Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-25

London, Nov. % Although 1t is evil
dent that the situation in Natal is again
becoming sufficiently alarming. nothing
can be officially ascertained To allay pub
lie anxiety or the curiosity felt regard
ing the disposition of the reinforcements
recently landed at Durham.
The war Office dispatches are coniinea
to Il mere recital of a few casualties at
MoOi river, which confirm the reports
of skirmishes there, but give 10 details
as to how the engagements happened.
The special correspondents are only
permitted to describe Major General
Bartons camp at Mooi river vaguely as
large" or ample
One correspondent says that 1000 Beers
are within % miles of Howick Falls near
Pietermaritzburs, and that the inhabi.
tants are iieeins To the capital.
Evidently Il considerable force of the
enemy is now within 80 or 40 miles of
pietermaritZburg, but it is officially an
Eounced from there that no anxiety pre-
walls, the garrison numbering 1900 men,
with six guns.
General Joubert's plan, apparently, Is
a daring attempt to defeat the British
while still attempting the reduction Of
Iadysmith. A serious attack on MoOi
river camp is hourly expected with the
object of destroying the bridge a: Wes-
ton. Should this be accomplished the
Beers would be free to turn their at
tention again to EstcOurt, while, If it
failed, the enemy would retire again on
Weenan and rejoin the investing forces
around Ladysmith.
Estcourt is still silent. All accounts
point conclusively TO II determined rush
of the Beers toward PietermaritZburg
with very large force. Seven thou
sand men, with guns, are reported "a
miles from Howick. They are said to be
under the personal command of General
Juubert.
Yesterdays engagement at Mooi river
found the British almost constantly on
the defensive. A correspondent of the
Natal Advertiser says the Beers second
shell fell within a few yards of a de-
tachment of British infantry; that the
shells did little or no damage, and that
firing continued for about half an hour
at intervals of from three to five min.
utes.
According to this account. the British,
troops prepared with the utmost
promptitude and advanced under COvci
wherever possible. The British artil-
lery was in position behind the hotel
where General Barton and his staff were
being accommodated. Major Thorney-
crofts mounted infantry moved to cover
on IA ridge one the enemy's left flank
The Devonshire regiment and the Royal
Welsh fusilerS occupied the trenches
There was but little fire, the correspon-
dent says, but the enemy possessed at
least one HowiZer with Il range of five
miles, besides several six Founders.
The Daily News has the following from
PietermaritZsburg, under Wednesdays
date: Your correspondent managed tC
escape from the MOOi river district yes
terday before the arrival of 5000 Beers
Who are loOting the farmsteads in all
directions. The Natal Beers encour-
aged by the success of the Transvaalers,
Join in the looting. The main body OF
the Beers made Il rapid march from
Ulundi. southwest of Estcourt, to a
point T. Fort Nottingham, south OF
the railway, in a single day. They are
within 40 miles of Pietermaritzburg at
the farthest, and it is said that they in.
tend to attack the town.