Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-11-07
IN THE TRANSVAAL
British Think The Situation At
Ladysmith Not So Bad AS It
Might Be.
REPORT OF BOER DEFEAT
The European Powers Desired To Ash
Great Britain To Arbitrate But Ger
many Would Not Join In a
Petition.

Petition.
New York, Nov. IA dispatch to the
i Tribune from London says: A St
Petersburg correspondent Of the Morn
ing Post throws light on the policy Of
the European powers. He states or
authority that the governments oil
Russia, France and Spain discussed the
question of an intervention in the dis
pute between England and Transvaal
and agreed on the dispatch of a joint
note suggesting arbitration but the con-
dition of action was the cooperation OF
Germany, which was refused.
Cape Town, Nov. A dispatch from
Ladysmith says Thursday afternoon the
British cavalry charged the Beers while
the latter were manouevering south CT
town and cut their way through them.
A "Long Tom" posted on Bulwan hill
shelled the town, but little damage was
done. The naval gunners put big gun
situated on Hapworth's hill out of ac-
tion. The enemy at Crobler's Kloof en-
gagged a company of Royal Irish fusi-
liers and brisk firing occurred on both
sides. An armored train with sixty in
fantrymen ON board drew the enemy's
fire, enabling the volunteers to make
headquarters safely. The military are
eulogized for their timely help of the
volunteers.
Paris, Nov. IA Berlin correspon-
dent of Figaro says Emperor William is
resolved to occupy Tiger bay, south Of
Angola, west coast. Of South Africa, if
England occupies Delagoa Bay.
London, Nov. TIT is announced in
a cable dispatch from Cape Town dated
Sunday, November S, that the British
have been victorious in an engagement
at Ladysmith and the Boer loss was very
heavy including 1000 prisoners.
London, November 7.-Such scanty
intelligence as is filtering from the
front is generally accepted here as re-
assuring, although later reports agree
that the fighting outside of Ladysmith
Thursday and Friday was much more
severe than indicated by the official ac-
counts. There is no longer a disposition
to jump at the conclusion that a crush
ing blow was inflicted on the Beers, as
shown before. The British contempt for
the burghers has been modified by de-
feat. The best informed are inclined to
discount the stories of the cutting UP Of
the Beers until further confirmation is
received. But the mere fact that Gen.
eral White was enabled to undertake a
series of successful reconnoissances is
taken as an indication that the Boer in
vestment has been relaxed by the with
drawal of a portion of Joubert's force
southwark. While, however, anxiety in
regard to the immediate stress at Lady
smith is alleviated, there Is wide
spread fear that the authorities are
badly blundering, and may find too late
that the main expedition will prove too
weak to complete its task with safety
and dispatch, as the Natal force has al
ready admittedly failed to perform
what was expected of it.
The confession last evening of Gen
eral Lord Wolseley, commander
chief, that the Beers are more powerful
and more numerous than anticipated,
sufficiently explains the present hap
penings, and the war Office will here
after have awkward questions to an
swer in regard to it's apparent colossal
ignorance. The Boer strength, which,
both in numbers of men and excellence
in artillery, Is apparently complete
surprise to the British military author
tiles. Mail news from South Africa
shows how inaccurate have been the es-
Inmates of the intelligence department
and the government experts.
1t is CLEANED therefrom that fair
estimate of the Boer forces is as fol-
lows: Around Ladysmith, $4,000; trav-
ersing Zululand, 1000; advancing on
Burghersdorp, 5000; Colesburg, 5000;
Kimberly, 1000; Mafeking, $500: on the
northern Transvaal border, 1000.
Exact information about the Boer ar
tillery Ia lacking, but it is known that
Joubert's detachment, before 1t was re-
enforced, consisted of sixteen Krupp
field pieces Of the latest pattern and
two heavy Cruzot siege guns, which,
but for the opportune arrival Of the
British naval brigade, would have rem
dered Ladysmtth untenable.
Hope Town. Cape Colony. November
A dispatch received here from KIM
berly, dated November 1, says: "Ap-
parently the Boer re-enforcements from
Mafeking have arrived, as the burghers
are more numerous and have closed all
around Kimberly. About 1900 made a
demonstration three miles eastward Of
the Premier mine to-day and opened
fire on the Debeers carts, but no dam
age was done. An explosion Of dyna-
mite magazine, caused by the Beers fiji
ing the place, was terrific. The huts
contained thirty-five tons of dynamite,
valued at a3,500.
''All the wounded are progressing sat-
isfactorily. A committee to regulate the
supply and price Of food is being
formed. Mr.. Rhodes is making an ave-
nue. mile long at Kenilworth, to be
called Siege avenue. A double row OF
orange trees and vines will be planted
on either side, with pepper trees form.
ing a background"
Cape Town, Nov. IA dispatch from
Kuruman dated Nov. 3, says dispatch
rider arrived from Mafeking announcing
fighting occurring daily, resulting In
favor Of the garrison. Natives repor,
Colonel Plumer's force from Fort Tul
working its way from Rhodesia to re
lieve Mafeking.
Estcourt, Natal, 10 q. M, Nov. s.
An armored train went over the Tugel,
bridge Yesterday, and found Colenzo II
tact and also found the road and tn,
railway bridge strong. The Orang'