The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-31

Pretoria. October 24-Via Lorenzo |
Marques, October 26.-The lombard
ment Of Mafeking by General Cronjes
commando began this morning. Inc
women and children were given ample
time to leave the town.
PRETORIA, October rs. Via Lorenzo,
MARQUES, October 26.-The Smelling OF
Mafeking was resumed at day break
this morning. Several houses are in
flames.
London, October 26.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from General White:
"Dadysmith, October 26.--lZ:40 p. m.
General Yule's COLUMN has just
marched in here after a very hard
march during a night of exceptionally
heavy rain. The men, though done
up, are in good spirits and only want
rest. The enemy did not modest them
London. October 26.-Orders were is
sued today for an additional 5000 troops
to sail for South Africa between No
vember 4th and November 18th.
GENERAL SYMONS DEAD.
London, October 26.-The death of
General Sir William Penn Symons, the
British commander at Glencoe, VINO
was shot in the stomach in the Datte
with the Beers there October 10Th, was
officially announced in the house or
today.
The parliamentary secretary OF the
war office, Mr.. Wyndham, in annOunc-
ing the death of General Symons said:
THE news was CONSIDERABLY sent to
General White by General Joubert,
which confirms the impression that
General Yule had to leave his wounded
at Dunde
Cape Town, October 26.-According
to a dispatch received here from Pre-
toria in the Engagement the
forces under Colonel Plumer and the
Beers at Rhodes Drift, six Beers were
killed and four were made prisoners,
TROOPS ARRIVING.
Durham, October 26.-Martial law has
been proclaimed throughout Natal. A
transport has arrived with a battalion
of the rifle brigade.
Cape Town, October 1.-The trans
port Zayathla, whose voyage from Liv-
erpool was delayed by difficulties with
her machinery, has arrived with a bat
terry and a half of field artillery. Her
sister transport, with AN equal force,
which has been similarly delayed, is
daily expected.
YULE LEAVES HIS WOUNDED.
London, October 26.-The war office
today received the following Telegram
from General White:
"Ladysmith, October %.
"Brigadier General Yule's force has
left Dundee with the view OF concern
tration ait Ladysmith. To avoid the
risk of life which a long march would
have entailed, the wounded were left
at Dundee under medical supervision.
Yesterday Sir George White, having
ascertained by a previous ~connals
sance that the Free State forces mad
moved eastward from Bester's station
and were attempting to gain the road
from Ladysmith to the north, moved
out in the direction of Blanslaagte,
with the Fifth %lancers, Nineteenth
hussars, Imperial light horse, Natal
mounted volunteers, two field batteries,
one mountain battery and a brigade OF
infantry.
THE BRITISH WITHDRAW.
THE enemy posted a battery two
miles south of MOdderspruit and OPP
ened with infantry fire at long range
ON the British advance guard, consist
ing of the Nineteenth hussars. This
was followed by artillery fire directed
with considerable accuracy against the
British guns. An action lasting six
hours ensued at Rietfontein farm. h
enemy were driven from the hills COM
manding the roads. Sir George Whites
object being accomplished the column
returned to Ladysmith. The enemy Is
believed to have suffered. Several
Beers own officially that they lost over
100 killed at Elandslaagte. Three un-
dred prisoners, wounded and
ed, are in the hands of the British, In
Guiding several of high position.
A was we'll at Mafeking UP to Oc-
tober 21st and all was we'll at Kimber-
ley up to October 23rd. The defenders
are in good spirits"
THE BOERS HOLDING THEIR OWN
The dispatches from the front are so
diversified and contradictory that 1T Is
difficult to outline the situation with
any degree of precision Three or
foul main facts. however, stand u
rn-0rninantJX Conaro1 SVmnnS' fight
at Glencoe was not anything like the
decisive victory at first alleged, and
General Yule woul probably have been
annihilated or met with the same fate
as the captured huSsarS If he had not
retreated. General Whites ARTILLERY
- duel' at Rietfontein was a very severe
engagement in which the rifle did great
execution and where success was only
achieved at a distressing cost. Inc
bombardment of Mafeking has COM
menced, with unknown result, and the
Beers nave got their hussar prisoners
safely to Pretoria.
Altogether the campaign is being
pushed by the Beers so st~renuously and
ON such sound ~strategical lines that
the situation of the British must in all
probability give them cause for deep
anxiety for some time to come.
1t is difficult to see how the concen-
trated force at LadySmith Will be able
to be aggressive immediately. , Apart
from the fatigue, regiments lke the
Gordon Highlanders and Royal Rifles
have been practically without officers
since the fights. and 135 additional off,
GERS have been ordered to leave as
speedily as possible.
BRITISH NOT USING EXPANDING
BULLETS.
In the house of m today Mr..
Wyndham, the parliamentary secretary
of the war office, replying to Mr.. John
Dillon. Irish nationalist, declared that
the British troops were not using ex-
panding bullets and had no such bull
lets.
GENERAL YULE'S RETREAT.
Ladysmith, October 6.-GeneraI
Yule's brigade arrived here early TINS
morning and was received with sreat
enthusiasm. The column left SUNDAY
river valley ait 6 O'Clock las evening IN
a heavy rain, which continued through