Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-30
EXPECT BIG BATTLE.
Forces Massed About Ladysmith IL
Great Numbers

Forces Massed About Ladysmfth In
Great Numbers.
London, Oct. 30.-Every Indication
points to big battle in the vicinity of
Ladysmith. Gen. Joubert finally has
succeeded in joining the Boer and Free
State armies and now has force con-
servatiyely estimated at 1000 men, To
combat this army Generals White,
Yule and Hunters combined forces
number at the outside only II, 900.
The British claim to have nearly fifty
guns, all of better quality than those of
the Beers, but of shorter range. The
Beers are credited with forty guns, but
the chances are they nave more
Scouts who reconnoitered the Boer
camp Sunday found the Beers in tre-
mendous force concentrated in a semi
circle line of ten miles in front of the
town. Almost every approach to Lady
smith is invested. and the last balloon
party discovered the Beers busiiy en-
gagged in fortifying their positions in a
manner almost as perfect as could be
designed by a West Point or Sandhurst
graduate of long experience.
The Beers early in the day cut off the
water supply of Ladysmith, and at the
time the last dispatches were sent We're
hard at work trying to sever the rail-
road communication between Lady
smith and Colenso to the south.
Gen. Jouberts plans undoubtedly
have been laid with the greatest care.
Not only has he combined the two
armies and formed the troops in battle
line behind the fortilications, but has
arranged his batteries in good positions
to shell the British camp from several
directions.
Saturday he brought up two powerful
guns, which previously had been used
at Dundee, and planted them on kupje
barely two and half miles away. to-
wards Elandslaagte. Two other bat
teries at other points also commanding
the British camp We're planted Sunday
as further evidence that he means
business. Gen. Joubert placed a huge
Red Cross tent in a conspicuous posi-
ton.
Notwithstanding all this formidable
array, the British are confident that
they can withstand any attack. Gen
White will take the defensive. He has
laid all his plans to that end and his
guns now point in every direction oc-
cupied by the Boer camps. Batteries
and earthworks nave been thrown ul
and every man is standing with his
gun ready for service. All non-resi-
dents and women and children We're or
dered out of the town Saturday, so thai
everything is in readiness for the open
ing of the hostilities which may decide
the whole Transvaal trouble at day
break.
Why Gen. Joubert did not begin the
| fight Sunday Is unknown, unless it was
on account of his religious. principles
Several small skrmishes We're fought
Sunday but none of them was serious
| AT no time did OF seem like an attemp
on the part of the Beers to open gen.
| eral engagement.
| The patrol of the Fifth Dragons dis
covered two Beers on the edge of tn,
British camp and fired at them. TIL,
Beers left their horses and ran. Pres
emily one held up his hands as i
wounded. The dragons approaching
! a number of Beers who We're ambushel
suddenly opened fire. At the sam,
| time two decoys rushed the horses anl
they were bolted.
| A small force of Beers was discov
cred in the act of cutting the wires a
Pieter's Station, next to Ladysmith h
They were fired on, but got away
Near Colenso two .Basutos were de
ltected putting powders on the railway
and they also were fired on and cap
tured. They confessed they were pre-
pairing to wreck a train and tried t,
beg off by declaring they acted unde
orders of the Transvaal authorities
/ Gems. White and Hunter both expec
to view the Boer positions from a bal
loon today. Evidently neither ha
heard of the fate of the American bal
loon at Santiago. or else the general
might not take such chances.
The fate of the British all rests ol
the military judgment of Gen. White
who, like Gen. Joubert on the Boe
side, has supreme command. Hi
hands are perfectly free. None Of tn
authorities here have attempted to in
lterfere in the slightest degree, and if h
lis victorious all the glory will be hi
and If defeated all the blame will res
on his shoulders.
i Twelve Beers Killed.
London. Oct. MA Fort Tull dil