Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-23
BoERs sn AaMfNa sOUTaWAsD.
Developments May be Ex
pected at Any Time.

Womentons Developments May be Ex-
pected at Any Time.
London, Eng, Nov. 22 There has
been apparently no communication with
Estcourt, Natal, since noon yesterday,
and the Beers now control the railroad
thence to the Mooi River. Conse-
quently, momentous developments may
be expected at any time. The Boere,
it seems, are swarming southward.
Large bodies of them are reported all
around Estcourt, and parties OF Beers
appear to be threatening Pietermaritz-
burg. The Beers encamped at High
lands Station are well supplied with
artillery, and ali evidence tends to show
that the various Boer forces are being
largely increased by accessions from the
disaffected Care burghers. The serious
deficiency in cavalry is being felt by
the British, who are unable to keep in
touch with the mobile Boer forces,
whose presence is hardly reported before
they are lost sight Of, only to reappear
at another vital point along the line
of communication. Gen. Hildyard' s
force, anchored at Estcourt by the
naval guns, can do little but await an
attack until Gen. Clery's column is
capable Of taking the field.
Gen. Methuen's division left Orange
River and reached Witreputs, half way
to Belmont, yesterday, and advices
from Orange River today show that the
Beers occupy Belmont in force, and
that the neighboring hills are crowned
with Boer cannon. A patrol of lancers,
which has returned to Orange River,
came unexpectedly en- two Boer laagers.
Three shrapnel shells burst Immediately
close to the lancers, who, however, were
unharmed.
The British transport Kildonan
Castle, said to be the largest transport
in the world, which left Southampton
November 4th, with 5000 men, their
kits, weapons, machine guns. amnlani-
tion, balloons, pontoons, wagons, &c. 4,
arrived at Cape Town this.morning.
About $4,000 Of Gen. Buffers army
corps have now arrived.
The transport Nubia, with the first
battalion of the Scots Guards, has
sailed from Cape Town for Durham.
The transport Carinthia arrived at
| Cape Town yesterday.
Advices from Cape Town say Mr..
| Collet, the correspondent of the London
Daily Graphic, who was arrested by
the Beers, while conveying message
from Mr.. Schreiner, the Premier ol
Capo Colony to President Steyn of the
Orange Free State, and who was taken
to Bloemfontein, has been released, an6
sent back with President Steyn's reply.
TO HASTEN THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.
1t is reported that Mr.. Hoffmeyer,
the Afrizander leader, has taken an i'm
portant step, in tho hope Of Fastening
| the close Of the war. He is said tt
have charged Mr.. Sauer, the Minister
of Public Works, to get in touch with
the Free State forces, in an endeavol
to arrange that the Beers shall appl,
for an armistioe. The ostensible OBJ
ject of Mr.. Sauer's trips to induce hi;
constituents at Aliwal North to remair
passive.
! Boer requisitioning Of men and sup
plies proceeds briskly on the northern
border OF Cape Colony, but Gen
Gatacre hopes soon to be in position
to push the Free Staters back within
their own borders. The reoccupatioi
of Naauwpoort by the British is thu
first step in this direction, but strong
forces OF Beers are laagered at Coles
berg and theaten further immediate
advance from there.