The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-10-26
FOR A Big BATTLE.
f~ees Lining Up fef . Great Fisht ID
The IrassSasl.
PROBABLE scene OF FIRST BArrlL.
Poe'.'..ry skI~Iss Airs.Iy Eo.sAs
About Acton Homes and Lsssess
Station.

London. by Cable.-Thsre f. ail, M
authentic news from MafekIng. but all
reports tend 20 confirm tic belief ,hs;
Colonel Bsden-Poweii Is hcid,nx hl,
own. and no credit Ia given TO the
vague ramcr that nag OF truce had
been displayed.
considerable engage aaent L. ante
ipated In the vicinity OF LAdysnl,h.
The combined advance Of Beers and
Free State troops In taIs direction has
been expected with no inoonsiderabi-
skill and shows clear appreciation
OF the British position. Central Sir
George Stewart White has 1900 men
and forty-six guns available. besides
a considerable force OF volunteers. 10
hold Ladysmith and no anxiety Il felt
on his account for the Natal county,
where the engagement Is expected. 4
fairly open. and although the work OF
moving them will be difficult, TIE guns
are likely to do good work.
The country Is not favorable for
for them TO avoid the exposure OF
uaelr tanks to attack by q vigorous
and mobile enemy already occupying
useful positions. that IL. supposIng
they really mean to fight. and not mere
ly to attempt to draw General White
| farther out with view of surrounding
him. General White has n large body
Of excellent cavalry. which will be put
| to good use.
II Is stated that the cnemy's scouts
| are almost In touch with the outpos,s
| at Glencoe. The Beers are working
around both sides with the idea Of get
ting south Of Ladysmlth. and attacking
In forcf with the cooperation OF Com
mandaAt General Joabert Al Glenco
the British patrol covered wide area
in order To prevent outaanking and
We're subject 10 hot fire In persist
ent skirmishing. General Sir George
Stewart White il quite prepared to Of
fer battle and The camp IL pleased at
the prospect OF striking a definite
blow.
| The Daily Telegraph's correspondent
at Ladysmith says no newspaper repre-
sentatives are allowed to proceed from
there, either to Testers Station or Ac-
ton Homes and adds that General
Jonbert's forces are moving against
Glecoe and Lester's Station. on the
Harrismith-Lynch line. According %
the same authority, some volunteers
who had just come into Ladysmit3
from Lester's Station and Action
Homes before the dispatch was sent.
reported that 300 Beers tried ineffectu-
ally to cut off small parties Of British
troops. but the Natal men were too
wary to be caught and retired, firing.
The enemy, az usual, hid themselves
behind bills, rocks and gullies, bu.
were unable to advance. They used
cannon against the British rifiemen,
who nevertheless maintained stout
resistance. The firing was very heavy.
Two thousand Beers were engaged at
Acton Homes and fewer at Testers
Station. 1t Is reported that the enemy
there Is hemmed in and suffering Sc
verely.
The Times Lobasti correspondent.
telegraphing 0nder date Of October IA,
says: The Beers were around us all
day yesterday and broke up the line In
several places between Pitsani and
Mafeking. They were attacked md de-
feated by a party Of cur men from
| MafekinR Thirty Beers were KILLED
during the night Another lot broke
UP the line a mile north Of Labatsi
cutting the wires. The station master
and all OF US here set to woIi
and have Just restored communication