The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-21

>,rtbcrn Cape Colony Towns Conflict
ing Reports Concerning Ladysmith.
St,etdi CdJ', Dssi dcA,s to THE suS
1,xpoS. Nov 2D--AgaiH there Is no official
,ows Of the military operations in South
Africa. and nothing Of much importance has
nas, received from other sources In
,ercst is divided between Gen. Lord
Ns,hucn's advance TO the relief OF
kimberley and the mutual advance OF
Con Jpubert and Gen Ciery in Ma
raj Gen. Methuen's preparations for
t,,,,l march, with the liGhtest pos
sjb,s epuipmcn'. Is interpreted as indicating
u.n Sir Rrdvcrs Buffers knowledge OF
sh,rtncss Of ammunition or provisions In
Eirherley which neccssitatcs the specciest
relief 81 the place.
posrectinr impcndng events IN Natal very
l,,Ia is known. and in view OF the contra
di.tory reports in reference to Ladysmtth
i,selt IL l. impossible to- attach great conse-
gurncc to unofficial dispatches.
The concentration OF troops at Estcourt
orancrthwnrd advance seems to be steadlIy
,.,,erdlng, and II Gen Joubert ia moving to
m, south rs is stated. clash must soon occur.
Recent reports Of the sufferings OF the Beers
Investing i.adysmith from lack Of food sup
MICS are rontradicted 10y the Standards cor
RESPONDENT with Gen. White. and probably
yory little il known on the English side OF the
POSITION the invaders.
II will To seen that tho stories emannting
from Estcourt Of a still fight at Ladysmi'h or
in that neighborhood last week are entirely
contrary 10 the Standards report OF the very
tame progress II the siege.
Eumor- from Pietersmartzburg and Durham
that the Bosr GunncrS are driven to serve
their guns at the muzzles OF their Of
nacrs revolvers. and that the camps
are corlonci 10 prevent assertions,
may be classed with the recent
warn from Paris that British troops were arriv-
Ing 1T Cape Town handcuned ana were
rr1lded down the Gangways OF the transports
with bayoncts. they refusing TO land.
Tho correspondents at Cage Town send re-
ror, that the British recently repused the
Beers ~ kurGman with heavy loss.
TIN. >.puinr,rS corrc- ppnhcnt at Ladysmith.
IN a despatch dated Nov. Il. says that the
arrival ot a relief column AZ EStcourt has COM
r'e.Nly modified the plans Of the enemy. Ger.
Iouler. has moved southwark 20 prevent
l.r ton hc:weeh the two British forces.
Meanwhile the drsultory ranuonading OF the
TOWN Continues II an uueNritug PERFORM
ar,c. on the whole. though II was varied at
uilGteh, On Nov II by shells being thrown
among the Sleeping inhabitants. Every
loIy imagined that n night attack was
intending. hut it was only scare. Tn" gem
,ra, discomfort o' the siege is intensified by
heavy rains. which are coming down in an un-
broken sheet. turning the town and camp into
aQuagmirc.
There was no lombar,lment on "Wednesday
An Estcourt despatch speaks OF fight on this
day There were few stray shots on Thurs.
day Five civilians were injured by shrapnel.
4 i"w more shells were fired to-day. but they
did little damage. The Beers continue TO re-
ceiye re-entorcements and fresh supplies OF
storrs almost daily.
The garrison Ia chatting against their en-
forced inactivity and are eager for action.
Their desire Is likely TO be gratifled. as recon
nossnnce on Tuesday showed that the enemy
were holding the road to Colenso In force A
decisive battle Is therefore expected when the
time comes for the troops now ut Estcourt TO
attempt a junction with the force at Lady
smith.
There need be no anxiety concerning the
ability Of Ladysmith TO hold out. There IL
plenty Of food in the town. and the supply Of
ammunition is abundant.
4 despatch from Estcourt to the Standard
SAYS that extra vigilance is being displayed 20
the southwark OF that place lest the enemy
attempt to cut tho railway connection with
the coast. Such AN attempt might be-
made. but IL would probably cost the Beers
more than they caro- to pay. Everything is GO
Ing on well in Estcourt. Fresh troops are con-
ttapty arriving and an advance cannot be long
delayed
A despatch from Cape Town 10 the Daily
-Asrs says II is reported there that
Commandant VilIoen OF the Orange Free
State is in the neighborhood OF
De Aar. The report Is rather curious in view
Of the fact that numerous apparently verified
statements have been published that he was
killed at the battle Of Elandslaagtc.
EsTcOuET. Nov. 2O.-There was Lattle at
1alysmh on Nov. 10. which lasted from
daybreak until . o'clock. A number Of Beers
were Killed and many prisoners taken. The
British loss was not one-fourth az great as
tho eEcmy'S
It's expected that Cen Joubert will attemp
to invest EstcOurt.
LONDON, Nov. 20.-Maior Thornycro't's in
fanty engaged the Beers south OF Estcourt last
night. The Beers had two killed.
telegram received al Loronzo Marquee
IRON handslaagtc says second big French
gun has been placed on Bulwana Hill and
every shot reaches Ladysmith.
DrEnAS, Nov II. Delayed 10 transmission
Troops ar. constantly arriving here. A
sp"ca! train leaves every hour to convey them
TO P'ctrrmart2burg and Estcourt
refugee who has arrived hero from Pre-
'cra says that the Boer officials there received
me British prisoners captured at Nicholson =
Mex with barred heads and courteous con-
sd"raton The spectators on the streets
sa!ut"d them respectfully.