The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-10
FROM TRANSVAAL is LOOKED FOR At
AN EARLY DATE.
BRITISH To MAKE AN ADVANCE
To Colenso and Ladysmith- Gen. White
Able to Hold His Own Until Relieved.
Some Heavy Fighting I'm Last Few
Days-Reinforccmen Arriving from
Durban-German Artfllcrists I'm the
Field British Not Able TO Cope With
Boer Artillery.

Estcourt, Natal. Monday. November
6.-The Natal field artillery left camp
today, escorted by troops Of the impe-
rial lighthouse, carbineers and Natal
police. The destination of the force is
unknown.
Firing was heard this morning in the
direction of Colenso, from which il is
believed the Beers have resumed the
bombardment of Ladysmith.
Queenstown, Cape Colony. Sunday,
November SIT is reported that the
Beers have blown up the Stormburg,
spruit bridge, as a terrific explosion
was heard in the direction OF the
bridge.
Estcourt, Natal, Sunday, November
5.-Brigadier General Wolfe Murray
has received important dispatches from
Ladysmith by a runner, but their con-
tents have not yet been divulged. The
armored train with a detachment of
the Dublin fusileers and railroad en-
glneering staff, which left here for
Colenso. to repair the line, yesterday
evening and which also intended to GO
through to Ladysmith if possible has
returned here. The commanding Of
ficer reports that he proceeded beyond
Colenso and found the dwellings there
untouched. There had been no loot
ing there except in a single case where
a store was looted by Kaffirs.
1t is reported that the Beers are not
within twenty miles of here. The bull
let holes in the uniforms of Durham
volunteers show the narrowness of
their escape from Fort Wylie, which
was effected after the heavy fire of the
n
loss on the Beers.
The Dublin fusileers are being serv-
ed with new kits, as they lost every
thing in the retreat from Dundee
The colonial forces are already fight
ing in their shirt sleeves, and it is ex-
pected that this will spread to all the
forces before long
Further advices of the Groberksloof
affair tend to confirm the statement
that the British were successful. A
kaffir declares that fully 100 Beers
were killed on the hill top by the men
women" which is supposed to indicate
that the Gordon Highlanders were
there.
Cyclist scouts have since been across
the Tugela river. They saw a num-
Der of killed lying on the plain.
cape Town, Sunday, November s.
The following is an official description
from Pretoria of the battle of Nichol-
sons Mex:
General Joubert was in supreme
command. The Britishers advanced
in the darkness on the republic forces,
on the right of the hill, formed by the
Free Staters, commanded by General
Cronje. A stampede of their mules
threw the whole force into disorder.
The British batteries were observed in
a long line on the plains in the direc-
tion of the Beers center, along the
table-hill from which our artillery
opens on the English batteries COM
ing into position from Lombardskop.
with a Creusot. The second shell fell
in their midst. 1t was followed by shot
after shot, drawing the British con-
cealed batteries. From 6 to IL o'clock
the hill was veritable inferno of hiss
ing, whistling fragments of shells. At
first the British failed to reach the HILL
while the Boer fire told heavily. Event
ually the British reached the Beers
and showered shells on our gunners
The Beers could only occasionally fire
their guns. While a wounded gunner
bandaged himself another fought, OBJ
livious Of the fragments of shells at
his back. Doctor Hollis was killed
while bandaging the wounded.
In the meantime the burghers got
their Howitzers further forward and
into play and the extreme end of Mey-
ers battery got in deadly work.
o.
Colesburg. Monday. November cit
| is reported that 5000 Beers have left
| Pretoria and are going to protect the
southern border OF the Orange Free
| State. They are said to be accompa-
| MED by a large contingent of German
| artillery with quick-firing guns of
heavy calibre.
London, November 9.-To the eyes OF
| military experts the darkest page of
4 iG I2r.f
| even that is Illuminated with bright
| passages, such as General Whites vic
| torious sorties. II he can keep the
British flag flying over Ladysmith
| until he is relieved, the campaign will
turn fresh page. ana with the ad-
| vance of Sir Redvers Buffers force
the British public Is promised more
| cheerful reading.
This feeling of relief. inspired by re-
| cent good tidings, is, nevertheless ting
ed by certain anxiety lest General
White should again make some fatal
miscalculation involving a repetition
OF the Nicholsons Mex disaster.
Her majesty does not share this anx.
iety and apparently is sanguine of his
ability to pull through successfully
1t is asserted that she has written tC
Lady White, expressing sympathy with
her husband in the trials and Difficult.
ties he is now experiencing and assur.
ing Lady White Of her own undimin
ished confidence in his generalship
The purport of this letter has been ca
bled to General White by the Marquis
of Lansdowne.
REINFORCEMENT FROM DUR
BAN.
The most interesting news tonight Il
| a dispatch from Estcourt announcin,
| the departure of a strong force of
mounted troops and artillery for a des
tination not given in the advices- An
| other message announces the arrival a
Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg within
the last few days Of reinforcement
from Durham. and that !, 500 troops ar
assembled ready for an advance Z
Colenso when the opportunc momen