Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-10-19
REPORTS BIG FIGHT IN NATAL
British Troops Said to Have Re-
pulsed the Beers.
FIFTEEN SOLDIERS KILLED.
Armored Train Returning to Mafeking
Shelied by Burgher Troops and De-
stroyed--Oueen Victoria Said to Have
Worked Actively for Peace.

Snelleu Dy bursner Troops and De-
stroyed-Oueen Victoria Said to Have
Worked Actively for Peace.
London, Oct. 16.-The Edinburgh
Scotsman prints the following:
IA well-informed source reports that
he Beers have come down through
Van Reenen's pass with eleven guns
ind battle now RACES. Gen. White
las twelve guns and is sanguine of sue
,ess"
The Telegraph's Ladysmith cable
Friday at noon says strong column
II all arms under Gen. White, accom-
panied by Gen. Hunter, will proceed
before daybreak toward Acton for the
purpose of accommodating.
Gen. Whites intention Of giving bat
lie to the Beers may have been real
zed, but the result of the battle is un-
reported. 1t is known, however, that
Whites movement blocked the Boer
plan to work around the British TANKS
)f defense drawn across Natal from
4adysmith to Dundee.
War in the Transvaal is now an &C
uality, and, as was expected, the
3oers fired the first guns at an armored
rain between Vryburg and Mafeking,
which was thrown off the track and
;helled by artillery.
No authentic report of casualties
las been received, though the rumors
ire that the killed numbered ten or
fifteen and the wounded from dozen
O twenty. The train contained SOL
| Tiers only, and not women and chill
iren refugees, who were reported as
returning from Vryburg, where 300 of
hem were placed in safety.
The only other hostility reported is
serious engagement at Mafeking, but
his is Cape Town rumor and unverl-
led A sanguinary meeting is, how
.ver, expected hourly.
The Orange burghers have crossed
nto Natal via the Tintwa pass and are
advancing to Ladysmith, where the
British are we'll defended with 5000
roops. The outposts are alreday fac
ng each other and it is believed that
4adysmith, Dundee and Glencoe will
be attacked simultaneously.
The Beers were moving in the direc-
ion of Glencoe at last reports, where
here are 10000 British. The Orange
)urghers are massed at Bothas pass
md Mullers pass, on the border, and
mother army of Beers has already
cached Newcastle, which was practi
ally deserted a couple of days ago.
The wires are cut at Kraai Pan, and
his forward movement of the Beers
solates Gen. Baden-Powell with his
90 at Mafeking, and Gen. Plummer
With similar force at Lobatsi. The
3oers have planned Selling the railway
BRIDGES at fourteen streams north of
<imberley' after storming the train,
nut the scheme was frustrated by the
vatchfulness of the British. A naval
brigade is in readiness to land at ST.
mons bay, and train is waiting to
AIRY the men to the front.
The News cable from Ladysmith
avs the main Boer force still at Sand
pruit is estimated at over II 900. They
iave offloaded hundred pieces of
ordnance, including one heavy siege
gun, which they have mounted at
ohokwani mountain. This resembles
dajuba hill and commands the railway
n the direction of Newcastle.
A considerable body of Beers is re-
,orted as moving from Vryheid and
Utrecht by way of Jaager's pass
oward Dundee and Glencoe, and at
he same time the Free State burghers
Who are advancing toward Van Rec
cling Ladysmith.
Buffers total force is to be over
5000, and army officials predict the
nd of the war by the LIST of February
Buffers advance on the Transvaal be-
ins about the middle of December
The Transvaal government appears
0 be in good shape financially to go
o war, as it's public debt is only
;13, OO0, 900.
The martial enthusiasm continues
strong in London, and the fund for
rransvaal refugees is now quarter
| If million dollars.
A manifesto has been adopted by
he Irish Transvaal committee warn
ng their fellow-countrymen that en-
listing in the British army is treason
Ireland, and that Irishmen in Great
3ritain's service who are sent to South
Africa will have to fight Irish ma
ionalists who have raised Ireland's
| lag in the Transvaal.
The Ulster loyalists have a counter
manifesto suggesting that the Irish
Fenians be granted free passage to the
rransvaal for their country's good
The Nails Cape Town correspondent
avs:
Il learn on good authority that the
Beers are attacking Mafeking, and it
reported they have already suffered
everal repulses. 49,.
1T is generally admitted that yry-
,urg cannot withstand a strong Boer
.ttack under Grobler, who is a mem
,er of the raad for Philippolis, a town
lose to the Cape border. He is we'll
ducated and intelligent, and was the