Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-24
EXPECTED TO MEET THIS EVENING
Successful Fight With Orange Free
State Forces
WAR OFFICE EXPLANATIONS

NItneTdl OIe mas Ialien DdCR TO eneCt q
junction with Sir George Stewart White.
He camped yesterday evening about six
teen miles south of Dundee without seeing
anything of the enemy during the march.
and it has since been reported that All is
we'll on the Waschbank river
General White fought a successful ac-
ton with an Orange Free State force today
on the road between LadySmith and New
Castle and should join hands with General
YuIe this evening.
General Yule reports that his wounded
are doing we'll
''Thc BOer wounded on our hands are
treated just as our own, and l have every
reason to believe the Beers will treat any
of our wounded in their hands in a similar
ly humane manner"
Party to Geneva Convention.
Mr.. Wyndham added:
Il may remind the house that the Trans
vaal is a party to the Geneva convention.
Lord WolseIey further says:
- have also received from General
Walker. at Cape Town. the following:
The last message from Kimberley, Oc-
tober 30, = pm, reports all we'll"
Replying to a question as to what ar
rangements had been made to employ civil
ian doctors to assist In the care of the
wounded in South Africa, Mr. Wyndham
said he was glad to take the opportunity of
announcing that Sir William MacCormac
the distinguished president of the Royal
College of Surgeons. had intimated his
readiness TO accompany General Sir Red
vers Buffers force and place his great
skill and ability at the disposal of the
army medical authorities. Mr. Wyndham
added;
We have not hesItated to accept this
patriotic Offer
Explanations From War Office
The war office here this morning has
been attempting to explain the sum-
mary Of the situation in Natal furnished
to the house of commons yesterday by
the commander-in-chief of the forces.
Field Marshal Lord Wolse,ey. His state
ment Is now said to have created unneces-
sary alarm. and it is asserted that what
the official note called General Yule's re
trement' would be more accurately de-
scribed as "a change Of position for tao
teal reasons" and that the alarm for the
safety Of the wounded is not justified. 1t
Is further explained that the wounded
could not be moved: but the fact that thev
had TO be left TO their fate while the Brit
Ism forces made strategic movement to
the rear shows that the suspense of the
public at the absence of subsequent news
Is amply justified, and that the heavy
nghung on Friday and perhaps Saturday
is only prelude to still sterner work.
In some quarters the view is taken that
the second attack of the Beers has actually
occurred and was SO successful that Cen
eral fule's withdrawal was imperative and
urgent TO the extent of compelling him to
IeaNe MS hospitals in the hands of the
Beers. while the more sanguine express the
mi ha+
ing, has in reality advanced to meet the
attack threatening Glencoe. leaving nm
Gee behind, safely sheltered from a Boer
assault
contradictory Rumors Afoat.
III 'he absence OF authentic news there
are number of contradictory rumors
afoat. but the most reasonable interpreta-
uoh "t the various reports seems to indf
cate that there was some artIIar,, rroo+f,o
at t-encoe Saturday and Sunday. but no
hghung at close quarters As hovrevar
communication between Glencoe and Jedv--
sHAth which was thought to have been re-
stoFen oy the British victory at EIands-
4aagte, has again been broken by the de-
structon of the railway bridge at Wasch
bank north of Ladysmith and between
Elangslaagte and Glencoe the difficuIties
OF the British commander In Natal Gem
eraI Sir George Stewart White. in rejn-
forcing Glencoe have been enormously in
creased. and until the British forces at
Ladysnith and Glencoe are united and the
MAN booy OF the Beers is broken the situa-
ton must remain disqUeting for the British
The afternoon papers here sharply crftf-
else Lord Wolse-eys summary Of the Natal
situation. They say it has a dfs+frc, r.
seInb-ance TO the statement of the Spanish
ministry when preparing their countrynen
for news Of the disaster at Santiago This
however, Is probably an Oyerstralne,l view
There Is no denying, however. that great
suspense and anxiety exist. This condition
has been increased by the report in circu-
lauOn Purporting 10 emanate from official
quarters 10 the effect that the Beers have
secured the services Of 1900 natives.
The vague estimates Of Boer losses and
the absence Of anything official on the sub
ject are also arousing misgivings as TO
whether the beaten enemy suffered pro-
por,ionately to the disastrous losses of the
yictors-
Beers said to Be sheIIing Glencoe
One Of the most disquieting stories comes
from Ladysmith. 1t is TO the effect that
an EnShshman who arrived there from
Dundee on Sunday evening after escaping
through the Boer lines on the previous
night reported that the enemy was then
shelllng the camp and town with heavy
guns. while the shells Of the British were
unable TO reach the enemy's batteries
Consequently, the man is said to have
added. the camp was shifted a mile or So
in order to be out of reach of the Beers
who were firing on the magazine in the
town.
News has at length been received direct
from Col Baden-PCwell. dated Mafektng.
October Is, II confirms the statement
that in the armored train fight the British
had two men killed and fifteen wounded
including Lieut.. Lord Charles Bentinck of
the 9th Lancers. slightly wounded The
Boer loss was estimated at fifty-three kill
ed and many wounded
The latest adyices from Kimberley under