The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-17

having been detached to the south TO
assist in the investment of kimber-
ley. around which the Gordon is
drawing tighter Evidently the Beers
intend to make a concentrated effort to
capture Kimberley and their arch enc
my, Cecil Rhodes.
The reported departure of a Boer
contingent from Pretoria, with Ger
man artillery gunners, moving in
southerly direction, is taken to mean
cooperation in the invasion OF the
northern part of Cape Colony, an un-
dertaking which has thus far not pro-
gressed very rapidly.
Reports of a treacherous use of the
white flag by the Beers, coming from
native sources, are not received with
complete credulity, but at the same
time their reiteration is making un-
favorable impression. One paper asks
sarcastically whether President Krue-
gers reference in his message TO
America to staggering humanity"
meant the use of the Boer white flag.
To the eyes of military experts, the
darkest page of the war Is now being
written But even that is illuminated
with bright passages, such as General
Whites victorious sorties. IL he can
keep the, British flag flying over Lady
smith until he is relieved, the campaign
will turn a fresh page, and with the
advance of Sir Redvers Buffers force
the British public is promised more
cheerful reading.
QUEEN COMPLIMENTS WHITE.
This feeling of relief inspired by re-
cent good tidings is nevertheless
tinged by a certain anxiety lest Gen
eral White should again make some fa-
tai miscalculation, involving a repe-
tition of the Nicholsen'S Mex disaster.
Her Majesty does not share this ankle
ty and apparently is sanguine of his
ability to pull through successfully. 1t
is asserted that she has written to
Lady White expressing sympathy with
her husband in the trials and difficult
ties he is now experiencing and assur-
ing Lady White # her own undimin-
ished confidence in his generalship.
The parpOrt of the letter has been ca
bled to General White.
A STARTLING RUMOR.
PARIS, Nov. S.-Information has
been received in diplomatic circles
that in Fridays battle near Ladysmith
the Fifth Lancers were annihilated.
Six hundred of them were killed,
wounded or taken prisoners. Four hun
dred horses were captured.
The British found siXty-four dead
Beers on the battlefield of Talana Hill.
The Natal Field Artillery has left
Estcourt, destination unknown
Great Britain is preparing a special
service squadron.
All the Cape railroads are in the
hands of the military authorities
Transports bound for the Cape may
land at Natal to give earlier relief to
General White
The Beers fired yeldt near Kimber-
ley and blew up magazine.
The BasutoS are returning to their
own country from Cape Colony but
there are no signs of trouble with them.
The Beers have been reinforced at
Kimberley and are drawing nearer the
town.
Transvaal troops are said to be COM
mitting excesses in Zululand.
Lord Wolseley says that the Beers
are more powerful and numerous than
was anticipated.
A Cape Town paper reports that
1000 Beers were captured ut Lady
smith
The London Standard attributes the
Beers plan of campaign to a General
of European reputation.
DR.. Leyds has been assured If the
Beers can hold out two months Europe
will interfere.
Discussing the situation in South Af-
|rica, Field Marshal Wolseley remarked: /:
"In my various commands / have
learned much Of the Boer character,
and / can say truthfully that the Beers,
as people, are the most ignorant with
which / have ever been brought into
contact. Their aspiration is to rule the
whole of South Africa. This is a point
the English people must keep before
them. There are ups and downs in
warfare, and the disappointment we
have suffered is having the good effect
of bringing the English people closer
together"
The number of British captured at
Farquhar's farm is 843
Little harm has been done by the
sheling of Mafeking
The British camp at Stormberg has
been broken up by General Buffers
orders and removed fifty miles TO
Queenstown.
A howitzer brigade. with guns and
10000 lyddite shells will soon sail for
the Cape.
a French paper says that letters Of
marque have been issued by President
Krueger in Europe and the United
States.
The Dutch of Cape Colony are gen.
orally neutral.
The London Times thanks the United
States for evidences of American
friendship.
THE LATE ELECTIONS.
Decisive Republican Gains in the Piv-