Abilene weekly reflector., 1899-11-16

nOWo AlohA VHc ncht VI WuT III OOuLn
Africa continues fairly satisfactory.
The official cables are not very detailed
with regard to the Belmont incident,
which, except for the loss OF Col.
keith-Faconer, was not a very serious
affair. There are signs of greatly in
creased Boer activity in Natal and
along the western frontier. All the
dispatches tend to show that the Brit
ish are holding out ably Col. Baden
Powell reports that all was well at Ma
feklng on November 8. Ladysmith's
latest date was November o. While
nothing adverse is heard from the lat
ter point and confidence is felt in Gen.
Whites ability--previous experience
having shown that the Boer artillery
Is not very effective-it is beginning to
be proved that the acquisition of artil-
lery, which has destroyed the former
mobility of the Boer forces, has also
failed to give them any compensating
advantage. On the contrary, the re-
verse is the case.
Unless the Boer heavy artillery justi-
fies itself by reducing Ladysmith it
will again hamper Gen. Joubert in the
eventual retreat from Natal when Gen.
Butler sends the relieving force. 1t is
believed that the Boer retreat will be
made over the Drakensburg range into
the Zoutpansberg district, where every
preparation for provisioning and main
tanning the Beers is said to have been
made for the last stand and where il
will be difficult to dislodge them. Al
ready it is rumored that they are in
straits for food around Ladysmith and
may, therefore, be obliged to abandon
the siege
Dispatches from Estcourt say it has
been ascertained that the British have
lald concrete beds for firing the lyddite
naval guns, showing that there is no
foundation for the fear that the lyddite
ammunition at Ladysmth has been
exhausted. 1t is also reported from
the same quarter that some fires have
been seen in Ladysmith, indicating
that the Boer ombardment has been
to some extent effective.
A special dispatch from Cape Town
confirms the earlier report that 1t was
Gen Butler who ordered the British
evacuation of Stormberg and Naauw-
port, as he considered the frontier line
too weak aud too much extended. 1t
is understood however, that Naauw-
poortMill be occupied again as soon as
the advance from Queenstown is
ordered.
A DISPATCH FROM MAFEKING.
London, Nov lS.-The following dis.
patch from Col. Baden.Powell, British
commander at Mafeking, dated Octo-
Der s5 and forwarded by Gen. Butler,
was posted yesterday evening by the
war office:
All is well here, After two days shellne and
heavy bombardment, u body of the enemy
made general attack on three sides Of the
town which was repulscd by our Maxim fire.
The enemy Is now drawing of, Our casualties
were slight Lieut., Llewelyn, with several
armorcd trains, drove of the enemy at Croco-
die pool on Wednesday, killing eight,
NEWS THAT MAFEKING WAS SAFE.
London, Nov. ,S,--The following has
been received at the war office from the
general commanding at Cape Town.
dated Sunday. November 1s, afternoon
Col Plumcr is reported to have had q success
ful engagement near Tuli on October 20 The
enemy renewed the attack, but with ammunition
much damaged by rain and finally drew of not
pressing the attack, MAI Hoawell wires, by
way of kuruman, that on October q Maiekinp
was safe The Beers have qi-pounder. but
the gun is doing little damage