Evening star., 1899-11-04
BOERS TAKE COLENSO
Now Occupy British Position South
Of Ladysmith.
LITTLE news FROM LATTER POINT
British Officials Think Gen. White
Still Holds Out.
REPORTS OF SKIRMISHES

have withdrawn from CoiensO and have
concentrated further SOUTH but we have
no news of any engagement In that neigh
oOrhood-"
LADYSNITH. November 1 delayed in
transrnission).-This afternoon everything
it quet the enemy showing no disposition
to come to close quarters. The British
guns occupy strong positions around Lady
smith and further developments are await
ed with confidence
The British troops are full of fight, and
the Beers will meet with warm recep-
ton if they attack the town. a the garrt-
son s quite ready for them.
-Four naval lOng-range guns have been
mounted here.
COLESBURG. Cape Colony, November
2 delayed in transmssion).-The bridge is
intact The explosions heard yesterday
were only signals.
LONDON. November 4.-The Kimberley
correspondent OF the Daily Mail. in a dis
patch fled November l. and forwarded by
way Of ORANGE river, says:
The Beers are still in force in this vicin-
ity. On Saturday evening our patrol was
firod on in the neighbOrhood of the Vessel
ton mine. the enemy expending a quantity
Of ammunition Intellectually, however, ow-
ing to the long range.
"A Free State burgher with a pass from
tOmn.
The enemy is reported 10 have three
siege guns in position at Onphantfontein,
four miles from WesseIton.
BURGHERSDORP. Cape Colony, Noven-
beT delayed in Enthusiastically Beers
crossed Bethulie bridge this morning. About
80" more Of them are expected to cross
this afternoon.
FORT TULI. Rhodesia October % de
laye3 in transmission. There have been a
few slIirmishes with the Beers. whose main
body has retired southwark.
Report OF skirmishcs
CAPE TOWN. November "A delayed
dispatch from BuIuwayo. dated October
26. announces that in the event Of rein
forcem-uts being needed the volunteers
would be Immediately called out.
n Fort TuI dispatch dated October 26
says shots were exchanged between Col
Plumer's column and the Beers at Pont-
drift The British had one man wounded.
The enemy's loss was unknown. a British
patrol accommodating Pontdrift October y
CAPTURED FIVE Beers. II was then believed
the bulk of the Boer amy had retired from
Fort Tuli. going south and leaving an out
post
Two gunners were lost in the bush, and
1t is feared they died of thirst. The ma
tiyes are searching for them
Another British patrol. October -, STAN
ped.d a number of BOer horses. capturing
five Col Plumer was still sending recon
noi-ering parties up and down the river.
and there was little doubt the enemy had
retired.
Sp~eckley's patrol exchanged a few shots
with the enemy October 81. Capts White
and Giynn. with thirty-nine men. recon-
.T a gr,F. NJ
approached II on one side and Capt White
on the other. The enemy's loss was uu-
known, The Beers rife fire wounded four
Of th= British.
The natives say two Beers were killed in
the skirmish of October 2s at Fort TuI.
CAPE TOWN November delayed In
transm!ssi0n).-Accor to an undated
dispatch received from Ladysmlth. the
body Of General Kock. the Boer com
mauder, who was wounded in the battle
Of Glencoe. captured and taken to Lady
smith, where he died recently, has been
taken 10 Pretoria.
The dispatch added that the Ladysmith
townspe Jple including the women, wit
messed the battle at Ladysmith. 1t was
also said that the resumption OF fighting
was hourly expected.
The Beers are traversing Zululand, hoist
ing flags over the British magistrates
LONDON, November 4.-Ciunnery Lieut..
EGertcn Of the British cruiser Powerful
who wounded by the explosion of a
shell at the bCmbardment Of Ladysmith,
has been promoted to the rank of com
mandeT for services in the field. His legs
have been amputated as a result Of his
wounds Tile officer is a nephew of the
Duke OF Devonshire.
News that CoIenso has been evacuated
was another bitter bill for the British pub
lie. and Is arouSing fears that the CONT
mental statements Of a second serious de-
feat Of General White may prove true.
A significant fact is that the war office
does not say when CoIeuso was evacuated,
so the statement which emanated Thurs
day from DR. Leyds, the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the Transvaal, who Is located
a. Brussels, that the Beers had occupied
Colenso was possibly true. There is much
apprehension that the war office is sup
pressing bs6 news.
LONDON November almost the only
subject Of discussion this week in England
was the disastrous reverse suffered by
Gen. Sir George Stewart White, the British
commander at Ladysmith. Natal. and this
was made the occasion for pouring out tor
rents of lay criticism and advice. Public
opinion seems fairy divided one section
bitterly blaming the general commanding.
and the other maintaining that he prob
ably is not so much at fault as he made
himself out The latter section. which in
cludes many service men and nearly all
the service publications, urges the with
holding of definite criticism pending more
detailed accounts The Naval and Military
Record, after expressing this sentiment
sums UP the situation Flows:
Considering the nature of the country
the Iamentable uDprepareduess OF England
and the unwillirgness of the opposition tc
allow British regiment to go to South
Africa until President Krugers ultimatur
was received. IT is almost surprising that
We have been able to hold our own so far
Not only have the Beers proved themselves
determined fighters and splendid sharp
shooters. as we knew them to be- but they