The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05
GENERAL WHITE IN A BOX
DIFFICULT TO AFFORD HIM
ANY RELIEF.
THE GUNS STILL BOOMING AT LADYsMITA
The Beers are Trayersing ZuIuland Hosting
Flags Over the British Magistrates.
There Have Been SIEVE al Skirmishes
With the Beers in Rhodesia.

/ ''N'' WV DSStS w b'OACot0s
| london Nov. 5-11he evacuation of
Colenso is undoubtedly most serious
matter for the Paftish in Natal. as it NOT
only testifies to the complete investment
Of Ladysmith by the Beers, butt makes
the relief Of General Sir George Stewart
White AN extremely difficult operation.
Coenso is the pointg where the rail-
way from LadySnith crosses the Tugea
River, which is now in food. The town
itself is of small Importance 1t is dom-
| mated by the hills on the north side of
the river, and so WAS untenable If the
B0ers Nave advanced, as they seem 10
nave dCne; moreover, only q small naval
and Colonial force was stationed ait Co
lenSo The seriousness Of tile evacuation.
however, lies M tine fact that Command
ant General Joubert, while completely
investing Sir George White at Lady
smith, CAN seize this Tugela Bridge and,
II he has sufficient troops, can detach
a force and send it soHghward ON PETER
maritzburg, and, in amy case, by destroy
ing the bridge and railway, can prevent
amy relief expedition reaching Sir George
VI Init !. for some time.
Military men optimrstically predict that
General JolIbeq't will withdraw from
Ninal immediately Sir Redyers Buffers
.fsssc enters the Orange Free State. but
the latter cannot he far ON his way for
ut least three or four weeks, and even
then General Jonbert may mot decide
to intercept the British ON the Free
States open veldt which would suit the
British admirably, but he may wait until
the last noHnent and then proceed by
train back to Pretoria and take up strong
defensive positions ON the range of bills
lying in front of Johannesburg and Pre-
tOTia
Thus General Jollbert might remain in
Natal several weeks longer, endeayoring
to force Sir George White into capitula-
ton, the destruction of the Tugela river
bridge helping him by cutting off British
relief
Moreover another Boer force is re-
ported to have marched through Zulu
land in the direction of Durham and al
ready Ito have reached the Natal frontier.
Thus it VIII be seen the position in Ma
tai taking into consideration a possible
uprising Of the Jisaffected Dutch is most
disquieting. and, in fact. may he de-
scribed as critical British reinforce
ments in amy number cannot reach Dur
han before the end OF next week.
a special from Ladysmith, dated No
vember 2nd, morning, says:
During the might the Beers moved
CLOSER to the British positions, and mount
ed gums in fresh places. Meanwhile the
naval guns have been moved to more
favorable positions, near the town and
commanding some of the Boer batteries |
AT O'Clock this incoming General
White ordered THE bomIbarCtment off the
enemy and the blue Jackets opened the |
BAH. The Beers replied vigorously. They |
fired straight and some of the British |
were hit.
~ TERRIBLE artillery duel has been pro
ceeding for over three hours. SO far the
naval gums are the only ones that have
engaged the enemy"
London, Nov 4.-Amother special dis
patch from Ladysmith, bearing date of
November 2nd says:
''The ARTILLERY duel is proceeding SPLEEN
didly The British gums are firing three
shots to the Beers one"
A special dispatch from Cape Town.
dated November 2nd. says the Beers oc-
c1gpied Colesburg, Cape Colony, ON We'd
nesday, meeting with mo resistance from
the local police, who yielded to superior
force
The sailing of transports for South
Africa. loaued with troops, is now an
event of daily occurrence, but the depart
llre of the steamer I<ildonon Castle from
southampton last evening merits notice,
us she is the largest troopship in the
world and has more than 5000 souls on
board, with their kits and weapons, bal
looms, bridge pontoons. machine gums,
ammunition, wagons amd hundreds of
thousands of other artillery necessaries.
PROMOTED FOR GALLANTRY.
London, Nov. 4.-Gunnery Lieutenant
Egerton, of the British cruiser Powerful
who was wounded by the explosion of
al shell at the bombardment of Lady
smith has been NeTomoted to the rank of
for services in the field. His
legs have been amputated as a result
of his wounds The officer is Il nephew ]
of the Duke of Deyonshire.
SKIRMISHES WITH BOERS.
Fort Tuli, Rhodesia, Oct. 29.-(Delay-
ed in Transmission)1Th have been
few skirmishes with the Beers. whose
main body has retired southwark.
EVACUATION OF COLENSO. "
london, Nov. 1.-The War Office has
issued the following announcement:
1.-The Colonial Office has received in
fnpunoti on, fo tho effect that thp British III