The Jersey City news., 1899-11-07
WHITE
WORRIES BOERS
Sallies From Ladysmith In
flict Terrible Punishment
On the Burghers.
EHGLAND's NAVAL PRECAUTIONS
Kimberly Not Hard Pressed
Cecil Rhodes Lays Out
an Avenue.

LONDON, Nov I, 1S99-It is announced
in a special despatch from Cape Town,
dated Sunday, November S, morning, that
the British have been victorious in an en-
gagement at Ladysmith, and that the
Boer loss was very heavy, including two
thousand prisoners.
Such scanty intelligence as Is fltering
from the front is generally accepted here
as reassuring. although the later reports
agree that the lighting outside Ladysmith.
on Thursday and Friday, was much more
severe than indicated by the official ac-
counts. There is no longer such dis
position to jump at the conclusion tnat
crushing blow has been inflicted on the
Beers as was shown before. British con-
tempt for the Burghers has been chasten-
ed by defeat.
The best informed are inclined to dis
count the stories Of the cutting up OF the
Beers until further confirmation Is re-
ceived But the mere fact that General
White was enabled to undertake series
of successful reconnaissances is taken as
an indication that the grip Of the Boer
investment has been relaxed by the with
drawal of portion of General Joubert's
force southwark. While, however, the
anxiety in regard to the immediate
stress of Ladysmith Is alleviated, there
is a widespread recrudescence OF the rear
that the authorities are badly laundering
and may find too late that the main ex-
pedition will prove too weak to complete
its task with safety and despatch, as the
Natal force has already admittedly failed
to perform what was expected OF it.
The confession yesterday evening OF
General Lord Wolseley, the Commander
in-Chief. that the Beers were more pow
erful and more numerous than had been
anticipated, sufficiently explains the pres
ent happenings and the War Onice VIII
hereafter have awkward questions to an
swer in regard to its apparent colossal
ignorance of the Boer strength, wnlcn,
both In numbers of men and excellence
of artillery, is, apparently, complete
surprise to the British military authori-
ties. Mail news from South Africa SHOWS
how inaccurate have been the estimates
of the Intelligence Department ana the
governmental experts.
It Is CLEANED from there that fair
esfirnatate of the Boer forces Is as foi-
lows:--Around Ladysmith, 25,000; traver-
sing Zululand 1900; advancing on Burg
hersdorp, S. 600; Colesburg, 5000; Kimberly
1000: Mafekink, 4,500, and on the Nortnera
Transvaal border, 1900. Exact informa-
ton about the Boer artillery is lacking,
but it is known that General Jouberts
detachment. before it was reinforced,
consisted of sixteen Krupp field pieces OF
the laest pattern and two heavy Cruezor
sieye-guns. which, but for the opportune
arrival of the British Naval Brigade,
would have rendered Ladysmith unten-
able.
Tn connection with the naval guns,
most interesting and important expert
ment has been successfully carried out
at Cane Town with a 47-inch gun, so
sarviceable at Iadysmith. One of the
British cruiser Terrible's guns mounted
on a Scott travelling carriage, was nreo
in the same way as field gun, WIN en-
tire success. The terrible with numDer
Of guns thus mounted, is on her way 20
Durham. and though the guns cannot no"
reach Ladysmith, they may pe OF the
greatest value in the defence OF Fleter-
maritzburg, which, it seems, will prooapiy
have to stand a siege. The arrival OF the
-rerrible with the relief crews for emma
and other available men must nave
placed =, the neighborhood OF Soo more
men at the service of the military au-
thorities.
interesting news comes from the Chan
mel Squadron at Gibraltar, showing pre-
cautions against all eventualities almost
unknown in European waters IN peace
time. On the quay to Gibraltar the meet
spread out four miles apart ana a snarp
outlook was kept for suspicious craIt-
At Gibraltar extra sentries are posted
at night at differents parts OF the snil's'
with ten rounds of ball cartridges eacn.
the small guns on the upper deck ana IN
the fighting tops are kept ready for i'm
mediate use. the ammunition being on
deck: a few men sleep at the guns. the
searchlights are kept working. and all
boats are hailed and not allowed to ap-
proach without the permission OF the
officer of the watch.