Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-07
BOERS NOT ON The RETREAT
Dom Pnurs soldiers Are Engaged in
Making II Uncomfortable for
Iadysmith.


LONDON, Dec. GA budget of news from
Ladysmth, which arrived today brings the
history OF the beleagured garrison up to No
vember 30. In spite OF the rumors Of a
retrograde movement upon the part OF the
Beers, the stories just received show that
the garrison, although still strong, was suf
, fering from confinement, restricted diet and
the increasing volume of the Boer artillery
fire, especially that of an additional heavy
caliber gun placed In position 5000 yards
from the western defenses. The dispatches
relate that the Beers had discovered the
most vulnerable points Of the garrison and
that shelling was becoming disagreeably eff
fective. The rations had been reduced and
there was a great deal of sickness. Never
theless.I the troops of the garrison were in
every way preparing to meet the assault
which it was anticipated the Beers would
undertake in final effort to reduce the city.
The belief was current in. Ladysmith that
the Beers were preparing for a retrograde
movement after another attack Several
bodies of burghers were reported to have
been seen November 2S, moving in the di-
rection of the Drakensburg range, while,
November 90, detachments were observed
journeying northward with wagons. Dscord
between the Transvaalers and Free Staters
also reported. There was no indica-
ton, however, that the Beers were prepar-
ing to dismantle their gun positions, but the
idea was prevalent in some quarters of
Ladysmth that the continued shelling of the
place was intended to cover the retirement
of other Boer forces towards the Transvaal
frontiers.
The Pretoria dispatch (of Saturday, De-
cember 2, via Lourenzo Marquee, Monday,
December ~ however, announced that a
Boer council of war December was plan
ming a renewed assault on Ladysmith.
One Bridge Intact.
A dispatch from Frere dated Sunday, De-
cember 8, reports that in Colonel Lord Dun
donald's reconnaissance near Colenso fifteen
Beers were killed and many wounded. The
road bridge across the Tugela river is in
tact.
The same message reports that President
Kruger is anxious that the burghers leave
Ladysmith in order to oppose the British
marching in the direction Of Pretoria from
the west.
Advices from Putter's kraal. the head
quarters of General Gatacres division, dated
December 2, say the Beers entered |
Dordorecht that morning This, it is added,
is probably Groebler's force of 1900 men
from Stormberg.
The war office bas received the list of
during the sortie fc5rel Kimberley T!
November 2S, as follows: Killed: Major |
ScottTurner of the Black Watch, Lieuten-
ant C. w. Wright of the Kimberley Light |
Horse and twenty nom commissioned officers |
and men, Wounded: Captain Walleck, |
Lieutenants Clifford and Watson and twen- |
ty-eight non-commissioned officers and |
men
There is a possibility, If General Butler
asks for further reinforcements, that a
brigade of militia will be sent to South
Africa, with the view of conciliating
the militiamen, who think that branch OF
The service has been sighted in favor Of the
reservists.
In compliance with requisition signed by
Messrs. w. Redmond. John Clancy and 9TH
ers the lord mayor of Dublin locum tenens
has called a meeting of the corporation for
December II to dispose of motion in which
he corporation will deplore the ''infction
IN the South African republics of this la
cruel and unnecessary war;" and
protests against policy "involving loss of
ife and enormous expenditures"
Report of Bocr Losses.
The war Office has received the following |
elegram from General Butler:
"PIETERMARITZBUR Tuesday, Dec 5.
1t is very difficult to make any statement
n regard to the enemy's loss. For instance,
It Belmont eighty-one Of their dead were
accounted for. There is every reason to be-
ieve that the enemy's loss in the fight at
4adysmith November Q was over 800 killed
md wounded. Information from a trust
worthy Boer source shows that at Hildyard's
light November 23 the enemy lost thirty
,illed and 100 wounded. 1t is impossible to
ay how far these numbers are correct, but
t is evident the enemy does not admit
enth of the losses suffered. Intercepted
dispatches to Joubert from a commander
how that even the official dispatches con-
ain decidedly inaccurate information in this
espect."