The record-union., 1899-11-04

"A
from the enemy has brought 20G oxen
into the town.
The enemy is reported to have three
siege guns in position at Oliphantfon-
tein four miles from Wesselton.'
LONDON, Nov. A 90 a. m.-There
is very little fresh intelligence to-day,
but it is believed that the Delagoa Bay
route, if not already restored, speed
ily will be, thus giving quicker COM
munication with the Cape. The situa-
tion is still hopeful.
The accounts that continue to arrive
regarding the fighting on rarquhar's s
Farm only confirm it's serious nature
and the narrow escape General White
had On this point the Morning Post"
remarks: Nothing tells such a tale
of battle as the list of the missing.
When the missing exceed the killed,
it is almost safe to write defeat across
the story, because missing means
abandonment or surrender
1t now appears as if it were only the
arrival of the naval contingent from the
Powerful which prevented a worse dis
aster. 1t seems that, when it was seen
that the retirement was imperative,
two Natal cavalrymen volunteered 10
convey dispatch across the Boer lines
to Major Adye, ordering him to retire,
but the risk was considered too great,
and flag signalling was employed in
stead. The distance was too great and
the ground too rough for cavalry to so
TO his assistance.
According to dispatches filed on
Tuesday, defensive works were being
constructed on the hillsides around
Ladysmith and ii was expected there
that the big naval guns would be
mounted the following day. The Beers
We're threatening to attack the town in
force on Wednesday and Thursday, and
the women, children and other nom
combatants were being sent by train to
the south Ladysmith is provisioned
for two months.
A dispatch from Colesburg. dated No
vember 1st, announces that six police
who were stationed at Colesburg bridge
were surrounded and captured. This
Is probably the origin of the story that
the Beers had occupied Colesburg.
Paris and Berlin continue to supply
statements OF British reverses, the
latest being that Mafeking has fallen.
The Paris correspondent of the Daily
News" asserts that since the war De-
gan the Boer secret service fund has
been increased to f10,000 monthly, and
that pro-Boer journalists are bribing
by the wholesale. None of the rumors
are yet confirmed, and little attention
is paid to them.
The STANDARD" publishes dispatch
from Luxembourg. which says: TN
til within a few days DR.. Leyds has
been in telegraphic communication with
Pretoria, through an indirect dlplC-
matte channel, by means of which ne
has been able to inform the Transvaal
of the supposed British plan to advance
through the Orange Free State. With
a view of anticipating this movement,
the Beers will endeavor to capture OF
isolate Ladysmith, and then to press
on to Durham, where they would be
able to prevent a British debarkation,
while the main Boer army would hast
ily retrace steps to defend the line OF
the Orange River.
At Plymouth it is rumored that the
channel squadron will be ordered to the
Cape, where a great naval force is tc
be collected, with view of establish
ing a Gordon in the mouth of the Orange
River to Delagoa Bay, to prevent the
landing of supplies for the enemy, and
with a view also. If necessary, OF land
ing guns to assist the British forces.
WHITES POSITION PRECARIOUS
LONDON, Nov. Debated dis.
patches from the British camp at La
dysmith, Natal, add little to the in
formation regarding Mondays fight ex'
cept the estimates of the Boer losses
which are now said to be ninety five
killed and 200 wounded, mostly victims
Of the artillery shells, which have
wrought such great havoc that 1t i
said General Joubert, the Boer com