The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-31
THE sITrArJOv Ar LADYSIITH.

The British movement to the eastward OF
Iadysmith on Sunday seems to have resolved
itself into reconnaissance In force without
coming into touch with the main body OF the
left wing OF the Boer army. IA reported by
Sir George White. force composed OF five
) battaions OF infantry. six field batteries nnd u
| detail OF calvary was detached from ladysmith
| 10 attack the Boer position. but II was found
! evacuated. After desultory engagement.
| lasting some hours. with the retreating Boer',
| In which the British loss was about one hun
| dred. this force returned to Ladysmtth unmo-
| Tested The conclusion Is that the Boer com
mander refused to accept battle aud desired
to draw the British force on TO attack him In
position Of his own choosing. But in this he
! failed. and the position on that side Of Lady
smith remains "a it was at last accounts.
| On tho west side the force sent out to clear
the British left flank md occupy a position on
| the hills seems to have gone astray after
! losing some ~ IT, mountain guns through
| stampede among the mules. 1t was.
| however. expected to return safely. with
| the exception. therefore. 0t the reported
| slerclng II the heavier Boer guns that
| had hombarled i.adysmith at 5000 yards
| distance the British operations appear to have
| had no result Sir George White also seems
to have been in some doubt as to whose COM
! whether the main body under Gen. Joubert or
| ono OF the subordinate commands: from
which il is evident that the British intelligence
| department is not very well served.
! 1t 10 remarkable that very little has been
| heard OF the movements OF tho Free State
| burshers during tho past few days. although
| II has been more than once stated that they
were operating a junction with Gen. Joubert's
main body. Whether they have done SO or not
| seems to be unknown in the British camp. for
the report Of Sir George White OF his opera
! tons on sunday. unless it was edited at the
| War ONCE in London before being issued to
| the public distinctly gives the impression
that he was quite in the dark as to his
enemy movements and somewhat suspicious
| OF his own situation. His repeated reference
| to the Boer superiority in numbers and their
unexpected strength In artillery might eyon
suggest that he was beginning to find his po-
| sition unteaable and contemplated retreat
| The fact that he was una bls to locate any Boer
laagers during his reconne issance. or to come
| into close touch with their forces. would seem
| to indicate that either they were retiring with
| view to closing in toward their centre. or. OF
| stretching out toward their left with the
| intention OF striking at the British commu-
| nications with Pietermarit2burg. at some
| point beyond reach OF the country patrols
| Their reported attempt 10 reach Peters sta
| ton. ten miles south OF Ladysmith. and their
| alleged capture OF 800 transport mules in
| that neigh DO rhood. show that they have COM
mand OF the country right up 10 the railway
| line which the British commander 10 using
| every precaution to guard. With regard to
the actual strength OF the forces under Sir
! George Whites command there 10 a variety
Of statements: one puts 1t at IL 900. another at
$4,000. and another at over 10000. Before the
| ia
5000 electives and 1000 colonial levics. With
the troops from India added he had before the
fighting began about 81 900 men. The losses
in battle and from other causes must have re-
duced this by at least 1000; deductinc the
troops neces sary to guard the com m unications.
about as many more. he cannot therefore have
more than between 5000 and I. 900 electives
not one man too many to maintain the posi-
ton at Ladysmith. But there 10 reason to
believe that this is an overestimats. and that
his availab fighting force 10 under the lower
figure OF $1,000. or the Boer forces confront
ing him nothing is known for certain: any
estimate therefore is purely conjectural. They
appear. however. to be in greatly superior
force to the British.
The German corps that was reported totally
annihilated at Elandslaagte has again made
its appearance in the field. and other foreign
corps are said to be with Gen. Joubert. A letter
from johannesburg. written q few days before
the issue Of the Boer ultimatum. describes the
interview had by a deputation OF British Tit
landers with President Kruger and some
members OF tho council regarding their
taking up arms in defence ot the
Republic. Hr. Wolmaraus objected to their
being granted burghership until after the war.
but President KRUGER overrulsd him. and
striking the table with customary emphasis
with his fist declared that thew abouId only