The record-union., 1899-10-25
News From the Seat of War Not
ReaSSuring.
General Joubsrt's Column and Free State
Troops Occupy Strong Positions.

So Far as known Has Neither
Joined General White Nor
Reached Ladysmith.
LONDON, Oct. 24.-War Office dis
patches seem to realize the worst fears.
General Yule has abandoned not only
Dundee. but Glencoe also, and so far
as present news would indicate, he has
neither joined General White nor
reached Ladysmith. General White
successful action" announced in Par
lament by Mr. Wyndham, seems to re-
solve itself into a mere engaging or
the Free State troops. while General
Yule is slipping southwark.
1t is evident from the official dis
patches that both Commandant General
Joubert's column on the north and the
Orange Free State troops on the west
now occupy strong positions, and that
nothing hinders the Beers from fol-
lowing up General Yule's retirement
and getting around Ladysmith from
the southeast. Until reinforcements ar
rive it seems that General White is
obliged to concentrate on Ladysmith
1t is believed that the Government
has other dispatches that have not yet
been published.
The Secretary of State for War left
Mr.. Choate's residence Immediately
after the banquet to General Harrison,
and proceeded to the War Office, where.
even after midnight. there was cOnsid-
cradle activity, many visitors calling
to inquire for information, among them
a sister of Sir Archibald Hunter.
LONDON. oct. 24-The Parliament
ary Secretary of the Foreign Office.
George Wyndham. in the House of
Commons to-day announced that Field
Marshal Lord Wolseley, the command
er-in-chief of the forces. sums up the
situation in Natal to-day as follows:
General Yule has fallen back 10 ef-
feet a junction with Sir George Stewart
White. He camped yesterday evening
about sixteen miles south of Dundee,
without seeing anything of the enemy
during the march. and it has since been
reported that airs well on the Waseh-
bank River
General White fought a successful
action with an Orange Free State force
to-day on the road between Ladysmith
and Newcastle, and should join hands
with General Yule this evening.
General Yule reports that his
wounded are doing we'll. The Boer
wounded on our hands are treated just
as our own. and l have every reason
TO believe the Beers will treat any of
our wounded in their hands in a SINH
larly humane manner"
Mr.. Wyndham added:
Il may remind the House that the
Transvaal is a party to the Geneva
convention. Lord Wolseley further says
he has also received from Genera
Walker, at Cape Town. the following
message: The last message from Kim
berly, October %, at p. m, reports
all WE'LL
Replying to a question as to what
arrangements had been made to en-
ploy civilian doctors to assist in the
care of the wounded in South Africa,
Mr.. Wyndham said he was glad to take
the opportunity of announcing that Sir
William MacCormack, the distin-
guished President of the Royal College
Of Surgeons. had intimated his readi-
ness to accompany General Sir Redvers
Buffers force and to place his great
skill and ability at the disposal of the
army medical authorities. Mr.. Wynd-
ham said: We have not hesitated to
accept this patriotic offer"
The War Office here has this morning
been attempting to explain the sum-
mary of the situation in Natal fur
nished by the Commander in Chief OF
the forces, Field Marshal Woiseley, to
the House of Commons yesterday His
statement is now said to have created
unnecessary alarm, and it is asserted
that what the official note called Gen
eral Yule's retirement would be
more accurately described as chang
of position for tactical reasons and
that the alarm for the safety of the
wounded is not justified
1t is further explained that the
wounded could not be moved, but 1he
fact that they had to be left to their
fate while the British forces made a
strategic movement to the rear shows
the suspense of the House at the alb
sence of subsequent news is amply
justified and that the heavy fighting on
Friday and perhaps Saturday is per
haps, a prelude to still sterner work
In some quarters the view is taken that
the second attack of the Beers has act
ually occurred and was so successful
that General Yule's withdrawal was
imperative and urgent 10 the extent oil
compelling him to leave his hospitals
in the hands Of the Beers. while the
more sanguine express the opinion that
General Yule, far from retreating. has
in reality advanced to meet the at
tack threatening Glencoe, leaving Dun.
dee behind, safely sheltered from q
Boer assault.
In the absence of authentic news
there are a number of contradictory
Interpretation of the various reports
seems to Indicate that there was some
artillery practice at Glencoe SATURDAY,
and Sunday, but not fighting at c'ose
quarters. AS, however, communica.
tion between Glencoe and Ladysmith
which was thought to have beel re.
stored by the British victory at Elamds
Laagte, has again been broken by tht
destruction of the railway bridge al
Waschbank, north Of Ladysmith, anC
between Glands Laagte and Glencoe
the difficulties of the British command.
er in Natal, General Sir George Stew
art White, in reinforcing Glencoe have
been enormously increased. and unit
the British forces at I.adysmith emo
Glencoe are reunited and the main body
of the Beers is brought up, the situa-