The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-26


from Durham, dated FRIDAY, Nov. "a says
the Times, of Natal, has received news
by way of Delagoa Bay that both Mafe-
king and Kimberley have been relieved.
This is not only improbable, but it is dis
credited by a special dispatch from Cape
Town, which states that Gen. Metheun is
in photographic communication with Kim
berley, which indicates that the relieving
force pushed forward after the battle
at Belmont. If this be true stirring news
may be expected shortly, as the Beers are
in force at Modder river and Spytfontein.
FULL OF PERPLEXITIEs.
LONDON, Nov. 25.-The position in Ma
tai remains full of perplexities, which
the censorship has increased. Although
division and a half have now reached
Durham that place is practically power
less until supplied with cavalry and ar
tillery, and until these arrive the situa-
tion will undoubtedly remain grave. With
three beleaguered garrlsons in Natal, be-
sides Kimberley and Mafeking, and no
signs of succor in the immediate future.
ii is no wonder that the outlook is re-
garded as distinctly gloomy tonight, and
that the most possible is made of Gen
Metheuns s success, such as it was That
battle decided nothing, and it seems GER
tain that many experts are of the opinion
that the story of the return of the pur-
suing cavalry without getting in touch
with the retreattng Beers indicates that
the cavalry discovered in time that If it
had gone on ii would soon have been on
the Pretoria race course with its COM
Fades of the Hussars. 1t will not sur
prise any one greatly if the Beers are
shortly again discovered in an entrenched
position near the spot from which Gen
Metheun evicted them.
GLOOMY FOREBODINGs.
From no other point can even a sem
blance of success be reported Mafeking
Is apparently in worse plight than the
Britishers have hitherto cared to admit,
and it is difficult to see how it can be
relieved for some time to come. While
the official dispatches from the Boer head
Iaager outside Ladysmith, dated Nov. 24.
showed that the town was still flying the
Union Jack on Friday, the cheerful tone
OF the message and the evident anticipa-
ton of the speedy reduction of Ladysmith
is not calculated to cheer anxious rela-
tives.
The reported silence of the British guns
also again rouses fears of a shortness of
ammunition, and the fact that the Beers
have just placed in position another Siege
gun shows that they have not yet done
their worst.
The arrival of the German officers. some
OF whom. 1t is understood, gained large
experience in reducing fortified towns In
1901, is calculated to lead to a change
or tactics which will add to the suspense
OF the sOrely tried garrison.
The situation in the northern portion
OF Cape Colony is about as unsatisfactory
as 1t can be. Beers are turning up in all
directions.
A Cape Town dispatch received at a
late hour tonight reports that the enemy
has blown up railway bridge between
Rosemead Junction and Middlebure
with the object of preventing an advance
from Port Elizabeth. This was effected
oy small commando, which 1t Is stated
remains in the neighborhood The effeci
or blowing up this bridge will tend to
isolate Naauwpoort, which was recently
reoccupied by the British and must delay
the advance of the troops just arrived al
Port Elizabeth.
FARMERS JOIN BOERS.
The gravest news from Cape Town to-
Day comes from The northern part of the
colony where, it IS now evident num-
pers OF Dutch farmers have risen and
joined the invading Free State forces IN
lhe Herschei1 and Barkley East districts
dispatch from Queenstown. Cane
colony Gen. Gatacres Headquarters. an.
nounces that 400 colonial rebels, includ-
ing an ex-magistrate of Barkley East
have Joined the enemy at the latte,
place, and that the whole force Is report
ed to be marching on Dordrecht. whenc,
1t can operate and possibly intercep
Gen. Gatacre's advance to reoccup7
Stormberg Junction, strategic poin
from which Gen. Gatacre can get in hi
rect touch, through the railroad. witt
Gen. French, at Naauwport, and thu!
with the British base a De Aar
Another dispatch says that refugees ar
riving from Queenstown assert that Lady
gray has been occupied by the colonia
farmers, and that it is feared there tina.
there is general movement in favor O
the Beers.
Further dispatches from Belmont, con
firming the treacherous use of the whit
flag by the Beers are arousing irdigna
ton. The troops engaged are bitterI,
complaining, and it is feared the resuf
will be refusal to give the Beers Guar
ter.
TREACHERY CHARGED
An incident similar to the one which nc