The Portland daily press., 1899-10-13
SENSATION AT vRYBURG.
Beers Are Preparing to Shell the
Town.

Beers Are Preparing to Shell the
Town.
Cape Town, October 12.--The reply of
the Imperial government to the Trans.
walls ultimatum is published here. 1t
was accompanied by instructions to MIR.
Conyngham Greene at Pretoria to ask for
his passports. The sreply was publicly
read by a magistrate at the eyenin 9
parade of the town guard here and evoked
loyal and enthusiastic demonstrations.
MIR. Cecil Rhodes has arrived at Kimber-
ly.
A panic has broken out at Vryburg
and hurried exodus has begun, owing
to British refugees from the Transvaal
declaring that large forcs of Beers was
advancing on the town. The rumor that
Newcastle has been occupied by the OIL
ers is without confirmation.
The latest advices from Mafeklng say
that every precaution has been taken
against attack and that ali the streets are
barred to wagons.
The Beers 1t Is said intend to she'll the
town before delivering their attack. They
are said to possess twelve guns. The con-
vent sisters and many ladies have elected
to stay and nurse the wounded and many
houses have been converted into hospitals.
The searohlight on the fort is kept
working across the Veldt. Three Boer
spies have boen arrested in the town.
Railway communication to the south
| ward is practically at the mercy of the
Beers. over 300 miles of the line being
within easy striking distance of the COM
manders. Sad scenes occurred at the rail-
way station upon the departure of the
women and children by train.
SEIZED RAILWAYS.
Vyyburg, October IL, (Afternoon). "A
body of Beers has cut the border fence
advanced to the railway and out the tsle-
graph wires. Two thousand Bosrs are
now occupying the railway line.
NOT SHOT FIRED.
London. October 13 When the cabinet
meets at noon today 1t Is evident the Boer
advance will be In full swing. Judging
from present appearances the Beers are
preparing for a simultaneous invasion at
| i've separate points-Laings Mex, KIM
berly, VIyburg. Mafeking and Lobatsi.
Therefore,it is almost impossible to guess
the plan OF campaign.
| In reply to the formal inquiry of Sir
| Alfred Miner, governor of Cape Colony,
| and British high commissioner in South
Africa. P esident Steyn of the Orange
Free State, ,announ ces that thar state win
make common cause with the Transsaal.
The home preparations for the war are
growing apace. The reservists are re-
| spending more aotiv ely to the procIama-
| tion ordering tn cir mobilization and the
government has engaged more transpor Is.
| In military circles no apprehension Is
felt at any of the movements yet reported
on the part of ths Beers anu 1t Is not be-
iieved they will make any serious alta ok,
preferring to wais for the British ad-
vance. So far as news received thus far
shows, no shot has yet been fred.
The evacuated district between Charles
town and Newcastle has an area Of 25C
square miles and consists chiefly CT hilly
moorland, sparsely populated.
A despatch from Durham, dated Thurs
day, eight o'clock, morning, announces
that the. Beers seized Albertina station
and demanded the keys which were de-
liyered to them by the station master who
reached Ladysmith on troll ey. The
excitement at Ladysmith is increasing
and troops are ready to act at moments
notice.