The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-02


GENTLY occupied to preserve General
Methuen from undue molestation, es-
tpecially if rumOrs from various sources
that describe the Free State burghers
as in no wise enthusiastic for fighting
are we'll founded.
| 1t has been reported that General
| Butler will take up his quarters at De
| Aar, but this seems doubtful. De Aar,
where a vast amount of stores have
| been collected, is the base for General
Methuen's advance, and General Bull
Ter may have been there for day or
| So 1t is believed, however, that he
| still has his headquarters at Cape
| Town.
Although Kimberley is supposed to
| be the objective point Of General Meth
uen, many military critics are Of the
| opinion that his advance will be not
toward Kimberley, but across the Or
ange Free State, in order to secure
! complete command Of the Orange river.
| The debarkation Of troops at Cape
Town is proceeding in the most salts
| factory manner o1e thousand eight
hundred and fifty railway carriages
have been collected there for the con-
veyance Of troops northWard and there
| is talk of suspending the suburban
| traffic SO as to accelerate military
work.
The Daily Chronicle in its War Di-
ary" says this morning: Hitherto we
have hesitated to speak of the quality
of the timed meat supplied to our
transports, much Of which has had to
be thrown overheard. But we have
made inquiries in quarters not likely
to be Influenced by mere rumOrs, and
we find there suspicion that some of
the meat supplied to the Government
for use on British transports was meat
which had been rejected by the United
States during hOstilities in Cuba, where
it was picturesquely known as EN-
balmed beef and relabeled with the
mark OF the current year. Whatever
blunder there may have been it must
not be laid at the door of the War Of
flee, but at the door of the Admiralty,
which has undertaken to feed the
troops. Not a single complaint has
come to hand regarding the War Of
flee"
A FIGHT NEAR KURUMAN
LONDON, Nov. 21.-The Daily Tele-
graph publishes the following:
CAPE TOWN, Saturday, Nov 49,
The military authorities authorize the
publication of the news that a heavy
engagement has occurred near Kuru
man. The place was attacked by the
enemy in force, but after sharp fight
ing the Beers We're repulsed with con-
siderable loss.
This action is supposed to have been
fought by Colonel Plumer's column,
but further details are expected short
ly. News has reached here from Ma
fekfng, under date of November 2, to
the effect that the Beers are disheart-
ened by the failure Of their operations
1t is reported that many of them are re-
treating in various directions.
CLERY'S TASK DIFFICULT.
LONDON, Nov. 20.-The present
week, according to the dispatches from
the front, ought to see a change in the
defensive tactics hitherto maintained
by the British in South Africa. It is
said that the task allotted to General
Clery, that Of relieving Ladysmith,
will tax his generalship to the utmost.
The Beers are developing great deal
of strength in the neighborhood of
Estcourt and General Joubert is re-
ported to be moving southwark him.
self in order to direct the movement to
repel the British advance, after, iti
would seem, attempting to isolate Est
court. This latter movement is alrea-
dy in progress. The Beers practically
surround the town.
General Clery is lamentably deficient
in cavalry and artillery, though at |
tempts are being made to replace the |
former by an Outlander mounted in
fantry, Of which about 1 500 have start |
ed for the front.
The popular anticipations here re-
garding the relief Of Kimberley appear |
too sanguine. The British force is not |
vet ready and when it starts it will |
have dangerous road to follow, every |
foot of which will probably be contest
ed if the British attempt a direct ad- |