The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-21
Reliable AdVices Indicate Nothing More
Than a DesuItary cannonate.
The Boer Invasion Of Cape Colony
Continues Steadily and Rapidly
British Make Two Unsuccess-
full Attempts to Gust the Rus
tenburg Commando From
Position Near Mafeking, Severe
Fighting Taking Place.

LONDON, Nov p, 5 a. m.-The re-
ports of heavy fighting at Ladysmltn
last Wednesday have not been connrm-
ed. On the contrary, reliable ad-
vices from Estcourt indicate that there
was nothing more than a desultory can
nonade Probably the rumor Of Sc
rious engagement grew out OF the
fact that the Beers threw a few harm
less shells late Tuesday night. lead
ing to the superstition that an attack
was imminent. Nothing, however, hap
pened Wednesday.
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 1900 Beers at Colesburg and news
has reached East London that Lady
Gray, near Aliwal North, has been de-
serted by the British and now is in the
hands of the enemy.
A Pretoria dispatch announces the
arrival there, among the British rris-
oners of Major Haldane, Lieutenant
Brochie and Lieutenant Hallway. 1t
also declares that the British on Sun
day made two unsuccessful attempts to
GUST the Rustenburg commando from
a position near Mafeking, and that Sc
we're fighting took place.
From Delagoa Bay comes reports of
the arrival of more German officers and
artillerymen who have volunteered to
serve with the Transvaal forces.
The War Office semi-officially asserts
that all news received from Africa has
been published, with the exception of
demands for the renewal of stores, war
material and the like. There is an un-
confirmed rumor that more troops have
been ordered from India to the Cape.
The plan of operation on both sides
is slowly unfolding itself. General Jou-
bert is evidently moving south to pre-
vent, if possible, the junction of the
British relieving force with the forces
at Estcourt and Ladysmith, while on
the Orange River border the Beers are
believed to be concentrating at Donker-
vance. 1t is said 5000 Beers have all
ready laagered at Donkerpoort.
The English plan seems to be a three
fold advance from Durham to Lady
smith, from Orange River to Kimberley
and from East London, by way of
Queenstown, to Burgersdorp. General
Butler has wired the commanding Off
Ger at Queenstown announcing the dis
patch of General Gatacre, with the
First Battalion of the Seventh Brigade,
to East London. This was the place
from which it was originally intended
that General Gatacre's column should
start. Thus it is possible that General
Buffers first plans have suffered less
modification than some have supposed.
General Gatacre will be able to keep
the Beers on the Orange border suffi-
GENTLY occupied to preserve General
Methuen from undue mOlestation, ospe-
tally if rumors from various sources
that describe the Free State Burghers
as in nowise enthusiastic for fighting
are we'll founded.
1t has been reported that General
Butler will take up his quarters at De
Aar, but this seems doubtful. De Aar,
where a vast amount of stores have been
collected, is the base for General Me-
thuen's advance, and General Butler
may have been there for a day or so.
has his headquarters at Cape Town.
Although Kimberley is supposed to
be the objective point of General Me-
thuen, many military critics are of the
opinion that his advance will be. not
toward Kimberley, but across the Or
ange Free State, in order to secure COM
plete command of the Orange River
The debarkation of troops at Cape
Town is proceeding in the most salts
factory manner. One thousand eight
hundred and fifty railway carriages
have been collected there for the con-
veyance of troops northward, and there
is talk of suspending the suburban
traffic SO as to accelerate military work
The Daily Chronicle in it's war
diary" says this morning: Hitherto
we have hesitated to speak of the quail
ity of the timed meat supplied to our
transports, much of which has had to
be thrown overheard. But we have
made inquiries in quarters not likely
to be Influenced by mere rumors, and
we find there suspicion that some of
the meat supplied to the Government
for use on British transports was meat
which had been rejected by the United
States during hostilities in Cuba. where
it was picturesquely known as sembalm-
ed beef, and relabeled with the mark
of the current year. Whatever blunder
there may have been, it must be laid
not at the door of the War Office, but at
the door of the Admiralty, which has
undertaken to feed the troops. Not
single complaint has come to hand re-
garding the quality at the War Office"
THE REPORTED BATTLE AT La
DYSMITH.
LONDON, Nov. 2O.-A special dis
patch from Estcourt, dated November
10th, says a report has reached there of
a battle at Ladysmith on Wednesday,
November 10Th, lasting from daybreak
until in the afternoon Many Beers
are said to have been killed, and many
are reported to have been taken pris-
oners. The British losses are reported
to be much less. Another battle is said
to have occurred Thursday. 1t is de-
scribed as the heaviest yet fought The
Boer dead, it is added. number hun
dreds, while the British losses were
comparatively small.