The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-26
LONDON GETS DESPONDENI
NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA FAR
FROM ENCOURAGING.
Prospect Of Relieving the Besiegea
Towns Seems Remote and the
Fact That Cape Dutch Are join
fag the Beers II Discouragtng.


LONDON, Nov. 2s.-The position in Ma
tai remains full OF perplex!tses. which the
censorship has increased. Although d.
vision ana half have now reached Dur
ban that place is practically powerless.
unsupplled with cavalry and artillery. ana
Until these arrive the situation viii IN
doubtediy remain grave
With three beleaguered garrisons In
Natal, beside Kimberley and Mafeking.
and no sign OF succor In the immediate
future. IL Is no wonder that the outlook is
regarded as distinctly g.oomy tonight and
that the most possible Is made Of Gen. Me-
thuen's success such as ii was. That bat
tie decided nothing. and 1t seems certain
that many experts are OF the opinion that
the story of the return Of the pursuing
cavalry without getting in touch with the
retTeating Beers indicates that the cav
| airy discovered In time that IL 1t had gone
| on IL would soon have been on the Pre-
| toria race course with its comrades Of
| the Hussars 1t will not surprise any one
| greatly IL the Beers are again discovered
| In an insrenched position near the spot
from which Gen. Methuen has just eyicted
them.
Things I'm had shape.
From no other point can even a SEM
biance OF success be reported. Mafeking
| appears in worse plight than the British
| ers have hitherto cared 10 admit. and /: is
difncait TO see haw il can be relieved for
some time to come While the official dis
| patch from the Boer head laager outside
ladysmith. dated November "a showed
that the town was still flying the Union
| Jack on Friday. the cheerful tone of the
message and the evident anticipation Of
| the speedy reduction or Ladysmith il not
| calculated TO cheer anxious relatives.
Fears Of short Ammuni tion
| The reported silence of the British guns
| also again arouses fears of a shortness OF
ammunition. and the fact that the Beers
nave 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. IT Is understood. gained large
| experience In reducing fortified towns in
lsio-'i, Ia calculated 10 lead to change of
tactics which will add to the suspense of
| the sorely-tried garrison.
Boers Seem Everywhere.
The situation In the northern portion of
oape Colony is about as unsatisfactory as
| IL can be. Beers are turning an IN ali d.
rections. A Cape Town dispatch received
at late hour tonigh; reports that the
enemy nave blown up a rilway bridge be-
| tween Rosmead Junction and Middleburg
with the object of preventing an advance
from Port elizabeth. This was effected by
small commando, which ii is stated re-
| mains In the neighhorhood The ,ffect OF
| blowing up this bridge Will tend to isolat e
| Naauwpoorf. which was recently reeccu-
pied by the British. and must delay the
advance OF the troops Just arrived at Port
| Elizabeth.
Discusaion of Methuen's Plans.
| There is much discussion now as to
| whether Gen. Methuen intends 10 march
direct to Kimberley or double around and
/ nh, h... n
! Coieshurg and Burghersdorp district and
| driving them on Gems. Gatacre and French
innleang crushing defeat on them. The
| general opinion. however Is he win pro-
| coed north and attack the Beers at Modder
| river, thus relieving Kimberley.
ihere Is much anxiety now as to the
! rate or Mafekfng in view of the Iates, and
| somewhat respondent advices. 1t was ru-
| mored In the Glasgow Stock Exchange to-
| DAY tnat Mafeking has surrendered but
| war officials declare they have nothing
| conilrmatofy or otherwise.
Natal News Diacouraxing
| In the meanwhile news from Natal Ia
| not encouraging. Estcourt and Mooi river
| camp are both hard pressed. and II seems
sinost Joke TO regard the garrisons as
| forming part OF the relief force for
| Ladysmith-
Cape Dutch in Revolt.
| A dispatch from Queenstown. Cape
| Colony, Gen Csatacre's headauarters an
| nounees that 100 colonial rebels including
I
Joined the enemy at the latter place. and
| the whole force is reported marching on
| Dordecht, whence 1T can operate to in
| tercept Gatacre's advance to occupy
| Stormhurg Junction. A strategic point
| from which Gatacre can get in direct
touch through the railroad with Gen
| the British base at Deaar. Another dis
| patch SAYS refugees arriving from
| Queenstown assert that Ladvgrey has
| been occupied hT colonial farmers and
| that III is feared there will be general
| movement la favor of the Beers
Trencherous Use of White Flag.
Aavices from Belmont confirming the
treaeherors use Of the white nag by
troops engaged are bitterly complaining
| and II Is feared the result VIII be a re-.
fusal 70 give the Beers quarter. Such
| statements appear Incredible bat they
| are now confirmed officially by the pro-
| test Of Gen Methuen. who has sen. a
| message 10 the Buer commander. saving:
not 90 shoot cur officers. must warn
YOU do not use dumdum bullets or use
| fags Of truce treacherousiy. Such action
is eowardiy n the extreme. and cannot
| ccunteuance IT"
| Splendid work at Beimopt
| All accounts confirm the splendid charg-
ing Of the british infantry. the Scots
! guards entering the fight with drums
r.ara ara ~, afes p,syinF TIE second
! Beers there were sheltered behind ram
/ parts OF bowldsrs Nevertheless the
| guards advanced steadily. many Of them
! conily smoking.
f. z knight. a well-known war cores
/ pendent. who went 10 Havana during the
/ Spanish-Amsrtcau war was wounded In
/ the arm bv a dumdum bullet 4 hosnita al
] train arrived at Orange river in the nick
| Of time from Cape Town, and WAS sent
| 10 belmont
Exprcssiana of Gratitude.
TIE reported determination ~ the INIT
! ell States 20 compel President Kruger to
/ allow Consul General hscrum to exercise
/ his rights British agent az Pretoria
] has created an excellent impression here
! and has rallied aat various expressions az
/ satisfaction ard gratitude
Garrison mt Lad,smith Quiet
| PRETORIA. New. %~An official dis
| patch frnm the Boor head lager nfstsfsSa