The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-10-28
GREAT ALARM IN LONDON
Over War Office Reports of Trans
vaal Victories.
MISGIVINGS AROUSED.
Disastrous Losses of British Troops
Victories Are Dearly
Bought.

London, Oct. 24.-The parliamentary
secretary of the war office, George Wynd
ham, in the House of Commons today,
announced that Field Marshal Lord
Nolseley, the communicating chief of the
forces sums up the situation in Natal to-
day as follows:
Gen. Yule has fallen back to effect june
tion with Sir George Stewart White: He
camped yesterday evening about sixteen
miles south OF Dundee, without seeing any
thing Of the enemy during the march and it
has since been reported that AIS well ON
the Waschbank river"
Gen. White fought successful action
with Orange Free State force todny.
on the road between Ladysmith and New
castle, and should join hands with Gen.
Gen. Yule reports that his wounded are
doing well.
The Boer wounded on our hands are treat
ed just were own and have every
reason to believe the Beers Will treat any OF
wounded in their hands in IA similarly
human manner.
Mr.. Wyndham added: Il may remind
the House that the Transyaal is party
to the Geneva conference.
London. Oct. 24.-The war office here,
this morning, has been attempting to ex-
PLAIN the summary of the situation IN
Natal furnished by the commander-in
chief of the forces Field Marshal Lord
W OfSeiey, 10 tHe House OF commons yes
terday. His statement is now said to
have created unnecessary alarm, and it
Is asserted that what the official note
called Gen. Yule's retirement would be
more accurately described as "a change
of position for tactical reasons, and that
the alarm for the safety of the wounded
is not justified. 1t is further explained
that the wounded could not be moved;
but the fact that they had to be left to
their fate while the British forces made
strategic movement to the rear shows
the suspense of the House at the alb
sence Of subsequent news is amply JuStI-
fed and that the heavy fighting ON Fri
day and perhaps Saturday is only pre-
lude to still sterner work. In some quar-
tiers the view is taken that the second
attack of the Beers has actually oc-
CURED and was so successful that Gen.
1ules withdrawal was imperative and
urgent to the extent of compelling him to
leave his hospitals in the hands of the
Beers. while the more sanguine express
the opinion that Gen. Yule, far from re-
treating, has in reality advanced to meet
the attack threatening Glencoe, leaving
Dundee behind, safely sheltered frcm a
BOer assault.
Contradictory Reports.
In the absence of authentic news there
are a number of contradictory rumors
atioat, but the most reasonable interpre-
tation of the various reports seems TO in
dicate that there was some artillery prac-
tice It Glencoe Saturday and Sunday,
but no fighting at close quarter. Com
munication between Glencoe and Lady
smith. which was thought to have been
restored by the British victory at Glands
laagte has again been broken by the de-
Struction of the railway bridge at Wasch-
bank north of ladySmith and between
Elandslaagte and Glencoe, and the diff
cultie> of the British commander in Ma
RI N
reinforcing Glencoe have been enormous
" increased. Until the British forces at
Iadysmith and Glencoe are united and
the main body of the Beers Is broken, the
situation must remain disquietlnS for the
British.
The afternoon newspapers here sharply
crticiSe Lord Wolseley's summary of the
Natal situation. They say 1t has dis
tinct resemblance to the statements of the
Spanish ministry when preparing their
c0untrymcn for news of the disaster at
Santiago. This however, is probably an
overstrained view There is no denying,
however. the great suspense and anxiety
existing which will be increased by the
report in circulation. purporting to ema-
nate from official quarters, to the effect
that the Beers have secured the services
OF $4,000 natives.
MisgivinEs Aroused.
The vague and varied estimates of the
Beers losses and the absence of any
thing official on the subject are also
arousing misgivings as to whether the
beaten enemy suffered proportionately to
the disastrous LOSSES of the VlctorS.
One of the most disquieting stories
comes from Lady ySmith. 1t is to the
effect that an EnClishman who arrived
there from Dundee on Sunday evening,
after escaping through the Boer lives on
the previous night, said that the enemy
wa; then shclIing the camp and town
with heavy guns. while the shells of the
British were unable TO reach the enemy $
batteries. Consequently the camp was
shifted Il mile or So, in order to be out of
reach of Beers. who were firing on the
magazines in the town.
Meager details given ont from the dis
patches received by the war office. as well
as the brief bulletins coming to the news
papers. all tend to show that the British
troops in northern Natal are confronting
Il serious and pcriloUS situation. 1t is
admitted that the Boer forces largely
outnumhcr the men under Gen. Sir
George Stewart White and with the area
10 he covered by the imperial army an
unexpected attack at some especially
weak point might end in disaster.
YuIe Competed to Retreat,
Gen. Iule, commander at Dundee. find
iug his force inadequate properly to re
SiSt determined assault, decided to de
Sert the position and with his men joined
the garrison at Glencoe, the point most
likely to be attacked Ladysmith. it is
feared. is inadequately garriSoned at
present and ii may be found necessary to
divide the forces equally between the
two towns.
Dispatches from Glencoe and Lady
smith continue about twelve hours late
in reaching the cable station at Cap
Town. so that news Of an engagement
yesterday is still possible. Reports OF an
assault on Dundee and Glencoe Sunday
night are believed at the war office to
have had little foundation. desultory fir
ing on the outpostS having been con
>rrled by the correspondents as the be
ginning of Il general attack.