The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-10

r ONDON, Nov. 10, 4:3O a. m.-The
scantv and conflicting news from
the seat of war and the fact that
General White has not yet said a
A word about the alleged fighting
around Ladysmith are again producing
feeling of gloom. 1t may be that General
white has sent news and that General
Butler has thought best to keep it to him
self Indeed. this is the version that is
beginning to be believed, as it is held to
be impossible that the news of heavy
fighting brought by Kaffirs in such cir
cumstantial detail cannot be wholly
groundless If this he so, it is ominous,
for there could be no ground for conceal
ing favorable news.
The Beers if they ever entertained the
idea of a real invasion of Cape Colony.
have probably now abandoned it and Will
devote their whole energies to reducing
Ladysmith. They have only about week
to do this The fact that they are rather
inactive indicates that they are waiting
for something which they feel sure will
Justify their delay The latest Estcourt
dispatches seem to hint that the garrison
is about to retire further southwark.
The first transport the Roslin Castle.
CARRYING reinforcements, has arrived at
Cape Town and has been ordered to pro-
ceed Immediately to Durham. Other trans
ports are expected to arrive in the course
of a few days and will be directed to
proceed to the same port. This dispatch
Of troops direct to Natal will evidently
Interfere with General Buffers original
plan Of campaign. At least one division
will be needed to extricate General White.
IF the emergency is extreme the troops
can be sent up piecemeal from Durham
to the front as they come in but if there
is no need for haste a whole division will
probably be assembled before the for
ward movement takes place.
Tt seems clear that the first operation
of General Butler will be to set free Cen
eral White The position of Ladysmith is
not critical. but 1t is dangerous, from the
fact that the Beers are evidently bring
ing up numerous heavy guns from johann
nesbure and without many heavy pieces
to reply to them General White is likely
to find himself in difficulties. but If
column of 5000 or 5000 men can be swiftly
sent UP from Durham the Beers in Natal
NAV be badly defeated and these great
guns captured
An official dispatch issued at the War
Office says that a slight bombardment Of
Kimberley has commenced. This is the
first notification that such a step is
taking place The general in command
gives no details The Boer force outside
of Kimberley does not exceed 5000, and
they have never shown any special ag-
gressiveness.
Orders have been received at Woolwich
and Davenport for the mobilization of a
siege train, which, it is supposed, is in
tended for the purpose of shelling Pre-
toria. The force manning it will approxi-
mate to the strength Of eight batteries
It's armament will be thirty howitzers,
fourteen 6-inch guns, eight 5-inch guns
and eight 4-inch guns, the whole train
weighing more than 5000 tons. This will
be the first employment of a modernized
siege train by any European army, and
the progress of the reduction of the forts
by lyddite shell fire, preliminary to
storming by infantry, will be watched
with interest and curiosity by all profess
sional soldiers.
Three large steamers have just been
chartered at Liverpool to convoy the
900 troops of the divisions which Lord
Wolseley yesterday announced would be
oolDi