Iron County register., 1899-11-23
THE WAR IN THE TRANsvAAL.
The Situation at Various Points Oi
Interest as Reviewed from
London.

London, Nov. 21, a. m.-Ihe re.
ports of heavy fighting at Ladysmith
last Wednesday have not been con-
frmed. On the contrary the most re
liable adyices from Estcourt indicate
that there was nothing more than a
desultory cannonade. Probably the
out of the fact that the Beers threw
a few harmless shells late Tuesday
night, leading to the supposition that
an attack was imminent. Nothing.
however, happened Wednesday.
The BOer Invasion of Cape Colony.
Beyond the fact that the Beers are
daily receiving fresh reinforcements
and supplies, there is practically moth,
ing new from the front.
The Boer invasion of Cape Colony
continues steadily and rapidly. There
are 800 Beers at Cotesburg, and news
has reached East London that Lady
grey, near Aliwal North, has been de-
serted by the British and is now in
the hands of the enemy.
Severe Fighting Near Mafeking.
4 Pretoria dispatch announces the
arrival there, among the British pris
oners, of Maj. Haldane, Lieut.. Brochie
and Lieut. Hallwey. 1t also declares
that the British, on Sunday, made two
unsuccessful attempts to roust the
Rusetenberg commando from posi-
ton near Mafeking, and that severe
fighting took place.
German Officers and Artil1erymen.
From Delagoa Bay comes the report
OF the arrival of more German officers
and artillerymen, who have volun
teered to serve with the Transvaal
forces.
The war office semi-officially asserts
that all news received from Africa has
been published with the exceptions OF
demands of the renewal of stores, war
material and the like.
There is an unconfirmed report that
more troops have been ordered from
India to the Cape.
Plans Slowly Unfolding.
The plan of operations on both sides
is slowly unfolding itself. Gen. Jou-
bert is evidently moving south to pre-.
vent, if possible, the junction of the
British relieving force with the forces
d
the Orange river border the Beers are
believed to be concentrating at Donk,
erpoort to oppose Gen. Buffers adj
vance. 1t is said 5000 Beers have al
ready laagered at Donkerpoort.
The English Plan.
The English plan seems to be
three-fold advance from Durham t.
Ladysmith, from Orange river to Kim.
berly and from East London, by way
of Queenstown, to Burghersdorp. Gen.
Butler has wired the commanding Off.
Ger at Queenstown announcing the dis.
patch of Gen. Greatacre, with the first
battalion of the Seventh brigade, to
East London. This was the place from
which it was originally intended thai
Gen. Greatacre's column should start
Thus it is possible that Gen. Buffers
first plans have suffered less modifi
cation than some have supposed.
To Keep the Beers Occupied.
Gen. GreatacTe will be able to KEEP
the Beers on the Orange border suffi-
GENTLY occupied to preserve Gen.
Methuen from undue molestation, es-
pecially if rumors from various sources
are well founded that describe the
Free State burghers as in no wise en-
thusiastic for fighting.
Gen. Buffers Headquarters.
1t has been reported that Gen.Buller
will take up his quarters at De Aar.
but this seems doubtful. De Aar,
where a vast amount of stores has
been collected, is the base for Gen.
Methuen's advance, and Gen. Butler
may have been there for day or so.
1t is believed, however, that he still
has his headquarters at Cape Town.
May March Across the Free State.
Although Kimberly is supposed to
be the objective of Gen. Methuen,
many military critics are of the opin,
ion that his advance will be not to-
ward Kimberly, but across the Orange
Free State.