The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-13
SEATTLE, MONDAY, NOVEMBER n.


THE ATTACK ON kIMBERLEY.
Gen. Whites valiant defense al Lady
smith, where he seems To have sffectu-
ally checked the Beers under Gen. Jou-
bert. has caused iulI in startling news
from that part of South Africa, and
now attention L. directed 10 Kimbsr-
ley. where the burvhers u the Orange
Free state have penned up Cecil
Rhodes. The attacking army knows full
well that decisive action must be taken
before reinforce,nents con arrive from
Gen. Butler. and accordingly the efforts
to capture the diamond town and the
arch enemy Of the Transvaal have been
redoubled. Dispatches TO the London
war office report the Beers as unusually
active. but II Il stated that their artl-
lcry fire IL not doing any damage.
However. great bodies Of burghers sur
round the town. and they are losing no
opportunity 10 lift cattle and 10
harass the British in every way pos
sibie. They seem to have avoided an
open engagement, and to have suffered
somewhat from the fire Of the British
guns.
Each day the situation in South AZ
RIGA becomes more complicated. II The
Beers are well posted In general as 10
the plans Of Cen Butler. and when that
veteran commander begins his advanoe
from the Caps he will find that his adj
versaries have prepared To the best of
their ability 10 contest the invasion OF
the Orange Free state According to
recent dispatches they have begun OPP
erations along the Grange river. espe-
cialiy at the railroad crossings, Thus
on the great trunk line which runs
from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth. by way
OF Bloefnfontein and Ccieshurg. they
have raided Norvars pom, station. Just
south OF the Orange river. and II they
have not cut the line by destroying
the bridge across the Orange river they
have II In their power 90 do So at any
time. They have also captured Coles
burg. They have also moved westward
down the Orange river. and have de-
stroyed the bridge at Botha's drift. eigh-
teen miles from Norvars pon; The
tas bet.t too,
across the river In that direction East
ward from Norvai's pont shey are also
busy. They arc In force at Bethulle.
on the Orange side Of the river. and on
the tine Of the railroad which comes UP
from East London, enters the Orange
State at that point and connects with
the trunk line formerly mentioned at
Springfonsein. n Ia doubtless within
their power 10 destroy the railroad
bridge there Mt any tisue. and that time
viii Of course come when Gen nuiler
advances thither with ais invading
army. There Ia another hviise eth
further east. At Ai,waa North. which
town. named after Sir Harry Smiths
favorite horse. ~ much admired nv
Lady Smith. Ia the terminus OH the
Cape Colony side ~ the river. 81 a rail-
road branching from the East London
line. The Beers are understood IL have
that bridge IN their control. tos. ana
II Is the last one IN shat direction Thus
every bri5se acToss the Orange river
has either been destroyed 90 Il, IN fis->r
possession. That Is ons SERIOUS ra.s
which Gen. FULLER viii have ~ face
OF course there are plenty II ror.,s. aut
this IL not the easiest tiu1a Il year In
whsch 60 cross them. An.i 81 any ti.le
forilug such river A. ths Csants. IL
the face ot fsoer rasTpshe-oters AMI
Kr,pp guns Ia not an enviAble uai.g-
taking.
According 90 the New York TNfbuna.
by no neans the leas; slsniiean, rses'a
Of news Is that the Dutch ~ the cape
are nlanlfvstly remaining losal - she
crown. to which may ts aiaei this
that IN Canada, Australia ssts easeS her,
enthusiasm - the nsos, practical kiaa
In support ~ the crssvn IS increasingly
shown. That - an interesting ccgr-
n,easary urca the recent declaration -
the Transvaai Beers that death would
be preferable TO lifc under British SOW
ercignty. Evidently The bssars % Cape
.-o,onv who form the majority q. she
white population and who control tire