The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-07
A FAMINE OF NEWS.
A Critical State of Affairs in Northern
I# Natal, ...

London, Nov. 6-The war office an
nounced al midnight that no dispa tches
had been received beyond those already
made public and that nothing further
would be issued before noon to-day.
Thus, not a solitary official item OF
news has been posted for nearly "a
hours. This has given rise to crop
of rumors that Ladysmith's ammun-
ton is exhausted; that Sir George
Stewart White is mortally wounded;
that both facts are being concealed and
that other unlucky happenings have
taken place. For all of these reports
there is absolutely no foundation. AT
the same time, the Britisher has had
little to stimulate him within the last
20 hours except the news of the con-
fident attitude of the Labyrinth garri-
son and it's slight success last Thursday
and Friday
Advices.s from other parts of South
Africa are distinctly unpalatable and
everything points to critical situation
in Natal and the northern portions OF
Cape Colony, likely to grow more acute
until General White is either relieved or
decisively defeated. Nobody dares to
think of capitulation.
1t is generally assumed, however, that
General White, with the aid of the ma
val guns, will be able to cope with any
bombardment and the idea that the
Beers could take Ladysmith by assault
is secuted as absurd. The defense thus
depends on the uninterrupted working
of the naval guns Right here arises
the important questions-upon which
the dispatches have thrown no light
whether the naval guns, which them
selves only arrived at the last moment
have with them sufficient ammunition
to reply to bombardment lasting pos
sibly several weeks. If not, it is hard
ly likely that works exist in a small
town like Ladysmith for casting the
special shell needed for the Al gun;
and moreover, there Is no mention of
stores of lyddite at Ladysmith for re-
charging these shells.
Meanwhile vague remarks in the dis
patches point to the impending arrival
Of further big Boer guns from Jo-
hannesburg, to be mounted among the
hills within range of Ladysmith. Such
considerations explain the anxiety felt
regarding General Whites movements
and position, not only by the public,
but in official circles.
The British retirement to Estcourt
has given the impression that it is in
tended to make a stand there. Est
court is the last important town be-
tween the Beers and the capital of
Ladysmith and if the Beers sweep past
Estcourt nothing can stop them from
laying siege to Pietermaritzburg which
cannot be expected to make pro
eietSteu ueleIlSS, WHlle It's TAIL WOulu De
tremendous blow to British prestige
throughout South Africa.
Already the British retirement south
of Colenso has given the Beers an OPP
portunity to make bid for the sup
port of the disaffected Dutch in Natal
by proclaiming the annexation Of the
upper Tugela section. Thus far the
Dutch colonists seem to have confined
their sympathy with the invading
Beers to a platonic emotion. Except
for surreptitious assistance, there is no
evidence that they have yet Joined the
Beers openly in any appreciabe num-
bers.
The reported British retirement from
Stormberg Junction, however, will be
followed doubtless by a similar Boer
proclamation annexing the portions of
Cape Colony lying directly south Of the
Orange Free State. These proclama-
tons, as in the case of Bechuanaland,
have been and will be Immediately fol-
lowed by British counter proclama-
lions, but to the eyes of the Dutch
farmers the presence of one Boer COM
mando is probably more impressive
than the expectation of the arrival of
the whole British army in the more or
less distant future.