The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-25


Colony, dated Monday evening:
THE Transvaal Government are about
issuing a proclamation declaring the dis
trict north of the Vaal river, and includ-
ing Bechuanaland, to be Boer territory.
"Commandant Cronje, who has been
twice repulsed at Mafeking, is said to be
advancing on Kimberley, and to be inn
pressing men and seizing stores and
munitions in British territory. He left
small force investing Mafeking. The
Free State Beers are moving westward
in order to join him for an attack ON
Kimberley"
VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
London, Oct. 24-Although there is no
reason 20 doubt the accuracy of the dis
patch from Cape Town to the Daily Mail
regarding General Yule's movement, it
is curious that General Whites tele-
gram to the War Office is also dated at
8 p. m., but makes no mention of joining
forces.
When the War Office dispatch was is
sued just after midnight the officials am
nounced that nothing more would be
communicated until Wednesday morning.
so that it is impossible to confirm or
deny the news. General Yule had a
heavy march Monday over the Stratford
Slopes and the Zurfontein Table, both
over 5000 feet high, and arrived after
dusk at Beth, which is half way be-
tween Rorke's Drift and Waschbank.
He had Il still heavy march, and was
hardly expected to join General White
at Ladysmith until today.
His movements We're actuated by
sound Judgment. since he soon would
have been surrounded and in desperate
position. The combined forces at Lady
smith. now amounting to some 12.OO0
men, will be amply sufficient TO act on
the defensive. A few more victories like
Glencoe and Elandshagte, however,
would leave the British troops without
officers.
While the Beers have failed TO take
advantage of their strategic position,
owing to the incompetence or haste of
their leaders, the British have no cause
for congratulations over the results of
the Natal operations. They have suf-
fered heavy losses in men, and their
victories have practically gone for 10th
ing, the whole of northern Natal being
now abandoned to the Beers.
1t would have been better to have
concentrated on Ladysmith in the first
instance, but General White and Gen
erai Symonds had to yield to political
exigencies and to the local reluctance to
abandon an inch of territory more than
was necessary.
1t is not expected that the wounded
left at Dundee will suffer except in be
ing prisoners of war.
af in RnG Tffhln Il
causes some anxiety.
The correspondents who were taken
prisoners in the train at Elandslaagte
have escaped. They report that they
were well treated by the Beers. and that,
in the collecting and assisting the wound
ed. Beers and British seem to have been
mutually helpful.
A CLEVER BOERS' MOVE.
Cape Town, October PA dispatch
from Kimberley dated Oct. Dist and
brought by dispatch rider to the Orange
River has just arrived here. 1t says:
.'The position in --.mberley is un-
changed. The siege continues. Yes
terday the armored train found the
enemy in the same position in the Spyt-
fontein neighborhood.
THE prisoners who were captured
when the arnored train was destroyed
by the Beers at Kraalpan are now re-
ported alive and well treated. The
Beers hoisted the flag of the Transvaal
over Nryburg on October 18th, and
are about issuing a proclamation that
Bechuanaland now forms part of the
Transvaal. This is regarded as a move
on the part of the enemy 10 induce the
Colonial Dutch to join the republic with
out incuring the risk hereafter of the
charge Of high treason, if the Beers
are Ultimately defeated.
Colonel Kekewich. on hearing of it.
Immediately issued proclamation noti-
flying the people that If any British sub
Ject xvere found assisting Her Majesty's
enemies, either directly or indirectly
such person would be published SUM
marily as base rebel. Several arrests
Of Cape Dutchnen were made here
yesterday"
YULE JOHNS WHITE.
J London, Oct. 24.-The Cape Town con-
respondent of the Daily Mail teIegraph-
illg at 9:45 D. III. Yesterday, SAYS:
''Keneral Yule has performed a BIRD
liant strategical movement BY n swift
march to the south, leaving Glencoe
empty, he has effected a junction OF his
forces with those Of Sir George Stewart
White, slightly to the north of Lady
smith The two are now in II position to
offer battle. | believe the first attack
will be made on the large Free State
force which entered Natal by way on
Tinta Pass. and which has since been
harrassing Ladysmith. The military all-
thorities decided that by joining their
forces the two generals would be better
able to cope with one large fcrce at 4.
time than by having two small detach-
ments to oppose simultaneously two big
Boer forces.
Accordingly, after defeating the Free
State troops they win offer battle to
Commandant General Joubert vnly
forty miles now separate the two Boer
forces. Hence the need for swift and
telling action.
1.-The two sections of the Boer army
together outnumber the entire British
force by three to one. Hard fighting is
certain at very early date. Our mem
are confident and there is much enthrlsi-
fsnn.
1.-THE fighting to-day outside Ladysmith
was mere brush. The losses on either
side were insignificant. 1t was merely