Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-19

ing stiong strategic position in Natal
pefore tho arrival of the British army
corps. AT all points, the British are
faced bv Boer forces superior Mt least
in number The most dangerous
positions, especially since the loss Of
the armored train, are Mafeking and
Vryburg.
Col. Baden Powell, who is in com.
mand at Mafeking. is q man Of the
greatest courage and energy, but he
has only 1000 mon, many of them
iiregulars, whose lighting capacity is
not known. although it is believed to
be good. The fact that he has moved
out of Mafeking indicates some appre.
hension. and, in all likelihood. he will
have to stand fierce assault, or a
prolonged siege.
Gen, Sir George Stewart White, COM
manding in Natal, is estimated to have
about lo,G00 men stretched in strongly
entrenched positions from Ladysmith
to Dundee. He is man of great re-
source, and has the valuable assistance
OF Con. Sir William Penn Synonds,
experienced in hill fighting in India,
aud of Gen. Sir Archibald Hunter, OK
pcrienced in Soudan campaigns.
Those who had been anxious for more
stirring news from the seat of war got
1T to the full this monrng, as, accord
ing to the dispatches, shooting must
have been continuous along the entire
borders of the Boor Republics, while
pitched battles have occurred, or are
occurring, at various points in Natal
and British Beuchanaland. Most of
these reports. however, remain uncon,
| firmed, As Mafeking is cut off tele
| graphically, the stories from that point
are generally of Kaflir origin, and must
be regarded with suspicion.
Further details are at hand regard-
| ing the destruction of the armored
train, at Kraapan. These show that
Capt. Nesbitt, who was In command
of the train, was warned at Marihogo
tina the Beers held the line. He re-
piled that he was bound to proceed.
Nearing Kraapan, the train dashed
into culvert that had been blown up
by the Beers, who were lying in wait
for the train The Boer artillery i'm
mediately opened fire, and desperate
fight appears TO have ensued, lasting
four hours, with the odds greatly
against the British. The precise details
are uncertain. A Police patrol saw the
train ditched, with the Boer artillery
still pounding at it, but noticed nc
response. Tho patrol feared that tht
entire force had Eerished. 1t is reported
that the Beers lost heavily, but ther,
is no means of verifying this. Two
miles of rails were torn up.
There is no authoritative confirma
tion of the report that a battle has beer
fought in Natal between Gen. Si
George Stewart White and the Orang'
Free State troops, although there is N
question that the Beers have crossed
the frontier at several points.
DIsQuIETtNG REPORT.
In connection with the rumored attacl
upon Mafeking, disquioting repor
comes from Pretoria, to the effect tha
Rustenhurg and Marico commando
have crossed the border and entere,
the Rooigrond Territory between Lich
tenburg aud Mafeking, blowing u
tho bridge over the Maloppo River, an,
4 destroying train load OF dynamite an,
the track. As Mafeking depends upo
Rooierond for its water supply, tn
significance of this move is evident
The Beers, it is reported, have seize
the railway station north of Fonrtee
Streams, between Vryhurg and Kim
berley. Fighting is still continuing i
the neighborhood. !,
According to dispatches from tn
front, the Beers have made several al
tacks upon Mafeking, all of whic
have been repulsed.
ANoTHEn TRAIN BLOWN uP.
The Exchange Telegraph Co. has re
ceiyed dispatch from Cape Town date
this morning, saying that the Boer
have BLOWN up another armored train
which was carrying telegraph operator
from Mafelxing,