The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-26
1T LOOKS GLOOMY IN NATAL.
THREE BRITISH GARRIsONs ARE
STILL TIED UR

SuccOr-BnttIe of belmont Decided
NOthing-Fears That the British
Are Also short of Ammunition.
Dutch Farmers in Cape Colony
Said TO Have Joined the Beers.
officer Shot by wounded Boer.
London. Nov. 25.-The position in Natal
remains full of perplexities, which the
censorship has. Increased. Although a d.
vision and a half have now reached Dur
ban, that place is practically powerless,
until supplied with cavalry and artillery
and until these arrive the situation will
undoubtedly remain grave.
With three beleagured garrfsons in Ma
tai, beside Kimberley and Mafeking, and
no signs of succor in the immediate fu-
ture, it is no wonder that the outlook is
regarded as distinctly gloomy tonight, and
that the most possible is made of Gen.
Methuen's success, such as it was
That battle decided nothing, and it seems
certain that many experts are of the opin-
ion that the story of the return of the
pursuing cavalry without getting in touch
with the retreating Beers, indicates that
the cavalry discovered in time that If it
SNAAc
the Pretoria race course with its comrades
of the Hussars.
1t will not surprise any one greatly If
the Beers are shortly again discovered
in an entrenched position near the spot
from which Gen Methuen has just evict-
ed them.
From no other point can even a SEM
blance of Success be reported. Mafeklng
is apparently in worse plight than the
Britishers have hitherto cared to admit
and 1t is difficult to see how it can be re-
lieved for some time to come. While the
official dispatch from the head laager out
side Ladysmith, dated Nov "a, showed
that the town was still flying the Union
Jack on Friday, the cheerful tone of the
message and the evident anticipation of
the speedy reduction of Ladysmith is not
calculated to cheer anxious relatives.
Another Cause for Fear.
The reported silence of the British guns
also again aroused fears of a shortness of
ammunition, and the fact that the Beers
have just placed in position another siege
gun shows that they have not yet done
their worst.
| IhO dliANdl OL tle 1efIndn OIucerS, some
of whom, it is understood gained large
experience in reducing fortified towns in
| 1901, is calculated to lead 10 change
| of tactics which Will add to the suspense
of the sorely tried garrison.
The situation In the ncrthern portion Of
| Cape Colony is about as unsatisfactory as
1t can be. Beers are turning up in all di-
| rections
A Cape Town dispatch, received al a late
| hour tonight, reports that the enemy have
blown up a railway bridge between Ros-
mead Junction and Middleburg, with the
object of preventing an advance from Port
| Elizabeth. This was effected by a small
commando, which, ii is stated remains in
the neighborhood. The effect of blowing
up this bridge will tend to isolate Naauw-
poOrt, which was recently reoccupied by
the British and must delay the advance
of the troops just arrived at Port Eliza
beth
Dutch Farmers with Beers.
The gravest news from Cape Town to-
day comes from the northern part of the
colony where, it is now evident numbers
of Dutch farmers have risen and Joined the
invading Free Stale forces in the Hefschel
and Bafk!ey-East districts.
A dispatch from Queenstown, Cape Colo
ny, Gen. Gataeare's headquarters, an
nounces that "four hundred colonial reb-
els, including an ex-magistrate of Bark
ey-East have joined the enemy" at the
latter place and that the whole force is
reported TO be marching on Dordrecht,
whence it can operate and possibly inter-
cept Gen. Gatacre's advance to reoccupy
Stormburg Junction, a strategic point
from which Gen. Gatacre can get in di-
rect touch, through the railroad, with
Gen. FIR snch al Naauwpcort and thus with
the British base at deAaar.
Another dispatch says that refugees ar
riving from Queenstown assert that Lady
grey has been occupied by the colonial
farmers, and that it is feared that there
is a general movement in favor of the
Beers.
Shot by n wounded Boer.
Further dispatches from Belmont con-
frming the treacherous use of the white
flag by the Beers are arousing indigna-
tion. The troops engaged are bitterly COM
planning and it is feared the result will
be a refusal TO give the Beers quarter.
An incident similar to the one which
occurred at the battle of Glencoe, when
an officer was shot by a wounded Boer,
is reported by the London Times CORE
spondent'at Belmont, who says that Lieut.
Blundell Of the Grenadier Guards was shot
by wounded Boer whom he was tending.
Such statements appear Incredible but
they are now confirmed officially by the
protest of Gen. Methuen, who has sent a
message to the Boer commander saying;
II must ask you TO warn your wounded
not to shoot our officers. l must warn
you not 10 use dumdum bullets, or use the
flag of truce treacherously. Such action
is cowardly in the extreme and l cannot
oountenance it,"
The reported determination of the United
States to compel Kruger to allow Consul
General Macrum to exercise his rights as
British agent at Pretoria, has created an
excellent impression here, and has called
out various expressions Of satisfaction and
gratitude.
-nrrW ~ nrnrp ubr(N<