Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-10


the purpose OF shellng Pretoria. The force
manning II will approximate to the strength
of eight batteries. It's armament will bt
thirty howitzers, fourteen six-inch guns
eight hve-inch guns and eight four-incl
guns, the whole train weighing more thar
5000 tons
Three large steamers have just been
chartered at Liverpool to convey the 0,00C
troops Of the division which Lord Wolseloy
yesterday announced would be mobilized.
Gnrrisons Are Safe.
LONDON, Nov. 9.-The War Office has
received the following dispatch from Gen.
eral Butler, dated Capetown, Wednesday
November s, 11:50 p. M: Colonel Keke-
wich telegraphs from Kimberley, November
5, that all is we'll there and that there has
been no serious attack yet. slight
bombardment did no damage. Information
from Mafeking shows that place was safe
October o.
Colonel Plumer had successful engage
ment near Fort Tuli October 26
General White reports by pigeon post
that the wounded and some civilians from
Ladysmith have been removed four miles
down the railroad, by an arrangement with
General Joubert, to a neutral place, to save
them from the bombardment.
Ninety mine wounded from Dundee have
been sent in under a flag of truce. They
are all doing well, including the following
officers: Colonel c. e. Beckitt, Major f.
Hammersley, Captain f. Ladam, Lieutenant
McLachlan, Major Boultbee, Captain Diblee,
Lieutenant G. N. Perreau, Lieutenant C. A.
Wortham Major w. Davidson and Lieuten-
int d. E. Weldon.
THE bombardment was discontinued No
vember 4 and November 5, and it is ex-
pected to recommence November g."
Renewed Confidence in White.
The absence of stirring war news and the
rehabilitation in the estimation of the Brit
ish public Of General White. who, since his
reverse at Nicholsons Mex, certainly ap-
pears to have used his central position to
successfully strike at different points of the
circle OF investment, thus restoring con-
fdence in his ability to hold the Beers in
check, has permitted public attention to
momentarily revert to the political features
Of South Africa. and the end OF the conflict
La confidently predicted in some quarters.
Lord Salisbury. at the lord mayors ban
quet, tonight, will outline the government s
policy in regard to the future government
OF the Transyaal and Orange Free State and
explain that the references in the queen S
speech to military operations" mot wary
and restoring peace and good government
10 "that portion of my empire" meant noth-
ing more or less than that, in the opinion
OF the government, President Kruger, by
making war on the queen, destroyed all
claims to independence granted by the con-
ventions Of 1891 and 1894, and consequently
the country had reverted to its previous
status and Is, theoretically, part of the
queens dominions. AS the Associated
Press pointed out at the time, the phraseol-
ogy of the queens speech could not be other
wise explained than that at the time of
the speech the republics of South
Africa had already ceased to exist as
separate nations, but If Lord Salisbury Is
prepared, at this early stage of the opera
tions, to definitely announce his policy of
the future, when apparently so many prob
lens remain to be solved, both during and
after the war, he must have already reached
more definite understandings with several Of
the powers than the public Is aware of. The
premier's speech, therefore, is awaited with
unusual interest, and it seems certain that
he will at least be able to announce that the
talk of European intervention is groundless
Measer News from Front.
Beyond the crop of ever recurring rumors,
mostly without foundation, there is little
news from the front. The official dispatch
from General Butler shows Ladysmith was
still In fighting trim Sunday and anticipating
recommencement of the bcmbardment
Monday. There is nothing, apparently, to
justify the triumphant utterances in the
British press. While it Is admitted there is
some room for congratulation there is, 1t is
stated, also room for grave fear. The an
nouncement yesterday that 10000 Beers with
big guns had left Pretoria on their way to
the southern border is said to be merely a
ruse to hide the real destination of this force
which II is believed is Ladysmith. Those who
are best qualified to express an opinion on
the subject believe that the quescence of the
Beers is ominous and they expect shortly to
hear Of large accessions to the Boer guns In
position and a severe bombardment of the
beleaguered camp. The restoration of rail-
road communication therefore is seemingly a
matter of the most urgent importance, as
probably General Whites NEST pressing need
at present is a supply of ammunition for the