New-York tribune., 1899-11-22
THE SITUATION AT LADYSMITH.
GARRISON MAINTAINING ITS POSITION
UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF JOU-
BERTS WITHDRAWAL.

UNCONF1RMED REPORT Or JOC-
BERT's WITHDRAWAL.
London, Nov. 22-"The Daily Mali publishes
the following dispatch from Pietermaritzburg:
An official communication from Ladysmith.
dated November Is, says the garrison is main
tanning its position" A Boer force is reported 10
the rear Of Boston. about days ride from here
The war correspondent Of "The Standard" at
Estcourt telegraphs as follows under Mondays
date:
No actual confirmation can be obtained Of the
report that General JOubert has moved from
his position in front Of Ladysmith. Our patrols
and spies have ascertaned beyond doubt that
several small commandos are working south
ward. There Is a growing belief here that we
will move toward Ladysmith about the end OF
this week
London Nov 21-Direct advices from Lady
smith. dated Thursday, November 16, and
Friday November II, strangely conflict with
the reiterated reports Of tremendous battles
and great British victories" on Wednesday and
Thursday. Neither OF the messages referred to,
though dispatched on the days following the
dates of the alleged fights, mentions any great
engagements or Boer defeats On the contrary,
both distinctly state that beyond false alarm
on Tuesday evening and little increased she'll
ing Thursday and Friday causing little dam
age, everything was perfectly quiet and the
garrison was chaflng under its enforced mac
tivlty.
Nevertheless, special dispatches nom Est
court to-day enlarge on the reported battles.
and insist that the Beers received a more terri
bic lesson Wednesday than in any previous
fight.
According to these circums}antial accounts,
the Beers determined to attempt to reach the
north end Of Ladysmith with large force, but
were unable to make headway against the well
sustained fire Of the British rnemen and Max
inns Later II is added, British force worked
around the BOer flank, causing the latter TO
withdraw under deadly fusade with ex-
ceedngy heavy losses. Large numbers OF dead
are said TO have been counted on the field,
many were wounded and a number of prison
ers were captured. The British losses are re-
ported TO have been trivial.
OF course. trustworthy dispatches corrooorat-
ing the above may have been censored or capt
ured with the native runners. But these tales
are so fattering to the British that they have
a distinct flavor Of being belated accounts from
Kaffr sources of affairs previously reported
AMMUNITION SUPPLY AMPLE.
The dispatches from Ladysmith reporting that
there is an ample supply Of ammunition there
have seemingly set at rest a point on whlch
there was much diversity OF opinion
Apparently the British commander at Lady
smith believes General Joubert has gone SOUTH
leaving only a force sufficient 10 prevent the
garrison from salyng out, and there Is DIS
position in some quarters to think General Jou-
bert possibly started the story with the object
of inducing General White to make serious
attack or relax his precautions, so as to permit
tbe Roers to seize ground vital to the defence OF
the town.
A report from Durham, however says there
are rumors there that the Beers are preparing
10 break camp and withdraw from the invest
ment of Iadysmith. But 1t Is SAID elsewhere
that the investing force continues 10 receive
einforcements and fresh supplies Of stores
daily. m
In view of the publicity allowed by the mill
,arv authorities to be given to the alleged inten-
tion Of the British to advance, via Belmont TO
relieve Kimberley, It is said that 1t may be re-
earded as probable that an advance from DE
Aar will really be effected. and that the route
will not be so we'll advertised
Tho transnort City of Cambridge, with the
sacond battalion of the Scottish Rifles. arrived
at Durham this morning.
rstcourt. Natal. Monday. Nov. 20.-The ru-
mors Of a glorious victory achieVeo oy De"eia
white on Wednesday last still unconhrmed.
"a Il Is added that General White threatened
20 place many hundreds of prisoners In con-
spicuous places should the shelling OF the town
continue.
Reports received from the southwark say that
the Beers are separating into foraging ana Pill
Laying parties. who are looting stores. steailhe
cattIe and ransacking houses. 1t is added that
ona farmer became so incensed that ne staIkeu
. marty Of 100 Beers shooting eight Of them
A Boer force occupies position on the Mooi
ptver ten miles below the Mooi River station
Durham. Nov 21.-The Government has re-
ceived the following advices from Colonel koys-
Ton commandant Of the volunteers at Lady
srn,th. under date OF November 10:
All the volunteers and police are well. and
there are plentiful supplies for man and horse.
All vas duiet yesterday "wednesday, ana the
same condition exists this morning. There has
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