Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-11-24
NO NEWSFROM FIGHT
Re-enforcements and Supplies
Pouring In For Beers.
RAPID INVASION OF CAPE COLONY.
German Omcers md Men Arrive to
Help Transvnnl Troops War OF
flee Has Told AII-The British
Troops Get "EmbaIm d Beef"

LONDON, Nov. 21.-The reports Of
heavy fighting at Ladysmth last Wednes-
day have not been confirmed. On The
contrary, the most reliable advices from
Estcourt indicate that there was nothing
more than a desultory cannonade Prob
ably the rumor of serious engagement
grew out of the fact that the Beers threw
n few harmless shells late Tuesday night,
leading to the superstition that an attack
was imminent. Nothing, however, hap
pencd Wednesday.
Beyond the fact that the Beers are
daily receiving fresh re-enforcements and
supplies there is practically nothing new
from the front.
The Boer invasion of Cape Colony con-
tinucs steadily and rapidly. There are
300 Beers at Colesberg, and news has
reached East London that Ladygrey, near
Aliwal North, has been deserted by the
British and is now in the hands of the
enemy.
A Pretoria dispatch announces the ar
rival there among the British prisoners
of Major Haldane, Lieutenant Brochie
and Lieutenant Hallway. 1t also de-
clares that the British on Sunday made
two unsuccessful attempts to GUST the
Rustenburg commando from a position
near Mafeking and that severe fighting
! took place.
From Delagoa bay come reports of the
arrival of more German officers and ar
tillerymcn who have volunteered to serve
with the Transvaal forces.
The war office semioflicially asserts
that all news received from Africa has
been published with the exception of de-
mands for the renewal of stores, war
material and the like. There is an I'M
confirmed rumor that more troops have
been ordered from India to the Cape.
The plan of operations on both sides is
slowly unfolding itself. General Joubert
is evidently moving south to prevent if
possible the junction of the British re-
leving force with the forces at Estcourt
and Ladysmith, while on the Orange riv-
or border the Beers are believed to be
concentrating at Donkerpoort to oppose
General Buffers advance. 1t is said that
5000 Beers have already laagered at
DOnkcrpOort.
The English plan seems to be n three
fold advancc-from Durham to Lady
smith, from Orange river to Kimberley
and from East London, by way of
Queenstown, to BUrghersdorp. General
Butler has wired the commanding officer
at Queenstown announcing the dispatch
or General Gatacrc, with the nrSt pat
talon of the Seventh brigade, to East
London This was the place from which
it was originally intended that Genera
Gatacres column should start. Thus il
is possible that General Buffers frs
plans have suffered less modification
than some have supposed.
The Daily Chronicle, in its war diary,
says this morning:
"Iitherto we have hesitnted to speal
of the quality of the timed meat sup
piled to our transports, much of which
has had to be thrown overheard, but W.
have made inquiries in quarters not likel!
to be influenced by mere rumor, and W.
, find there suspicious that some of tn,
meat supplied to the government for us,
, on British transports was meat which
, had been rejected by the United State
, during the hostlities in Cuba, where i
, was picturesquey put down as 'embalm
ed beef and relabelcd with the mark o
the current year.
"Whatcvcr blunder there may hav
been must be laid, not at the door of tn
war Office. but at the door of the admiral
/ ty, which has undertaken to feed tn
troops. Not n single complaint has com
to hand regarding the quality of the wa
Office stOrcs.'