The record-union., 1899-11-26

Yes was the grim reply from the
manned man, .sin my blooming leg"
There is much discussion now as to
whether General Methuan intends to
march direct to Kimberley or double
around and cut off the Free Staters,
who have invaded the Coiesb'HS and
Burghersdorp district, and. diving
them on Generals Gatacre and French,
inf1ict a crushing defeat on them The
general opinion however, is that he
will proceed north and attack the Beers
at Modder River, thus relieving KIM
berley.
There is much anxiety now as to the
fate of Mafeking, in view OF the latest
and somewhat despondent advices. It
was rumored in the Glasgow Stock Ex-
change to-day that Mafeking has sur
rendered, but the War Office officials
declare they have nothing confirmatory
or otherwise.
In the meanwhile the news from
Natal is not encouraging. Estcourt and
the Mooi River camp are both hard
pressed, and it seems almost joke to
regard the garrisonS as forming part
OF the relief force for Ladysmith.
| A dispatch from Pretoria, dated
Thursday gives a dispatch from South
of Ladysrnith to the effect that General
Joubert that morning shelled Estcourt
camp, but without response. The in
habitants of the town were reported to
be leaving.
A dispatch from Pretoria also indi-
Gates that news of the battle of Bel
mont had reached Pretoria, as 1t says
heavy fighting is reported south OF
! Kimberley to-day between the Free
States and a supposed British relief
force from the Orange River.
The foregoing dispatch does not refe"
to the British attack on the Boer posi-
ton at Willow Grange, outside of Est
court. the previous day, which was re-
ported by the English newspaper cor
respondents. The attack is said to
have been a surprise, and although the
British retired on Estcourt they did
not do so until the had bayoneted
eighty Beers, and captured all their
equipment and a number of horses. A
big gun posted in position, the capture
of which appears to have been the
British objective, was found to nave
been removed The story is thus cir
cumstantial.
Though no official confirmation is yet
forthcoming, an official statement was
issued at Durham Friday that there
We're no Beers south of the Mooi River.
The Beers, however, as shown in re-
cent dispatches are rapidly closing
round the Mooi River camp. Another
armored train and mounted patrols
which reconnoitered the country around
on Wednesday reports seeing but few
of the enemy. But yesterday the Beers
were found in strong force in two di-
rections near by This shows the ex-
treme mobility of the Boer forces
Two Beers have surrendered to the
British at Nottingham read station,
south of Mooi River, and there are re-
ports that the Boer forces are starving,
which explains their raiding farms
A number of Natal farmers have
taken the field in response to the call
for mobilization of the rifle associa-
tions, and are now doing splendid
scouting work. Two of these volunteer
patrols checked the Beers near Mooi
River The Government has realized
the value of their services, and has
authorized the raising of a mounted
corps of farmers to check Boer raiding.
The reported determination of the
ger to allow Consul General Macrum
to exercise his rights as British agent
at Pretoria has created an excellent
impression here, and has called out
various expressions of satisfaction and
gratitude.
The Pail Mall Gazette" says: "The
United States Government is not going
to stand any nonsense from President
Kruger 1t was the British representa-
tive who kept an eye on Hobson's cap
tivity at Santiago, and it was the Brit
ish representatives who did similar SER
vices fer captured Americans every
where in Cuba and the Philippines.
Mere power to Macrum's elbow"
SITUATION AT LADYSMITH.
PRETORIA. Nov. 25.-An official dis
patch from the Boer head laager out
side Ladysmith, dated Friday, the 24th,
says:
1.-The garrison at Ladysmith was
strangely quiet yesterday. The can
nonading to-day hardly evoked a re-
sponse. The balloon no longer scars.
The third big cannon, which the Eoers
have baptized 'Suzerain " was placed
in position to-day The German officers
arrived last night
1.-THE Poer Generals think they will
encompass the fall of Ladysmith at the
end OF this week.
There was a terrific thunderstorm
last night. -Four Beers guarding
cannon were seriously struck
ON MOOI RIVER.
MOOT RIVER (NataD, Friday, Nov.
pa reconnaissance in force in the
direction of Highlands Station has dis
covered a big force of Beers with Suns.
The Beers shelled, and the British guns
replied.
The scouts also reported another
strong Eoer force to the no1 Invest OF
! the cam,.
The British guns have returned TO
camp. and the infantry has fallen hack.
The mounted infantry is still out.
BEwILDERED MARKSMEN.
ORANGE RIVER, Friday. Nov "A,
6:30 D. MN all 107 wounded, includ-
ing several Beers, have arrived here
from Belmont One of the Beers. boy
IL years of age. was compelled to take
up arms with his father, who is Il pris-
oner A wounded Boer says that twenty
men We're selected from each Boer sec
ton to pick off the British officers But,
he added, ON the advance of tire British
force the marksmen were bewildersd,
and it was impossible to distinguish the
officers, who wore the same equipment
as the men. The marksmen were also
unable to make out the Sergeants and
other non-commissioned officers, whose
stripes had been removed.