The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1899-10-20
Fighting at Kimberley.

| London, October I6.-The Cape
Town correspondent of the Morning
Leader telegrahing Sunday night says:
1t is reported that fighting began at
Kimberley this morning. The railway
has been cut at Belmont. A special
dispatch filed at Dundee, Natal, Sun
day afternoon, reports that Command
ant Viljoen's force has left Newcastle
for Dannhauser, where the Transvaal
flag has been hoisted over the town
hail.
The gradual cutting off of outlying
points at the scene of hostilities in
South Africa from telegraph communal
cation rednces the accurate news OBJ
tainable to minimum. Thus, far,
however, no reliable information has
been received of any actual fighting
outside of the affair at Kraaipan and
occasional exchanges of shots at var
ious outposts.
The only salient facts in this morn
lng's kilograms are that the Beers have
advanced beyond Newcastle, which
they captured Saturday, and formed
laager near Dannhouser, about twelve
miles north of Dundee, and that Kim
berly is isolated and probably invest
ed. Kimberley has thus become the
immediate center of interest.
AS there are 5000 troops there, little
anxiety is felt for the safety the
town, especially as the Boer forces are
said to be only Of about the same
strength. Many stories Of brisk fight
ing at that point are in circulation.
The alleged virulence of the Boer at
tacks upon Mafeking and Kimberley
can readily be understood when it is
realized that Bechuanaland is to the
Beers what Alsace Lorraine is to Frace.
1t is, therefore, probable that both
towns will be forced to undergo long
and dreary investment before the Brit
ish are in a position to send a reliev-
ing column.
On other side of the country, the
Beers are closing around the British
outposts and had already come into
touch with them and exchanged shots.
Durham, October 16.-Two extraordi-
nary gazettes have been issued. The
first proclaims matrial law in the New
castle, Dundee, Kip River, Unsiga
and Upper Tugila divisions. The rea-
son given is a belief that Natal SUBJ
jects have joined the invading Beers
and assisted the enemy.
The other gazette reminds British
subjects of their obligation to the
queen and warns them to abstain from
intercourse and trade with the Trans
vaal and the Orange Free State.
Fifteen refugees from Harrismith
avereached Ladysmith. Among them
is the guard of,the Natal train which
was commandered bv the Orange Free
State. He says that the English driver
and fireman were detained to work
the train, which is used in carrying
troops to Van Reenens pass, where
earthWorks have been thrown up and
two guns placed.
Cape Town, October 16.-The Or
ange Free State troops have cut the
telegraph wires and destroyed the
railway track at Norvals point, just
across the. Free State southern border.
A dispatch from Dundee. Natal, says
that Boer commando, estimated at
1000 men, with sixteen field guns, has
reached Dannhauser, northeast of
Dundee, with the probable intention
of surrounding Dundee.
London, October I6.-The war office
has issued the following note this after
noon with respect to the situation in
South Africa
"The dispatches received do not
point to any material change in the
military situation. Small bodies of
Beers are reported to have crossed
the Natal frontier at various points, !
and entrenchments are said to have
been thrown up at Van Reenen's
pass"