The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-21
BIG BATTLES RUMORED
NO REAL FOUNDATION FOR THE
RUMORS.
BoERS RECEIVE DAILY REINFoRCEMENTs
From DeIagoa Bay Come Reports of the Arrival
of More German Officers d Arti Iey-
men Who Have Volunteered to
Serve With the Beers.


The reports of heavy firing at Ladysmitl
last Wednesday have not been confirmed.
On the contrary, the most reliable ad-
vices from EstcOurt indicate that there
was nothing more than a GesultOry cam
nonade. Probably the rumor of a Sc
rious engagement grew out of the fact
that the Beers threw a few harmless
shells late Tuesday night, leading. to the
suppCsitlol that an attack was Imminent.
Nothing. however, happened Wednesday.
Beyond thu fact that the Beers are
daily receiving fresh reinforcements and
supplies, there is practically nothing
new from the front.
The Boer invasionl of Cape Colony
continues steadily and rapidly. There
are 1,300 Beers vt Colesburg and news
has reached East London that Ladygrey,
near Aliwal North, has been deserted by
the British and is now in the hands of
the enemy.
A Pretoria dispatch announces the ar
rival there among the British prisoners,
of Major Haldane, Lieutenant Brochle
and Lieutenant Hallway. 1t also de-
clares that the British on Sunday made
two unsuccessful attempts to ouSt the
Rustenburg coInmandado from a posi-
ltion near Mafeking, and that severe
fighting took place.
From Deagoa Bay comes the report
of the arrival of more German officers
and artillerymen who have volunteered
to serve with the TraIsvaal forces.
The War office semi officially asserts
that all news received from Africa has
been published with the exception of
demands for the renewal of stores, war
material and the like. There is an I'M
confirmed rumor that more troops have
been ordered from India to the Cape.
General Butler has wired the COM
manding officer at Queenstown ann9mc-
ing the dispatch of General Gatacre,
with the First Battalion of the Seventh
brigade. to East London. This was the
place from which it was originally in
tended that General Gatacres column
should start. Thus it is possible that
General Buffers first plans have suffered
less modification than some have sup
posed.
FIGHTING on MOORI RIVER.
Estcourt. Natal Nov. 20.-4:45 p. m.-
Major Bethune's patrols have located
the enemy on the northwest coast, about
ten miles off. The Beers would not be
drawn out to fight.
Fighting is reported at the Moori
River.
The Roers are doing more loOting
than lighting. and all their parties south
of Ladysmith are foraging on the farms.
Adiyces from Ladysmith tell of bril-
liant British victories, with compara-
lively slight less on our side and heavy
slaughter of the enemy.
Ladysmith is full of. wounded and cap
tured Beers. 1t is reported that in the
fighting of November 9th the enemy lost
800 killed and 800 captured.
The Beers are trying hard to influence
and concihate the Natal Kaffirs.
JOUBERTeS PLANS CHANGED.
London, Nov. -(Tuasday)-T
Standard publishes the following from
Ladysmith, dated November 10:
The arrival of the relief column at
Estcourt has completely modified the
plans of the enemy, and General JOubert
has moved to the south, in an effort TO
prevent the junction of the two British
forces"
10. THAT EABALMED BEEF.
London, Nov -(Tuesday.)-Th
Daily Chronicle in its War Diary" this
morning says:
Heretofore we have hesitated to
speak of the quality of the timed meats
supplied to our transports, much OF
which had to be thrown overheard. But
we have made inquiries in quarters not
likely to be influenced by mere rumor,
and we find there suspicious that some
of the meat supplied to the Government
for use on British transports was meas
which had been rejected by the United
States during the hostilities in Cuba
where it was picturesquely known as
''embalmed beef and relabelled with the
mark of the current year.
whatever blunder there may have
been must be laid, not at the door OF
the War Office, but at the door of the
Admiralty which has undertaken to feed
the troops. Not single complaint has
come to hand regarding the quality OF
the War Office stores"
London, Nov. 21.-A special dispatch
from EstcoTt, dated November 20tl,
says a report has reached there of a
battle at Ladvsmith, November 10th, |
lasting from daybreak until two in the |
afternoon. Many Beers are said TO have
been Killed and many are reported TO
have been taken prisoners. The Brit !