The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-10
BOmbardment of Ladysmith Is
Continuous.
Beers Have the Town Com
pletely Invested.
LITTLE HARM DONE.
Neither Side Appears to Suffer
Much Damage.
Battles In Progress on Three
Sides at Once.

New York, Nov. 1O-N World dis
patch from Estcourt says: Trust
worthy information concerning the act
ual state of affairs in Ladysmith comes
from two civilians who arrived today.
having escaped from the besieged town
by evading the British patrols and
stealing through the Boer lines. They
say that both the town and the British
army are completely invested and that
artillery firing back and forth is con-
tinuOus.
The bombardment is heavy, but its
effect is represented to be petty. The
Beers are slightly superior in strength
but the British forces maintain a Wig
OrouS defense fighting daily. There
were engagements on three sides OF
LadySm1th last Friday, the accounts or
which previously received through ma
tive rumOrs (kaffirgrams) were great
ly exaggerated. The rumOrs the kaftirs
circulated of brilliant British victories
We're beginning to be accepted as true
because, though not confirmed, they
were not cOntradicted, and it was GER
tain that Gen. White was holding out.
Gen. White gained no important sue
cess. The main British attack was on
the BOer batteries stationed on lsim-
bulwana Hill. to the eastward. The
British loss in that action VS. about
$50 killed or wounded. It is supposed
that the Beers suffered far more.
There was lighting also in the direc-
fight was a smart attack made by Col
BrOcklehurst on the Free State Beers
posted near Dewdrop on the southwest
The British drove the Beers back there
and disabled one of the guns which had
been heaving shells into the British
camp.
The British lost in that fight two Off
cers-Capt. Kapp and Lieut.. Brabant-
and eight soldiers ana 20 officers and
men wounded.
Gen White requested Gen. Joubert
4
cOmbatant males to withdraw from
Ladysmith in order to escape from the
bombardment.
Gen. Joubert replied by inviting them
all to come under the protection Of his
guns on Isimbulwana Hill. but he said
that ne should consider the men who
accepted this offer of security having
borne arms, as prisoners of war.
The mayor of Ladysmith called
mass meeting of all the inhabitants on
Saturday to consider the proposition
The townsfolk resolved to accept no
terms from the enemy" emphasizing that
decision by singing the national anthem
with the spirit characteristic of the
colony.
WORD FROM BULLER.
London, Nov 1O.-The British war
office has received from Gen. Butler the
following dispatch:
Cape Town, Thursday evening, Nov.
9.-Have received by pigeon post from
Gen. White today the following: THE
bOmbardment at long range by heavy
guns continues daily. few casual
ties are occurring, and no serious harm
is being done.
THE Beers sent in today a number Of
refugees from the TransVaal under
flag of truce. A flag of truce from
I.adysmith met them outside the
pickets. When the party separated the
Boer guns fired on it before it reached
our pickets
Major Gale of the Royal Engineers,
was wounded today while sending a
message.
The entertainments are daily grow
ing stronger and the supply Of provis-
ions is ample"