The record-union., 1899-11-27
AnSencs of Official Details R.glrdIng His
LgSSlS.
1t Creates Great Suspense, but No
Alarm is Felt as to His Posi-
tion-The Gras Pan Action Evil
IDENTIFY a Desperate Affair-The
"Times" Says Military Require
ments Were at First Greatly
Underestimated.

LONDON, Nov 27-5 a. m-No
further news respecting Lord MethuenS S
advance has been received and the alb
sence of official details regarding his
losses creates the greatest suspense and
especially since the publication of the
heavy sacrifices endured by the naval
brigade. No alarm, however, is felt as
TO his position, despite the evidence
tnat the Beers intend to contest every
loot of the way. 1t was known that,
in the absence of sufficient cavalry, he
would be compelled to advance slowly
and he has a preference for night or
early dawn attacks, which events seem
to have been justified, the Beers being
decidedly adverse to darkness for their
operations.
The fact that in the Gras Pan action
one British battery fired 800 rounds
proves the desperate nature of the fight
and there is little doubt that the casu
altieS were heavy. 1t is now known
that no guns were captured in the Bel
mont operations.
Meanwhile the news from Natal is
distinctly more hopeful from the Brit
ish point of view. The details are
rather vague, but it seems certain that
the Beers are retiring, that railway
communication is being reopened and
that the British relief forces are join
ing hands
This, taken with General Buffers ar
rival at Pietermartizburg, is expected
to make matters move brisk very soon.
General Hildyard's reconnaissance is
praised as a work of very great diff
Guilty, admirably executed. The troop
ship Medici arrived at Cape Tov II yes
terday with the Australian contiiigents.
The Pindar and the Idaho arrived there
Saturday bringing three batteries of
artillery. The Servia with troops has
left Cape Town for Durham and the
transports Mohawk and Manchesterport
have arrived at Durham
The utmost activity prevails in get
ting war necessaries ready for the
front. Five thousand men worked all
day yesterday Sunday at Woolwfch
Arsenal, preparing stores.
Among minor items of news is the
rumor that President Kruger is suffer
ing with Bright's disease and that his
condition is growing worse.
Five hundred Beers attacked Kuru-
man, in Bechuanaland. on November
18th The fighting lasted almost con-
tinuously for six days and nights. but
the Beers were finally beaten off with
a loss of thirty killed and twenty eight
wounded.
The British lost one killed and one
wounded The Beers suddenly disap-
peared for some unknown reason.
Despite the brighter outlook to-day,
the Times" in it's review of the situa-
tion, voices the anxiety felt and says
THE activity the Beers display at
points separated by hundreds of miles;
their ability to invest towns; their
readiness to offer battle at Belmont and
again at Gras Pan, their widespread
operations south of Orange River and
their bold and offensive action in Natal.
seem to indicate numbers far in ex-
cess of our estimates. 1t is clear that
the military requirements We're at first
greatly underestimated and that a
sixth division ought Immediately ne
prepared for embarkation."
This coming from the hitherto optl-
mistic Times" is significant.