Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-10-30
Twenty Thousand Beers Prepar
ing To Close on Twelve
Thousand British.
REPORTED AS SURRENDERED
Cronje Demands Surrender OF
Mafekine, Receives Curt Re-
ply From Baden Powell.

Nov York, OCT. SEA dispatch to
the Word, lrola Marek.ng, Uccooer
20, via Cape Iown, says: Commana-
ant Cronje, of the Boer fierce, besies-
ing Mafekne. sent today 70 CoiOnei
Baden-Powell, commanding the 1874
tish garrison, a demand Tor the sur
renaer OF the town in order to 'aYoiu
further Dloodshed." Colonel Baden
Powell returned curt refusal 10 saf
render, together With the sarcastic in
quiy: When win tie ploodshed be
gin!' The only blood spilled thus ia
in consequence oI shelling By the
Beers, has been that of one chicken
which was killed and one dog which
was only wounded Everybody here
is well Up to date and food is plenty
and the place seems entirely safe,
though rather dull in consequence OF
the shutting of Of ali communication
with the outside world. The besieg-
ing Beers do not show themselves
much. Il was reported that they are
suffering from dysentery and lack Of
good foad.
the man OF faith can NEE successful
REPORT LIKELY NOT TRUE.
Ladysmith, Oct. 30.-Firing COM
.nenced at G. n. this morning, the
Beers sholling Ladysmith with forty
Founders. Alter seven shots the Bri-
tish guuners succeeded in silencing
the Boer fire. Beers are now advanc-
ing on the British left flank.
Berlin, Oct. 30-A report received
here from Holland says the whole
british army at Ladysmith had sur
rendered and the troops are now pris-
oners of war.
LADYSMITH MAY BE DECISIVE.
London, Oct SO-Apparently the
Beers have concentrated gfor a SUI
preme effort at Ladysmith. They |
have Withdrawn forces from other
points which they consider momen- |
tarily to be OF less importance. The
ease 2itn1whieh they re-organized the
German corps, which was almost an
initiated at Elandslaagte, and Gen
eral Lucas Mares column which was
shattered at ITALIAN Hill, show how
great are their recuperatiye powers
and their fertility OF resource. The
perseverance OF the Beers in trans
portating heavy ordinance and post
ing it in commanding positions has
forced admiration even from their en-
>smies. Unless the present attack is
merely a feint to occupy the British,
while the invaders are cutting off
communication southwark, the battle
which opened this morning may de-
.cide the issue of the war, so far as
fighting in the open is concerned as,
unless the eighteen or twenty thous-
sand Beers about Ladysmith are able
ito destroy the twelve thousand British
there, they can hardly hope to cope
with General Buffers army corps, so
it may be expected that the Beers
will return to the attack on Lady
smith after they are beaten off as
dong as they have gun in position
anu men willing to face the British,
for they must be fully cognizant that
the news of their success will bring
thousands of sympathizers and adven-
turers to their standard.
London, Oct. "A war Office dis
patch from Cape Town dated October
26, says: An armored, train. under
Llewellyn, got within 1,200'yards of a
Boer lager three miles south of
Crocodile Port. The Beers had driv-
en- in their horses on the approach of
the train. Three Maxim belts were
were discharged into the Beers who
must have had considerable loss
They returned ten shots with no eff
feet. Col Plumers outpost had sew
eral skirmishes on the Crocodile river.
From later advices it was learned tnat
the Llewellyn train returned to Mo
.chudi 100 miles north, of Mafekng.
-LleweIlyn reports all quiet,
London, Oct. 30.--The war office re-
sceived dispatch which says that
General White fought an egagement,
presumably with General Joubert's
forces, which were pushed back after
several hours fighting The British
lost about 100 Boer losses we're
much greater. The Beers were in
greater number and had better ar
.tillery. n.
HOT FROM The WIRE.