The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-07
LONDON Is AGAIN ANXIOUS
L4CK OF OFFICIAL NEWS ca USES
ALARMING RUMORS.
A Absolutely No Foundation for Them
but the Situation In Northern Natal is
Admitted to be Critical-Unee
as to Whether There is Enough Am
munition for the Naval Guns-Ger-
man Sentiment Against Privateerfng.

munition for the Naval Guns-Ger-
man Sentiment Against Privateering g
London, Nov. 1.-THE war office an
nounced at midnight that no dispatches
had been received beyond those already
made public, and that nothing further
would be issued before noon to-day.
Thus not solitary official item of news
has been posted for nearly twenty-four
hours. This has given rise to crop of
rumors that the Ladysmith garrison is
exhausted that Sir George Stewart
White is mortally wounded, that both
facts are being concealed, and that 9TH
er unlucky happenings have taken
place. For all of these reports there is
absolutely no foundation. At the same
the Britisher had little to stimulate him
within the last twenty-four hours ex-
cept the news of the confident attitude
of the Ladysmith garrison and its sue
cesses last Thursday and Friday.
UnuaIntabIe Adviccs.
AQVlceS from OlneT paris VI ooutA
Africa are distinctly unpalatable and
everything points to critical situation
in Natal and the northern portion of
Cape Colony, likely to grow more acute
until General White is either relieved or
decisively defeated Nobody dares to
think of capitulation. Rather than that
he is expected in last resort, If Lady
smith becomes untenable, to make
desperate effort to cut his way through
the Beers back into lower Natal and to
join hands with the garrison there,
which Is now almost certain to be rein
forced by the first arrivals of the army
corps from England and to- be pressed
forward to renew touch with him.
BeIiefThat White Can Hold Out.
1t is generally assumed, however, that
General White, with the aid of the ma
val guns, will be able to cope with any
bombardment, and the idea that the
Beers could take Ladysmith by assault
is secuted as absurd The defense thus
depends upon the uninterrupted work.
ing of the naval guard. Right here
arises the important question-upon
which the dispatches have thrown no
light-whether the naval guards, who
only arrived at the last moment, have
with them sufficient ammunition to re-
ply to a bombardment lasting possibly
several weeks. If not, it is hardly likely
that works exist in a small town like
Ladysnith for casting the special shell
needed for the Al gun, and, morever,
there is no mention of stores of lyddte
at Ladysmith for recharging these
shells.
More Big Boer Gums.
Meanwhile vague remarks in the dis
patches point to the impending arrival
of further big Boer guns from Johan-
nesburg to be mounted among the hills
within range of Ladysmith. Such con-
alterations explain the anxiety felt re-
garding General Whites movements
and position not only by the public but
in official circles.
stand ut Escourt Likely.
The British retirement to Estcourt
has given the Impression that it is in
tended to make stand there. Estcourt
is the last important town between the
Beers and the capital of Natal, and, if
the Beers sweep past Estcourt, moth
ing can stop them from laying seige
to Pietermaritzburg, which cannot be
expected to make protracted defense,
while it's fall would be a tremendous
blow to British prestige throughout |
South Africa.
The Disafrscted Dutch.
Already the British retirement, south |
of Colenso has given the Beers an op |
ito make a bid for the active |
support bf the disaffected Dutch in |
Natal by proclaiming the annexation of |
the upper Tugela section. Thus far the |
Dutch coonistS seem to have confined |
their sympathy with the invading Beers |
to a platonic emotion. Except for sur
reptious assistance there is no evidence !
that they have yet Joined the Beers
openly in any appreciative numbers.
The reported British retirement from
Stof1nberg Junction however, will be
followed doubtless by similar Boer
annexing the portions of
Cape Colony lying directly south of the
Orange Free State. Such a proclama-
ton, as in the case of Bechuanaland,
has been and will be Immediately fol-
lowed by British proclamations, but to
the eyes of the Dutch farmers the pres
ence of one Boer commando is probably
more impressive than the expectation of
the arrival of the whole British army in
the more or less distant future.
Transports May be Late.
The British newspapers have list
of the transports due to arrive at
Cape Town from to-day. According to
this some 10000 men should reach the
Cape by the end of next week, but the
admiralty issued a chilling warning
asst evening to the effect that no dis
appointment must be felt by the pub
lie if the transports should not arrive
at the dates mentioned, dates which
The war office says are biased in many
.ases upon too sanguine expectations.
Question of fPrivateering.
The French press has been cheerful
Y announcing the issue of letters of
naruue by the Transvaal government
md predicts the havoc which priva-
eering may work among the British
and even transports. In
his Paris journalism finds in part an
for the mobilization of the ,
British special service squadron. Ber- "
in journalism treats the suggestion of
watering with skepticism. The