plummer's
outpost has had several skirmishes on
the Crocodile river"
From later advices it was learned
that the Llewellyn train returned to
Mochudi, 100 miles north of Mafeking.
LleWellyn reports all quiet.
General Whites dispatch, which was
dated 4:30 o'clock p. m. today, read:
II employed all the troops here eX-
cept the obligatory garrison before the
works. / sent a mountain battery, the
Royal Irish fusileers and the GlOuces-
ters to take up a position on the hills
to clear my left flank. The force NOV
ed at II o'clock yesterday evening and
during some night firing the battery
mules Stampeded with some of the guns
which, however, | hope to recover.
These two battaliOns have not yet re-
turned, but are expected this evening.
II detailed a two brigade division of
field artillery and five battalions of
infantry, aided by cavalry, under Gen
eral French to attack a position upon
which the enemy yesterday mounted
guns. We found this position evacuat-
ed, but our force was attacked with
considerable yigOr by what | believe
were General JOubertS troops. They
had many guns and showed in great
numbers. Our troops were all in action
and we pushed the enemy back several
miles, but did not succeed in reaching
his laager. Our losses are estimated at
between so and 100. but those of the
enemy must have been much greater,
the fire of orr guns 9Dnp1r ring very eff
fectiVe.
After being in action several hours,
| WithdreW the troops and they re-
turned, unmOlested, to their canton
ments. The enemy are in great num-
bers and their guns range further than
our field guns.
II now ave some naval guns which
nave temporarily silenced and, I rope,
will permanently dominate the enemy's
best guns, with which he has been
b~ombarding the town at a range of
over 5000 yards"
MAFEKING AND KIMBERLEY
STILL HOLD OUT.
Latest news from the western Dor
der has apparently treasured the Brit
ish authorities as to the ability of
Mafeking and Kimberley to withstand
assaults.
A dispatch from Fort Tuli. for
Warded during the evening of October
oath, that Blackburn's force,
in the skirmish at Rhodes drift, killed
twelve Beers. A Kaffir spy reported
that many more Beers were lying in the
drift, dying. Blackburn died Of his
wounds on returning to Fort Tuli.
Scouts there report that the Beers are
concentrating strongly on the Rhode
sian border with MaXims.
BRITISH ASK LEAVE TO BURY
THEIR DEAD.
Lorenzo, October 3O.-A dispatch re-
ceived here today from Pretoria under
date of October 2Sth says General Cron-
Je, the BOer commander, announced
there that the British garrison at MAIZE
king made a bayonet attack on Com
LOuw's laager, near Grand
stand, but were repulSed, leaving six
dead on the field, and it was believed
that many of the attacking party were
wounded. The dispatch adds that Sat
urday morning Colonel Baden-Powel
asked for an armistice in order to bury
the dead. General Cronje consented to
this, the Beers assisting in placing the
dead in the wagon returning to MAIZE
king.
PORTUGUESE TROOPS ON THE
BORDER.
London. October 31.-A special dis
patch from Lorenzo Marques a a
strong force of Portuguese troops has
arrived on the Transvaal border from
Mozambique territory, owing to fears
regarding the hostilities between the
British and Beers.
The battery that was lost is proba-
bly, one consisting of six 212-pound
muzzIe-loaders and thirty-siX mules.
GENERAL BUTLER REACHES
CAPE TOWN.
A dispatch from Cape Town an
nounce the arrival in Table bay of tbs
DunOttar Castle, late last evening, WITT
General Sir Redvers-Buller and his
staff. who are expected to land this
morning. They will meet with a ire
mendOuS ovation in Cape Town.