Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-09
Last News From That Point Was
Tuesday, November 7.
BOERS WRECKING RAILWAYS
Scandal in War Office Over Bad
Food Supplies.
ACCIDENT TO TRANSPORT

ANoNeiHDeI D, says:
Arrived here yesterday evening via De
Aar, Rosmead and Stormberg. Did not see
a sign of the enemy's forces. The concen-
tration upon our frontier at De Aar and
Queenstown has been completely effected
without interruption. The Beers have de-
stroyed the Vanzyl bridge, seven miles
south Of Norvals Pont, but they have not
further advanced toward Colesburg.
There is a general belief that the Free
Staters intend to act on the defensive, un-
less the Cape Dutch show, active SYM
pathy.
The railway within the Free State is
completely wrecked. 1t is estimated that
1t will take six months to repair the dam
age already done in South Africa and the
army will hardly be able to use the rail-
way any more than in 1851
The colonial Office has received a tele
gram from the governor of Natal, giving
copy of the pigeon-post message received
by the premier from the commandment of
volunteers. 1t is as follows:
"LADYSMITH, Tuesday, November IL
sent you November by native messenger
a report of the engagement that day, but
L am not sure if it reached you, as the
messenger has not returned. Major Taun-
ton and Sergeant Mapsone of the Natal
Carbneers were killed, Captain Arnott of
Nine troopers We're wounded, all slightly,
and are doing we'll
There has been nothing important since.
The hospital was removed to spot on the
railway three miles south.
All was quiet on Sunday and Monday.
the enemy renewed the bombardment to-
day, but no damage has been done
Political Features of the War.
Pubic attention has monentarly reverted
to the political features OF South Africa
and conflict is confidently predicted in some
quarters.
Lord Salisbury, at the lord mayors BAN
quet tonight, will outline the governments
policy in regard to the future government
OF the Transvaal and Orange Free State
and explain that the references in the
queens speech to mill tary opera tons
not "WafD, and restoring peace and good
government to that portion of my en-
pre- meant nothing more nor less than
mat, In the opinion of the government
President Kruger. by making war on the
queen, destroyed all claims TO independence
granted by the conventions of 1881 and 1854
anu consequently, the country had reverted
TO its previous status, and is, theoretically,
part OF the queen dOminions. AS the As
soclated Press pointed out at the time, the
phraseology of the queens speech could
not be otherwise explained than that at
the tlme or the speech the republics of
South Africa had already ceased to exist
as separate nations; but if Lord Salisbury
Is prepared at this early stage of the ope-
Tatlons to definitely announce his policy of
me luture, when, apparently, so many
problems remain to be solved, both during
and after the war. he must have already
reached more definite understandings with
several OF the powers than the public is
aware of. The premer's speech, therefore.
Is awaited with unusual interest, and 1t
seems certain that he will at least be able
TO announce that the talk Of European in
tervenion is groundIess.
Little News From the Front
Beyond the crop of overwhelming rumors,
mostly without foundation, there is little
news from the front The official dispatch
from General Butler shows Ladysmith was
still In fighting trim Sunday, and anticipat-
ing recommencement of the lombard
ment Monday. There is nothing, apparent
ly, to justify the triumphant utterances in
the British press. While it is admitted
there's some room for congra tulation, there
Is, 1t is added, also room for grave fear.
The announcement yesterday that 5000
Boers with big guns had left Pretoria on
their way to the southern border is said
TO be merely ruse to hide the real desti-
nation OF this force, which. 1t Is believed,
is Ladysmith. Those who are best quail
ned TO express an opinion on the subject
believe that the quiescence of the Beers is
omlnous, and they expect shortly to hear
OF large accessions to the Boer guns in
position, and a severe bombardment of the
road communication, therefore, is seeming
ly matter of the most urgent Importance,
as, probably, General Whites most press
ing need at present is a supply Of ammu-
milton for the naval guns of which several
truck loads are understood to be at Est
court awaiting a clear line. 1t Is con-
sidered doubtful if this will reach General
W mte In time, as 1t may be taken for
granted that a determined attack will be
made on the town in a very few days.
Scandal Over Food c.rnnIias
The constant delays in the departure of
British transports owing to the bad quail
ity of the food supplies shipped by the
contractors are occasioning a scandal and
great indignation. The Arawa yesterday
had to be delayed twenty-four hours ow-
ing to the fact that 15,OOO pounds of rot
ten English colonial beef and mutton had
to be replaced. All the meat had to be
taken out of the ship and dumped over
board at sea.
An outbreak of scarlet fever at the bar
racks OF the Horace Guards the Blues, will
probably alter arrangements made for the
queens inspection of the Household cav
airy Saturday, and may cause a postpone
ment or their departure for South Africa.
The British transport Rosfyn Castle, with
General Hlldyard and the staff of the
forkshl1e regiment on board. has arrived
az cape Town. Four other transports
sailed from England the same day-Octo-
Der 10.
Dispatch From Gen. Butler.
The war office has received the following
dispatch from General Buller, dated Cape
Town, Wednesday, November g. 1850 pm:
Colonel Kekewich telegraplis from Kim
berley, November g. that. all Is well there,
and that there has beensna serious attack
yet. slight bombardmentf didfno damage.
Information from MafeiSing Shows that
place was safe October 81 Colonel Plumer
l1I nad a successful engagement Fort
Tuli October 20.
General White reports by pigeon-post
that the wounded and some civilians from
Ladysmlth have been removed four miles
Gown the railroad, by an arrangement with
General Joubert, to neutral place, to save
them from the bombardment
Nlnety-nlne wonnded from Dundee have
been sent in under a flag Of truce. They
are all doing WE'LL including the following
offlcers: Col c. E. Beckitt Maj. Hammers
ley Capt. F. I4adam Lieut. McLachlan,
Maj. MAJ. Boultbee. Capt; pibiey. Lieut.. c. N.
Perreau. Lieut.. G. a. EWortham, Maj w.
davidson and Lieut. D. E. Weldon
fhe commandment was discontinued No
Venber and November 5, but it is expect
ed TO recommenee November g."
Beers at Kimberley Reinforced.
ORANGE RIVER. Cape Colony, Monday,
November 6.-The Beers Investing Kimber-