The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-28
BRITISH ADVANCE BEGUN.
nrTHEATING BoERs BLoW Up THE
BRIDGE At FKERE.

first Move in tho Plan to Check the Re-
ueving Columns Progress Toward Lady
.mith-Boers HurryinR to Coienso and
Gen. Hiidynrd Is Trying to Cut Them
og-Gen. Gatacrs Advances From
Queenstown Toward tho Boer Force st
s,ormbers-Gon. Mcthuen Reported to
Have Taken Honeynest Klopf on the
Western ARCHAEOLOGICAL Feeling in
I,ndon-sisth Division to Be Mobiiired.
s,,ciai Cab, D,ipaeA,i to Tur su,.
IoypoS. Nov. 29-There Is a distinctly moro
hop.ful feeling here regarding the operations
IN Natal and there IL every reason for belief
tbs,t Is justified. The reported withdrawal OF
tho Beers northward Ia confirmed. and the
British advance towards Ladysmth has be-
pun I'm earnest. There con now hardly he any
anxiety In Southern Natal. The capital has
esc,ued attack, and the hemming In OF the
detached garrisons at Estcourt aud elsewhere
has been temporary and not serious.
The railway is working to Frere. where there
are 10000 British troops under Gen. Hidyard.
whose rapid advancr seems 10 aim at cutting on
ire Beers who arc moving north from Weenen.
These are supposed to be fastening TO the
Coenso bridge. which Is supposed to be Intact.
difficulty in crossing the flooded Tu-
CELIA River. which the bridge spans.
The success Of Gen. Hildyards move
mont ia In Iowise assured. however. as
the Frere Bridge has been completely wrecked
hv the enemy by an explosion which Incident
Ally smashed the windows in oil the neigh
boring houses. and IL Is thus obvious that
his force will be unable to use the railway.
The enemy is reported to have entirely van
ishcd from that district and their sEilfulness
in retreat is well known. Anyhow. the relief
Of Laiysmith is not yet very near accomplish
mrnt News OF operations In Natal Is likely to
come slowly. as the cable from Zanzibar to
Alden IS again broken.
The glamour Of Gen. Lord Methuen's dearly
bought successes south OF Kimberley out
weighs. for the present. anxiety for further
news Of his advance. but military cir
clcs manifest growing nneasiness on nc.
c,un, Of, the lack OF news concerning
the S!gth Lancers. who pursued the enemy
after the action at Gras Pan. kilograms from
Berlin report criticism by military men there
on the detaching o. small bodies o! cavalry
in this way after an enemy. who has a brilliant
capacity for turning retreats to good account.
They are generally rather skepticai OF the
stra,egical yalus OF Gen. Nethuen's opera
tons
There Is no Official news 81 the British move
nents in the northern part OF Cape Colony.
The newspaper correspondents at Queenstown
report that Gen. Gatacre has been reinforced
and that he moved northward on sunday.
A despatch TO the Daily Ns,rs from Dur
Ian, dated Sunday. says that the cable
Along the east coast Of Africa ia again
broken. anil a renewal OF the delay IN
the transmission OF news may be expected.
The despatch adds that Gen. Sir kedvers
Butler will presumably take command Of the
forces advancing 10 the reliei OF Colenso.
The HuUy N,rrs says 1t learns that II was
fine lis decided on Monday TO mobilize forthwith
the proposed sixth division. consisting OF
1900 men Of all arms
The Standards Cape Town correspondent
says that Gov. Miner has warned the relief
e,nmittees to be prepared for the arrival OF
10000 refugees from kimberley as soon as the
siege is raised.
The War Onlcs knows nothing about the
report that Gen Methuen had captured Honey
Mes. with an immense amount OF Boer am
mutation.
puEBAS. Nov. 26.-The Natal Advertiser
says orders have been issued for q general ad-
vance on Coenso.
Gen Lord Methuen has captured Honeynest
Klof with two million rounds OF ammunition
naval contingent from the battlesh.p Ter
rlhc. with cannon. has left here for the front
The Natal .idrTtiser says the result OF an
engagement at Beacon Hill was that fifteen
British soldiers were killed and seventy-tvo
wounded The West Yorkshires suffered
severely. Major Hobbs Is a prisoner and sew
eral Of the rank and ne are missing.
4 pigeon message from Ladysmith says the
troops are cheerful.
LONDON. Nov, 81. Gen. Butler cables the
War ONCE from termaritzburg nnder date OF
Nov 90, l0:45 T. NJ. as follows:
Gen. Hildrard from Estcourt successfully
attacked on Nov. % with three battalIons one
hed battery aud naval gun and 700 mounted
men. The enemy occupied Beacon Hill. DON'T
mating Willow Grange. The enemy retired.
The railway and telegraph has been
restored between Estcourt and Weston.
Our loss was fourteen killed and
fifty wounded. Hldyard is now In a position
near Frere and hopes to cut of tho enemy who
are believed to DO retiring toward Colenso.
Via Weenen. Barton from Weston has gone In
the direction OF Estcourt. Hildyard and his
men deserve much credit"
CAPE TowS, Nov. 27.-Gen. Gatacre with
reanforcements is going from Queenstown.
Cape Colony, TO tho front to-day. The Beers
have been seen south Of StormberR.
There Is great Indignation here over tho
mid homiIies addressed TO the restless
Dutch colonists on the border by Mr. J.
W, sauer. Commissioner OF Public Works.
who went north recently on mis-
sion to urge the Dutch to remain loyal to
Great Britain. The Times. commenting on the
subject says that II serious harm does not re-
suit from his speeches the escape will be bet
Ter than can be reasonably expected.
This Australian contingent landed hero to-
day. The men AMI their horses are In splen-
did condition. An ofleia reception will be
tven tomorrow 10 al tho Colonial con
tlngents.
LONDON, Nov.-2s-A d'sI a,ch to the Daily
N"rs dated De Aar, Cape Colony. Nov. %
says The Steynsburg bridge. midway be-
tween Con. Catacre's headquarters at Queens
town and Gen. French's headquarters at Naauw
Poort, was destroyed yesterday by the enemy
who appear to be receiving accessions Of
strength locally.