The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-20

Several British Ohlcers Captured on Train
Going from Labyrinth to Duudee-Un-
confirmed Report of Heavy Boer Leases
in tho Fighting Around MafekinE-
vryburR Reported Betrayed to tho
Beers by tho Dutch Reside.ts-Al-
legged British spy Shot In Pretoria.
Special Gable De,patcA to THE sUS.
LONDON. Oct. 2O.-The general action that It
was Anticipated would take place yesterday to
the westward OF Ladysmith has not yet CO.
Cured. Tho operations have been confined to
OUTPOST diminishing. with apparently small
loss OF life. 1t seems that both armies are act
ing with great caution.
1t 10 stated that tho Beers have captured
several British officers who were travelling by
train from Ladysmith to Dundee. Reports Of
fighting at Mafeking and in that neighbour
hood are wearisomely repeated from Cape
Town In various guises. one statement alleging
that !. 800 Beers have been killed. All these
must be read in the light OF the official state
ment that nothing Of i'm portance has occurred.
Yesterdays report that the Beers had cut off
Mafeking's water supply also lacks confrma-
ton.
vryburg. which has been reported to have
been quietly abandoned. 10 now stated to have
been betrayed by the Dutch inhabitants to the
Boer forces.
There are further Cape Town reports re-
spscting native menaces to the Beers. but
nothing Is accurately known.
A despatch to the Daily Ne,rs from Cape
Town. dated Oct. 18. states that the de-
tenders OF MatekinG. after repulsing an
attack. pursued the enemy The Brit
ish then Tented a retreat. where
upon the enemy rallied and pursued
them. The Beers were thus led over mines
charged with dynamite. which were exploded
killing 1900 OF the enemy.
Another Cape Town despatch to the Ners
says that an eccentric person In Pretoria
known as Baron de Guinsberg. who was sus-
pected OF being British SPY was court-mar-
tailed and shot. 1t is stated that he possessed
rlans OF the forts at Pretoria.
The Teleoraphs Ladysmith correspondent.
cabling under date Of Thursday. says that the
Beers have captured a train conveying several
oficers and a few soldiers and civilians
to Glencoe They also fred upon a train near
Elandslaagte and compelled it to stop. The
enemy has severed telegraphic communication
between Ladysmith and Glencoe.
Tho Daily Mails Cape Town correspondent
says that a refugee from the Rand. who has
arrived at Grnhamstown, Natal. reports that a
train arrived at job annesburg on Oct. IL from
Klerk sdorp. some fifty miles southeast OF
Mafeking. with 800 wounded Beers.
The Hon. j. W. Z. Douglas Scott Montague.
N. p, who is we'll acquainted with MafekinR.
ridlcules the report that the Beers have cut off
the water supply OF that place He says that
besides the supply from the Molopo River
there are several excellent wells In the town.
Collating the news from British sources
respecting the Boer movements in Natal
thors seems to be every reason for think
ing that the Burgher forces between
the Draksnsburg mountains and Ladysmith
do iptA nj IN dreptly
Cen White or to allow him to force a general
action.
They will rather continue to act cautiously
and tentatively until the Vryhsid and Utrecht
commands. which are now advancing from
tho east. are able to effectively cooperate
The Times correspondent at Ladysmith.
dating his despatch Oct. 10. says that
the situation on the Eastern border Is
developing a moro serious aspect. The
Beers are reported to be in the Umsinga dis
trict. threatening communication between
Ladysmith and Dundee.
Tho capture Of the train near Elandslaagte
confirms this view. and 1t was a quite uneI-
pected stroke. 1t seems to indicate inefflcisncy
in the British scouting arrangements north
westward OF Gen. Whites base, II the capture
OF the train Is confirmed tho enemy will
doubtless also cut the railway ssvsring
the Glen cos camp from connecnot with Gen
White and probably compelling him to detach
part OF his command to relieve 1t. Eands-
laagte. where tho train was held up. 10 only
fifteen miles from Ladysmth.
PIETERMARITzBURG. Oct. 19-The skirmish-
ing at Acton Homes and Bsster's Station yes
terday was brisk. The Natal Mount
ed Volunteers, who bore the brunt OF
the work on the British side. were once
in considerable peril and lost all their kits
One officer 10 missing. When the men returned
to camp they declared that the shooting OF the
Beers was wretohed. The British Maxim guns
stopped the Boer rushss and killed sixteen OF
the enemy. Some Basutos are fighting with
the Boers.