The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-21
IN AN EFFORT TO CAPTURE ESTC0URT
BY ASSAULT.
A PITCHED BATTLE EXPECTED
Between Colenso and Estcourt With
the Advancing British-A Successful
Sortie from Ladysmith Gen. White
Reported Wounded - Heavy Firing
Below Ladysmfth-A1 Well at KIM
Cberley-The Advance to Relieve the
Town.

EStcourt, November 1S.-At 10 o'cick
this morning the Beers attempted to
rush Estcourt, but one shot from our
naval gun and several long-range vol
leys fired by the Dublin fusileers sent
them back precipitately. The Beers
had several guns posted on surround
ing kopjes, but our naval men ap-
parently astonished them. and their
guns were withdrawn.
Estcourt, November ia runner
arrived here from Ladysmith today
bearing dispatches from General
White, who reports all. we'll there. He
adds that the Boer shells have no eff
feet. General White recently made a
Sol tie and drove the Beers from their
guns position. The British did not
lose a man. The town is healthy.
1t is rumored that the Beers have
| occupied the village of Weenon twen-
ty-five miles hence. What advantage
they hope to derive therefrom is not
| known.
The bombardment of Ladysmith was
continued almost daily with big guns.
The Beers endeavored on Tuesday,
November 14th. to make a closer in
vestment, but were repulsed, General
| White following this up with a sortie
which drove the Beers from all their
positions, with considerable loss. The
Beers are reported to be seriously short
| Of provisions.
TO RELIEVE KIMBERLEY.
Orange River, Cape Colony, No
vember 15.-General Methuen has de-
| cided that the Kimberley relief column
| is TO march in as light order as pos
sible
Small bands of Beers are roaming in
| GriQualand West, anneXing towns
/ without opposition. They have already
/ taken possession of Barkley West and
| Douglass. A few police were captur-
ed at both places.
/ A PITCHED BATTLE EXPECTED.
| Lorenz, Marques, Delagoa Bay, No
| vember 1.-THE official Volkstem re-
ports that the great bridge over the
| Tugela river, near Colenso, was COM
| pletely destroyed Wednesday, Novem-
| ber 18th.
| The Beers are looking forward with
| great interest to the impending en-
counter between Co1enso and Estcourt
with the advancing British. About 600
| burghers, with cannon. are guarding
| the Helpmakaar pass, eighteen miles
| from Dundee, to battle strategical at
| tempt to re-occupy Dundee by the
Pietermaritzburg-G route.
GENERAL WHITE WOUNDED.
| Lorenzo, Marques, November 49,
Belated dispatches from a. correspond
ent with the Beers near Ladysmith,
up to Tuesday, November 14th, are
| arriving here, after being strictly CEN
Sored at Pretoria.
man who reported that General White
was wounded and had gone to Pieter-
maIitZburg, leaving General French
in command. This, however, does not
tally with the Transvaals information,
The prisoner also reported that the
British forces were hiding in under
! ground chambers. in order to avoid
1000 wounded in the hospitals. Cen
eral Joubert had been indisposed. but
is better.
Heavy fighting occurred between
the Orange Free State troops and the
British south of Ladysmith. during the
morning of Tuesday, November 14th-
The result is not known.
OFFICIAL WAR NEWS.
London, November 1s.-The war Of
fee has received the following dispatch
from General Butler:
'"Cape Town. November IL.
Report from Kimberley, Saturday
November 11th, says all well there.
Reports from Ladysmith, Sunday
November 18th, and Monday, Novem-
| Der lSLll, say all Well Cu6TS.
Dispatches from Cape Town give
General Buffers reply to the applica
ton of Colonel Schiel, the German of
ficer captured at Eandslaagte, for &
parole, in accordance with the alleged
promise OF General White. Genera
| Butler says:
The Transvaal declared war and in.
vaded British territory before Brit
ish force could be put in the field
They, therefore, obtained an immenss
military advantage at the outset
They, no doubt, took into consideration
the fact that the small British force
opposed to them would have few mer
to spare to guard prisoners whs
Y might, therefore, be subjected to close
restraint. On the arrival of the Brit
ish force, will do~my best to remedy
any Inconvenience"
An official dispatch from Pretoria
dated November 10th, confirms the
statements to the effect that the Boer
big guns had little effect at Mafeking
Reports from Cape Colony indicate
that the Boer sympathiZers are great
ly surprised at the inability Of General
Joubert to capture Ladysmith. 1t is
announced that British transports ar
irving at Cape Town today, add
roughly, 1900 men to the British force
in South Africa, making total OF
| about $1,000 men of General Buffers
| army corps SudI nave dTTlSSu-
| BOERS REPULSED.
London, November ia dispatch
from Pietermaritzburg dated Satur-
day, November 18th, says:
"a runner brings a message from
Ladysmith saying that on November
9Th the Beers attacked that town
| from the southwest. but were repulsed
by the royal rifles and rifle brigade
| with great loss. On November 18th
the Beers made an attack near Colen-
| so, but were repulsed with a loss OF
| 500. Fighting is proceeding at Est
| court
BOERS ROUTED AT ESTCOURT.
Estcourt, November 1s.-Noon.-For