The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-13
FAIRLY GOOD
THE WORD FROM SOUTH AFRICA, AS
1T Is VIEWED IN LONDON.
Marked Evidences of Boer Activity in
Natal, However, Are Regarded
with Some Disquietude.
LATE NEWS OF LADYSMITH
1T SHOWS THAT WHITE IS EFFECT
UALLY HOLDING HIS OWN.
Possession Of Heavy Artillery BE-
Iieved to Hamper the Burghers Sc
rIousIy in Their Movements.
PLANS FOR THEIR RETREAT
SAID To BE ALREADY PREPARED IN
THE EVENT OF REvERsEs.
Information from Estcourt shows that
the Exhaustion Of Lyddite ANU
milton Did Not Happen.
POSITION OF CAPE BOERS
Information from Estcourt shows that
the Exhaustion of Lyddite ANU
milton Did Not Happen.
POSITION OF CAPE BOERS
THEY ARE HOLDING OFF AWAITING
FIELD DEVELOPMENTS.
Though Many Are Armed with Maui
sers, They show No Sign of Taking
the Field-An American Killed.

LONDON, Nov. 13, 4:So a. m-This morn
ing's news from the seat OF war In South
Africa continues fairly satisfactory. The
official cables are not very detailed with
regard to the Belmont incident, which. ex-
cept for the loss Of Colonel Keith-Falconer,
was not very serious affair. There are
signs Of greatly increased Boer activity in
Natal and along the western frontier. All
the dispatches tend to show that the
British are holding out ably. Colonel Baden
Powell reports that all was well at Mafe-
king on Nov. 6
Iadysmith's latest date Is Nov. 9. While
nothing adverse IS heard from the latter
point and confidence Is felt In General
Whites ability-prevous experience having
shown that the Boer artillery is not very
effective-it Is beginning to be proved that
he acquisition Of artillery. which has de-
stroyed the former mobility Of the Boer
forces. has also failed TO give them any
compensating advantage. On the contrary.
the reverse Is the case. 1t Is held here
that If the Beers had not been hampered
by the transportation Of heavy guns and
their rescue from tight places General
Joubert might ere this have been in Pieter-
maritzburg. Unless the Boer heavy artil-
lery justites itself by reducing Ladysmith
1t will again hamper him In the eventual
retreat from Natal, when General Butler
sends the relieving force. 1t Is believed
that the Boer retreat will be made over the
Drankensburg range into the Zouthanberg
district. where every preparation for pro-
yisioning and maintaining the Beers is said
where 1t will be difficult to dislodge them.
Already it Is rumored that they are In
straits for food around Ladysmith and may.
therefore, be obliged to abandon the siege.
Dispatches from Estcourt say 1t has been
ascertained that the British have laid con-
crete beds for firing the Lyddite nav' guns.
showing that there is no foundation for the
fear that the Lyddite ammu Ition at Lady
smith has been exhausted. 1t is also re-
ported, from the same quarter. that some
fires have been seen In Ladysmith, indicat-
ing that the Boer bombardment has been.
to some extent, effective.
A special dispatch from Cape Town con-
firms the earlier report that 1t was General
Butler who ordered the British evacuation
of Stormburg and Naauwpoort. as he con-
sidered the frontier line too weak and too
much extended. 1t is understood, however,
that Naauwpoort will be occupied again as
soon as the advance from Queenstown is
ordered. Strong bids are being made by the
Beers for the support Of the Cape Dutch,
but without much success. although 1t IS be-
lieved the Dutch farmers, especially in Pic
quetberg district, are armed with Mausers
and are watching the course of events be-
fore joining the Beers. From Stormberg it
Is reported that the Free State forces are
working slowly toward Dordrecht. with a
view of attacking Queenstown and cutting
OF the towns in the northern districts of
Cape Colony.
The wounded are recovering in a remark
able manner. The Mauser wounds are small
and heal rapidly. Many OF the wounded
apply for permission to return to the front.
The fact that the latest two Official dis
patches were received from General Sir
Forester Walker. and not from General
Butler. seems TO indicate that the latter
may have already left Cape Town. A
Brussels telegram asserts that he has actu-
ally reached Durham. This is certainly pre-
mature. but he may have started.