Daily inter mountain., 1899-11-24

again probably be opposed Further
detalls OF the lighting will be anxiously
awaited by the British public, although
1t ls already clear that the victory is de-
cisive = W
a dispatch is also at hand from Gem
eral Gatacre. who, in reporting the latest
dispositions of the British troops makes
omnous mention Of the continued Dntch
rising IN the Broken Nail district, A
party of armed Dutch is said to have laff
cradock on the eastern line Of Port Eliza
beth to join the Beers taking armed ma
tiveS with them
General French who was reported to be
moving east from De Aar has found the
Beers holding strong position at Arun-
ael, few miles north Of Naauwpoort
me British force Withdrew with three
wounded.
Ihere IS no news from Estcourt but
runlor mas reached Maritzburg that GEN
efal White made successful sortie from
Ladysmith, capturing some Boer posi-
tons with guns and material and inf1ict-
ing loss on the enemy
Big battle was placarded in large
letters on newspaper posters last night
put II turned to be one of the old kind
IN the Soudan, $500 dervishes had been
attacked by General Wingate with an
Egyptlan force and utterly routed. over
400 being killed. The Anglo Egyptian
loss was three men wounded, a low per
cent for complete victory This is
the training which British armies have
had for generation in fighting sayages
or seml-ciNilized foes and il has untitled
them for battling with the Beers VINO do
not mass their forces ant: cannot be rush
ed
The situation in lower Natal offers
striking contrast to all the conditions of
warfare to which the English people are
accustomed. The Dutch allies, after in
Vesting I4adysmith. have turned about to
deal With the British relief column, nv
int aj,ii1
OF raiders and cutting in between Est
court ana the Mooi river and threatening
to dash in a Howck, between the Mooi
and PietermartZburg. they are isolatine
one British detachment after another by
their superior mobility without making
a decisive attack at any point or con-
centrating their forces for a supreme ef-
tort. 1t IS guerilla warfare with long
range guns and Howtzers added for
keeping the British at distance
John Bull is naturally irrita ted by these
Irregular tactics. but he ought not to be
amazed by them. for General .Ioubert.
during the war of independence dealt in
precisely the same way with one British
detachment after another. He then had
the immense advantage of superioritv If
numbers. But conditions are now re-
versed. for the British force in lower Ma
tai will be $4,000 and possibly 10000 when
the last transport reaches Durham and
General Whites garrison of 1900 troops
- slill uIHdE.lleu III reserve. Moreover
Joubert While blocking the advance of
the relief column by separating the vari-
Gus links in the chain. is scattering his
own forces without obtaining any marked
advantage. |
While the situation in Natal was most !
conflicting several points We're clear |
The Ladysmith garrison remained safe !
and cheerful at the end Of last week as
was shown by the Stars special dispatch /
from CdpetoWn, based upon a message
brought by runner. General Hid ,
yard was not helpless at E.stcourt for he I
mad made so1-tia and Was engaging the !
enemy. The bridge was resolutely held
by Barton's battalions at the Mooi river
after two Gays skirmi.hins and there
We're guns to de'end it. Pietermaritz-
burg was we'll garrisoned an. fresh in
fantry, dragons and naval gums had
been put on shore at Durham. General
Bulier, moreover. MAS not showing any
signs OF uneaslness or panic, for the on I
~ force sent from Capetown to Durham
yesterday was small body of Dragons.
News from the western frontier is STIR
ring. The war office has received re-
ports from Kimberley to Noy. l.. an
nouncing weeks Intellectual bombard-
ment and two aashins midnight sorties
cy the garrison. The Dutch forces are
south of Kimberley in
of the approach of Lord
Methuen,s column, which will have ardu-
aus work GU. out fos Il as tha enemy
Ire on good fighting ground.
From Mafak:ng there is a message TO
he Pal Mail Gazctte dated Ny 2n with
he disturbing rtoorl that f-vc. Is riff. in
he town. Lord :,a.isbary's g,a is a.
.oh-,i there with DOZEN vii known
British nf5!c-''s who are fea,1a: u"5@r
Baden Powell.
sTsr q ave orerat'oGs ara iallti-
vest ef d .Aar whare Gane:al :, ~ :
,NideGtty sHt upoD forcing ~ fsy'3t;t,