Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-24
British Military Situation Conceded to Be
Exceedingly Grave.
NECESSARY TO RETIRE FROM DUNDEE
hnglish Commander Has Decided to Fall
Back to Ladysmith.
THREATENED BY STRONG BosR ARMIES
Number Eleven Thousand Men and Would
overwhelm the Britons
BIG DISASTER APPREHsNDED IN LONDON
froionEntion of wnr Is Now Re.
Sarded ms Certnin-sauadron of
Hussnrs that Pursued Glencoe
Beers stiiI Missing.

copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing co,
LONDON, Oct. 23.-(New York World Ca
piegram-Speoial Telegram)-The British
nliitary situation In Natal is now exceed
ahsly grave. The latest rumor in the lobby
OF the House of Commons this evening is
tnaI teneral 1ule. now at Dundee has de-
ciued TO attempt to fall back on Ladysmith
III the railway between Glencoe and that p,ace
can be secured, which Is doubtful; otherwise
the Boer armies now converging on Yule's
force from the Tranevaal and Orange Free
state, numbering, 1t is said, IL 900 men. will
In all probability overwhelm Yule's division
This bad news occasions a feeling OF in
tense anxiety and intelligence of big dis
aster is deeply apprehended.
othcial dispatches were received this even
Ing from Generals White and Yule, but on
consultation between cabinet members in
the House OF Commons it was decided to
Withhold them from the house.
The squadron of Hussars and section of
mounted infantry which pursued the Beers
after Glencoe battle are missing.
Prolongation of the war is now regarded as
certain.
dispatch from Ladysmith, Natal, dated
4:15 p m. yesterday, has just been received
1t is literal repetition of Capetown- Glen
coe advices of yesterday and it Is regarded
as somewhat ominous that nothing has since
been received especially when viewed in the
light of Lord Wolseley's statement that Gen.
eral Yules forces felt 1t necessary to retire
from Dundee to Glencoe Junction. General
Yule evidently is in tight corner as he
now has or had to face the main Boer army
under General Joubert.
General Sir George Stewart White, the
commander in-chief of Natal, will undoubt-
edly detach part of the force which was
victorious at Elandslaagte to his assistance
Such detachment. however, will leave
Iadysmith poorly protected againet the
threatened attack from the west as General
Hunter on Sunday wired that the departure
Of the force to Elandslaagte left him with
only a couple of battalions of regulars,
mounted battery and 500 Natal volunteers
to defend the town. which is the British
military base in North Natal Further
news, therefore. is anxiously awaited
Strict Press Censorship.
Press censorship at the seat of hostilities
has become stricter than ever. Not single
newspaper dispatch was allowed to be
forwarded from the front yesterday.
Following is the telegram addressed to the
kaiser by Colonel Schiel the German officer
who built the forts in Pretoria and Johan-
nesburg and who was captured by the Brit
ish at Elandslaagte:
"To His Majesty Emperor of Berlin: Ger
man volunteers marching to the frontier
have sworn to be loyal unto death to the
kindred of the German race. We deeply re-
gret that the policy of the high government
is unable to exercise its influence in our
interests, yet we protest against England's
predatory action. May German blood flow
not in vain for freedom and justice and
the blessing of your majesty be with u.s.
The loyalty of German soldiers will remain
true to the friendship which your majesty
himself has shown us
COLONEL SCHlEL."
Rocrs Omen Fire on Dundee.
LONDON Oct. 24.-The Daily News pub
fishes this dispatch from Ladysmith, dated
Sunday night:
"a large command of General Joubert and
under Commandant Vogan opened hre on
Dundee yesterday. Tho firing was continued
today"
General YuIc Moves Back.
LONDON Oct. 24-The Daily Telegraph
has received the following from Ladysmith,
dated Sunday, 2:lO p. M
1.-The Beers, reported to be 5000 strong
and under command of Commandant Gen
eral Joubert and President Kruger In per-
son. are today again attacking Glencoe.
general Yule, commanding our troops
has moved his camp back into better de-
feneve position" "a