The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-25

State troops on the west now occupy strong
positions and that nothing now hinders the
Beers from following General Yule's re-
tirement and getting around Ladysmith
from the southeast. Until reinforcements
arrive it seems that General White is
| obliged to concentrate on Ladysmith. 1t is
| believed the government has other dis
patches that have not yet been published.
/ The secretary of state for war left Mr.
Choates residence Immediately at the end
| of the banquet to General Harrison and
proceeded to the War Office, where, even
/ after midnight there was considerable ac-
| tivity. many visitors calling to inquire for
information, among them sister of Gen.
/ eral Sir Archibald Hunter.
YULES STRATEGICAL MOVEMENT.
J The Cape Town correspondent of the
| terday, says: General Yule has performed
a brilliant strategical movement. By a
| swift march to the south, leaving Glencoe
empty, he has effected junction of his
/ lOICcS Will lHOSt VI 0SOISc SlcWdTl
White, slightly to the north of Ladysmith.
The two are now in position to offer bat
| tie. believe the first attack will be made
on the large Free State force which entered
Natal by way of Tintwa pass. and which
has since been harassing Ladysmith.
''The military authorities decided that by
joining their forces the two generals would
be better able to cope with one large force
at time than by having two small detach-
ments to oppose simultaneously two big
Bcer forces. Accordingly, after defeating
the Free State troops they will offer battle
to Commandant General Joubert. Only forty
miles now separate the two Boer forces.
| Hence the need for swift and telling action.
The two sections of the Boer army to-
gether outnumber the entire British force
by three to one. Hard fighting is certain at
a very early date. Our men are confident,
and there is much enthusiasm.
THE fighting to-day outside Ladysmth
was a mere brush. The losses on neither
side were significant. 1t was merely an
artillery duel. in which the Beers came off
decidedly the worse"
REPORTS DO NOT CONSIST.
Although there is no reason to doubt the
accuracy of the dispatch from Cape Town
to the Daily Mail regarding General Yule S
movement, it is curious that General
Whites telegram to the War Office is also
dated at p. m, but makes no mention of
a joining of forces. When the War Office
dispatch was issued. just after midnight
the officials announced that nothing more
would be communicated until Wednesday
morning, so that it is impossible to confirm
or deny. the news. General Yule had a
heavy march Monday over the Stratford
slopes and the Zurfontein table. both over
5000 feet high, and arrived after dusk al
Beth, which is half way between Rorke's
Drift and Waschbank. He had still
heavier march and was hardly expected to
join General White at Ladysmith until to-
day. His acts were actuated by sound iudg-
ment. since he soon would have been sur
rounded and in desperate position
The combined forces at Ladysmith, now
amounting to some 1900 men, will be amply
sufficient to act on the defensive A few
more victories like Glencoe and BANDS.
laagte. however, would leave the British
troops without officers.
While the Beers have failed to take ad.
vantage of their strategic position OWNS
to the incompetence or haste of their lead,
ers. the British have no cause for congratu.
lations over the results of the Nata
operations. They have suffered heavy
losses in men and their victories have prac.
ticaily gone for nothing, the whole of north
ern Natal being now abandoned to The
Beers. IL would have been better to have
concentrated on Ladysmith In the first in.
stance. but General White and General Sy
mons had 10 yield 10 political exigencle:
and TO the local reluctance to abandon an
inch OF territory more than necessary
) 1t is not expected that the wounded lef