Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-13
BOER ACTIVITY IN NATAL.
Their Artillery Practice. However, is
of Poor Order.

LONDON, November Il. - News from
the seat of war in South Africa continues
fairly satisfactory The official cables are
not very detailed with regard TO the Bel
mont incident. which, except for the loss OF
Col Keith Falconer. was not very serious
affair.
There are signs Of greatly increased BOer
activity in Natal and along the western
frontier. All the dispatches tend to show
that the British are holding out ably Col
Baden-Powell reports that all was well at
Mafeking on November e.
Ladysmiths latest date is November ..
While nothing adverse is heard from the
latter point, and confidence Is felt IN Gen.
Whites ability-preVlDuS experience having
shown that the Boer artillery is not very
effectively is beginning to be proved that
the acquisition of artillery. which has de-
stroyed the former mobility OF the hoer
forces has also failed To give them any
compenSating advantage. On the contrary,
the reverse is the case
1t is held here that if the Beers had not
been hampered by the transport of heavy
guns and their rescue from tight places
Gen. Joubert might ere this have been in
Pietermaritzburg. Unless the Boer neaFy
artillery justifies itself by reducing Lady
smith it will again hamper him in the
eventual retreat from Natal, when Gen.
Butler sends the relieving force.
Probable Route of Retreat.
1t is believed that the Boer retreat Will
be made over the Drykensburg range into
the Zoutpansberg district, where every
preparation for provisioning and maintain
ing the Beers is said to have been made
for the last stand. and where II Will be
difficult to diSlOdge them. Already II IS
rumored that they are in straits for food
around Ladysmith. and may, therefore, be
obliged to abandon the siege
Strong bids are being made by the Beers
for the support of the Cape Dutch, but
without much success, although II is be-
ueved that the Dutch farmers. especially
in Picquetberg district, are armed with
Mausers and are watching the course of
events before joining the Beers. From
Stormberg it is reported that the Free State
forces are working slowly toward Dord-
recht with a view of attacking Queenstown
and cutting off the towns in the northern
districts Of Cape Colony.
The wounded are recovering in remark
able manner. The Mauser wounds are
small and heal rapidly. Many of the
wounded apply for permission to return to
the front
Lieut.. Wood of American Descent.
A dispatch from Halifax. n. s, says:
Lieut. c. C. Wood Of the North Lancashire
regiment, reported fatally wounded at kim
berley, and whose death was subsequently
announced In Saturday evenings cable
message, was a great-grandson OF Presi-
dent Zachary Taylor. His father is Capt.
J. Taylor Wood who has resided in Hall
fax since the close OF the war between the
north and south.
Lieut.. Wood was born in Halifax and ed
ucated in the Canadian Royal Military Col
lege Kingston, Ont. He was the first
graduate of that college to die in battle,
and the first Canadian to fall IN the pres
ent war in South Africa. The young man
served in India before going TO South
Africa. He had promising future. He
had a brother in the Canadian military
service, who is in command Of the mounted
police in the Yukon.
John Taylor Wood, the father of C. c.
Wood, is son of the late Mai. Gen. Rob
ert c. Wood, L. S. a. His mother was a
daughter Of President Zachary Taylor and
sister of the first wife Of President Davis
of the southern COnfederaCy. He entered
the United States navy a midshipman
in 1871. and distinguished himself In the
Mexican war. lie entered the confederate
service In 1861, was a long time on the
staff Of President Davis, served on the Viz
ginus i'll the battles of Hampton Roads
was made post captain for gallantTy, and
in August 1864, took command of the Tai
lahassee Since the war he had resided in
t.,1T