Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1899 — THE WAR WITH THE BOERS. [ARTICLE]

THE WAR WITH THE BOERS.

Fighting Still Continues, with. No Important Result*. At this writing it is not apparent that any serious fighting has taken place in Natal between the Boers and British since the serious reverse experienced by the latter before Ladysmith. There is a dearth of news in London relative tp the South African situation, but enough is known to keep up interest and create anxiety. Ladysmith is surrounded by the Boers in large numbers and a force sufficiently strong has been sent south and has compelled the British evacuation of Colenso, the only town of importance between Ladysmith and Durban, the chief port of Natal. Thia obviously improves the Boer situation. It gives them the command of the Tugella- river, cuts off Ladysmith completely from communication with British headquarters at Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, and places them favorably for an attack upon any re-enforcement that Gen. Buller may send north from Durban for the relief of Gen. White. Meantime at Kimberley and Mafeking, on the west side of the twin republics, the siege of these places is being prosecuted by the Boers. The later are in greater numbers than it was once thought they could muster and England may find it necessary to send even more than one army corps to South Africa. Friday night Capt. Fitz-Clarence and Lieut. Swinburn, with D squadron of the Protectorate regiment, made a magnificent bayonet charge upon the Boers’ entrenchment, driving them from their positions and bayoneting numbers of the Boers, who must have lost very heavily. The charge was most gallant and determined. The party could not hold the trenches and lost six men killed, two prisoners and nine wounded in their retirement. A heliographic message from Ladysmith, received at Estcourt, states that the bombardment of that place continues, but thus far no harm had been done. The message adds that there is plenty of food, and all are well. The Boers are doing all the damage possible to the railroad south of Colenso, and are gathering in large numbers south of Ladysmith, the motive of these movements evidently being to hamper the British as much as they can in their efforts to relieve White. A d'spatch from Kimberley says that the Goers are apparently shelling the town at the extreme range of their guns. Their fire has been futile.