Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-15
THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.
No Sensational News Yet; But 1t Is Coming
Soon.

Soon.
Although the papers are daily Civ
ing columns about the South African
situation, they contain but few facts
about actual developments at the fight.
ing centres-Ladysmith, Mafeking and
Kimberly. The exact cause of the de-
lay of news is not known; but usually
four days are elapsing before cable
grams filed in South Africa are pub
lished in London, the principal centre
of war news. 1t is known that the
British war office is taking charge OF
all newspaper specials, and either
holding them back or suppressing them
in whole or in part. There is no rea'
son to believe, however, that even the
newspaper specials are containing
much real live news from the besieged
troops or the besiegers.
The main point of interest is Lady
smith, in which General White is
hemmed with an army OF some 10,'
900 or $4,000 men. There have been
reports that General White has made
numerous sorties, and that in one OF
these the British killed and captured
1000 Beers. 1t has since developed
that no credence whatever is to be
given 10 such reports, because they
are manufactured by the Kaffirs, who
like our own Negroes, are disposed to
make the kind of news that will prove
most pleasant to anxious British. 1t is
a fact, probably, that sorties have been
attempted from Ladysmith; but the
booming of the big guns, which can be
heard many miles away, indicate that
the Beers are bombarding the town
with their heaviest artillery.
Next to Ladysmith, interest centre:
in Kimberly, on the western boundary
of the Orange Free State, and on Ma
feking, on the western boundary of the
Transvaal, and some 200 miles slightly
to the northeast. The latest news
from these places. published Monday
morning, is from two TO three week:
old. Colonel Kekewitch is the British
commander in Kimberly, and from hi:
reports to General Butler, the Boer:
are pressing him closely with artillery
and rifle fire. He has tried severa
sories; but with very poor success
The Beers have also attempted severa
assaults; but were invariably driven
back. What may be the situation al
this writing it is possible only 10 spec
ulate. The Beers, at last accounts
had every advantage. Colonel Baden
Powell is in command of Maftking
and the latest news from him, published
on Monday, is three weeks old. His
dispatch shows that he is also holding
out against desperate odds, and is de-
termined to keep the Beers off until
relief comes, if possible.
All indications now seem to point to
the fact that Natal is to he the princi'
pal battle-ground of the war. Most oi
the Boer forces are in Natal, and il
they mean to try to hold the country,
it is likely that they will win or lose
here.
A London report has it that provis'
ions are already growing scarce with
the Beers around Ladysmith, and il
this be true, they may have to retreat
into the Orange Free State. The Brit
ish transports are constantly arriving
at Cape Town and Durham, and General
Butler is getting things in shape to
make general movement at the earli'
est opportunity; but as to whether this
will be within the next few days OF
not until about the first of December
will depend on the rapidity with which
men and supplies become available.