The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-11-10
B()ER FORCE 4 SURPRISE.
British Contempt for the Followers
Of Kruger Has Been Modified
by Singing Defeat.
GEN. W0LSELEY HAD TO CONFESS IT.

! In Number of Men and Excellence of Ar
tillery the Beers Are q Thorn in the
Side Of the British Communicates
tive Strength of the Burghers NUMBER
More Than $4,000 Men.
London, Nov. 8.-Such scanty intelli-
gence as is filtering from the front is
generally accepted here as reassuring,
although the latter reports agree that
the fighting outside Ladysmith on
Thursday and Friday was much more
severe than indicated by the official
| accounts
There is no longer such a disposition
to Jump at the conclusion that a crush
ing blow has been inflicted on the
Beers as was shown before. British
contempt for the burghers has been
modified by defeat. The best informed
are inclined to discount the stories of
the cutting up of the Beers until fur
Their confirmation is received. But the
mere fact that Gen. White was enabled
to undertake a series of successful re-
commissioners is taken as an indication
that the Boer investment has been re-
Taxed by the withdrawal of portion
of Gen. Joubert's force southwark.
While, however, the anxiety in re-
gard to the immediate stress of Lady
smith is alleviated, there is wide
spread fear that the authorities are
badly laundering and may find too late
that the main expedition will prove
too weak to complete it's task with
safety and dispatch, as the Natal
force has already admittedly failed to
perform what was expected of it.
The confession of Gen. Lord Wolse-
ley, the commander-in-chief, that the
Beers were more powerful and more
numerous than had been anticipated,
penings, and the war Office will here
after have awkward questions to an
swer in regard to its apparent colossal
ignorance of the Boer strength, which,
both in number of men and excellence
of artillery, is apparently a complete
surprise to the British military au-
thorities.
Mail news from South Africa shows
how inaccurate have been the esti-
mates of the intelligence department
and the government experts. It is
CLEANED therefrom that fair estimate
of the Boer forces is as follows: Around
Ladysmith, $4,000; traversing Zulu
land. 1000; advancing on Burghersdorp,
5000; Colesburg, 5000; Kimberley, T.
900; Mafeking, 4,500, and on the north
ern Transvaal border, 1900.
Though the absence of official adj
vices broadens the scope of speculation
and anxiety, it is certain that among
ho INT &c
Boer menace of Pietermaritzburg. One
burgher force is reported advancing
south from Colenso and another is re-
ported starting from Zululand.
Gen. White is apparently holding his
own, notwithstanding the continued
fire of the Beers big guns planted on
the hillsides; and the cavalry sortie at
Bester's Hill shows that the British
are following up every chance to prod
Joubert's forces in return for his per-
sisting harassing of Ladysmith.
Report of q Severe Boer Loss.
London, Nov. SIT is announced in
cable dispatch from Cape Town dated
Sunday, November 5, morning, that
the British have been victorious in an
engagement at Ladysmith and that
the Boer loss was very heavy, includ-
ing 1000 prisoners.
Fighting Every Day at Mafeking.
Cape Town. Nov. S.-A dispatch from
thurman, dated Friday, November 8,
says a dispatch-rider arrived here from
Mafeking that morning announcing
that Col. Baden-Powell had captured a
number of mules and horses Fighting
was occurring daily at Mafelsing, all,
it was added, in favor of the garrison.
Found CoIenso Intact.
Escourt, Natal, Nov. San armored
train went over the Tugela bridge yes
terday, found Colenso intact and also
found the road and railroad bridges
strong.
No Hostilities Since Friday.
London, Nov. S.-An official dispatch
from Ladysmith dated Monday, No
vember 6, says: 'There has been a
cessation of hostilities since Friday.
Only one Kafir was killed by the Boer
bonn bardment. The total British loss
was eight killed and 20 wounded in
Thursdays and Fridays engagements.
The town is well provisioned and is be-
ieved to be entirely safe