The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-25

dotted about the outskirts of the regi-
mental lines
The soldiers came and went freely in
the town, and caused an appreciable
improvement in the trade of the place,
which previous to that had not been
in too-fourishing condition.
1t would be ridiculous in the extreme
I to pretend that Ladysmith is impreg-
nable. 1t is nothing of the sort. To
the west of the town there is a fine,
level plain, on which Is the camp. The
open veldt rolls away for miles until
1T meets the foothills stretching afar
from the Drakensberg Mountains The
Sand River, with it's affluents, the
| BlaauWbank, intersect the plateau,
and the Kip and Sand Rivers join on
the road leading across Van Reenen's
Pass to Harrismith. There is very lit
tie water in any of these rivers save
after thunderstorm. During the sum-
mer months these are pretty frequent,
and for at least few weeks in Janu-
airy may be expected with almost clock
work regularly between and o'clock
every afternoon. They usually only
last for an hour or less, and though the
| down-pour Is veritably tropical for the
tliiiS, Lie llOL sun cUUIl dl les w IitS
moisture and the soil is parched and
thirsty again by the next day.
On the east of Ladysmith there are
several hills, which are of some I'm
portance. The Isimbulwana for in
stance, Is dignif1ed by the name Of
mountain, but this is gross tlattery;
Lombard's Kop is an eminence within
four miles of the town and six Of the
camp. Kople Ga hillock) is the dinlin-
utive of kop. a hill. Scattered about
the veldt on this side of the town are
many kopies, covered with stones and
capable Of making excellent cover for
the Beers, who, however could be, and
evidently have been, dislodged by our
heavy guns.
1t is entirely. incorrect to describe
Ladysmith as lying In a teacup. A
fairer comparison would be to say that
it lies toward one side of a gigantic
soup plate with big piece of the edge
Clipped off on one side. Through this
chip comes the railway line from Dur
ban.
There are a number Of hamlets of a
dozen to twenty houses scattered about
within score or so miles from Lady
smith. Leatherns, for instance, Ia fif-
teen miles away: Freers, (Acton
Homes.) where General Whites first
engagement took place, is twenty-four
miles, and Little Tugela Waterfall is
about thirty. Round about are many
more or less isolated farms-English |
farms, where they really do farm, not |
Dutch farms, where they do every |
thing except farmland on one of |
these, Farquhar's Farm, the battle Of |
Monday took it's acutest phase.
Speaking as resident and one who |
knows the country, there need be no
fear that we shall lose Ladysmith. The
earthworks surrounding the heavy |
the town. Every hill, SLUT, and dis
tinctive point Of attack for miles
around has been carefully measured
for shooting purposes. The site of the
camp itself was chosen by board Of
officers specially appointed for the pur-
pose, and the military position of the
place has been studied and developed
during the past two years by the most
expert local military advice
The natural advantages and defenses
Of the town have been enhanced and
by carefully planned re-
doubts at any possibly Vulnerable
points The danger of the place being
rushed is absolutely nil, because the
surroundings are open and
bare to nakedness, so that there is no
possibility Of surprise. Any one APP
can be seen for a great dis
lance, and no near cover is available.
In short, Ladysmith, Is the Adershot
Of Natal.--F. S., in London Mail.