The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-07

| 49, ~&>'%
sorties and risking another Nicholson's
Mex disaster. Generally, however, the
CHEEKY tone of the dispatch, showing
that there is no anxiety at Ladysmith
as regards the ability of the beleaguer-
ed garrison to- hold it's own, has had
an excellent effect on the country.
From the fact that General White is
able to take the offensive and shell a
Boer camp, It seems that Ladysmith
is not so closely besieged as was sup
posed. Not much Importance, however,
is attached to the Smelling of the Boer
lager, as the War Office has no con-
firmation of the story that the Orange
Free States camp at Besters has been
captured. Were this true, it might
have considerable effect on the future
attitude of the Orange Free State,
which is not so directly concerned in
the conflict as the Transvaal.
The movement of Beers into Cape
Colony is beginning to awaken British
fear that they have greatly underesti-
mated the forces they will have to meet,
and that even General Buffers task
may not be so easy as anticipated.
1t is becoming apparent that all the
atty of the population are hopelessly
at sea, or there has been a very serious
leakage of Dutch sympathizers from
Natal and Cape Colony. Otherwise
there is no accounting for the large
forces of Burghers reported from all
directions.
The evacuation of Colenso and the
reported withdrawal of the British force
4 OF 1oi Inc
The former may be due to either the
Boer artillery rendering the place I'M
tenable, or to the fact that pressure
elsewhere, possibly at Pietermaritzburg
has necessitated the concentration at
a threatened point of all available
troops 1t is said that If the objective
of the Beers traversing Zululand was
Pietermaritzburg, they ought shortly to
be heard from. That the position is
regarded as serious is apparent from
the fact that British cruisers are hur-
rying to the Cape Station.
With regard to Stormberg, it is claim
ed that if it turns out to be true that
the place has been evacuated it may
either be due to the impossibility at
present of providing an adequate gar
rison to defend such important sup
plies against the Boer raids or to
change in General Buffers plans where
by General Methuens division will be
landed at Durham to relieve General
White If the latter plan is decided
on, the nearest available stores are
those at Stormberg, and the quickest
method of making the necessary provi-
sion for an advance will be- to rail-
road these stores to East London,
whence they would reach Durham be-
fore the first troopship.
Advices from Cape Town under date
of November Sd, say that martial law
has been proclaimed in the districts &C.
cupied by the British troops between
/ the Orange River and De Aar. The
Premier. w. P. Schreiner, has sent
circular to the Magistrates, and others
warning all persons against statements
to the effect that the parliamentary in
stitutions and constitutional govern
/ ment will be lost or detrimentally af-
fected. He adds that the proclamation
| of martial law is only a matter of tenn
porary urgency in some districts and
does not compel the Burghers Of the
| colony to participate in the "deplora-
| BILE hostilities.''
Prince Christian Victor, of Schleswig-
Holstein. grandson of Queen Victoria
and Captain in the Kings Royal Ri
fies, and other officers have left Cape
Town for Ladysnith to replace the
dead and wounded
The Boer prisoners have been taken
on board the British cruiser Penelope.
They number nine officers and $50 men.
The Dutch farmers of Aliwalnorth
have passed resolution making a
strong protest against the allegations
OF disloyalty Of the Dutch in Cape Col
ony.
An official notice posted at the
Landrosts Office at vryburg October
zotn' referring to the bombardment of
Mafeking, says: The big Pretoria gun
wrought great destruction, but the en-
envy opstinately holds hds own
otner advices from. Vryburg say the
British flag still floats over Thurman.
put that Boer force is about to pro-
/ ceed thither. The Dotariss command
mas been reinforced by 1900 Beers. and
has gone to Kimberly.
LADYsMITH COMPLETELY SUR
ROUNDED
LONDON, Nov. 6-The officials OF the
British War Office, when shown the dis
patch from Durham of November Sd.
said they had no further news regard
Ing the military situation in Natal, but
i thought no undue significance should
pe attached to the concluding phrase.
They could not say whether the rail-
road to ladysmith was intact but they
admitted that Ladysmith Is now COM
pletely surrounded.
WILL GIVE ENG. AND HEAPS or