Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-14
ATTACK MAFEK|NC
Beers Cut OFF Water
Supply
KOCH OCCUPIES BOTHAS PASS
Another Armored Train Re-
ported Destroyed.
RUM0RS OF a BRITISH VICTORY
Could Not Be Confirmed, However, j
in London.
RUMORS OF A BRITISH VICTORY
Could Not Be Confirmed, However,
GEN. BUTLER OFF TO AFRICA

LONDON, October 14.-According to dis
patches from the front the Beers have
made several attacks upon Mafeking, all
of which have been repulsed.
In connection with the rumored attack
upon Mafeking 6isquieting report comes
from Pretoria to the effect that the Rus
tenburg and Marico commanders have
crossed the border and entered the ROOF
| grond territory between Lichtenburg and
Mafeking, blowing up the bridge over the
Maloppo river, and destroying a train load
of dynamite and the track.
May Run short of Water
AS Mafeking depends on Rooigrond for
its water supply the significance of this
| move is evident.
The Exchange Telegraph Company has
received a dispatch from Cape Town. dated
this morning, saying that the Beers have
blown up smother armored train. carrying
| telegraph operators from Mafekng
dispatch from Pretoria, dated October
| 13, says:
Gen. Koch wires from the Natal border
| that his commando has occupied Dothas
Pass and also captured the railway sta
ton"
The Beers, it is reported, have seized the
railway station north Of Fourteen Streams
between Vryburg and Kimberley Fighting
is still continuing in the neighborhood
The latest reports from Vryburg say that
the armored train that was DESTROYED at
kraaipan contained, in addition to Nes-
bits force, number Of workmen and six
residents of Marlgogo. south of Mafeking,
who had armed, and who. on hearing of the
Boer advance, took refuge in the train.
Firing Was Continuous
According to the dispatches this morning,
shooting must have been nearly contin-
uous along the entire borders of the Boer
republics, while pitched battles have oc-
CURED or are occurring at various points
in Natal and British Bechuanaland.
Most of these reports, however, remain
unconfirmed. AS Mafekng is cut off tele-
graphically the stories from that point are
generally of Kaffir origin, and must be re-
garded with suspicion.
While there is every probability that Gen.
Cronjes big commando has begun the as
sault upon Mafeking, reliable details must
still be awaited.
Further details at hand regarding the
destruction of the armored train st Kraa-
ipan. These show that Capt. Nesbitt, who
was in command of the urain, was warned
at Maribogo that the Beers held the line.
He replied that he was bound 10 proceed. !
Nearing Kraaipan, the train dashed into a
culvert that had been blown up by the
Beers. who were lying in wait for the train. &
The Boer artillery Immediately opened fire.
and a desperate fight appears to have en-
sued. lasting four hours with the odds
greatly against the British. The precise de-
tails uncertain.
Discovered by Police Patrol.
1t seems, however, that police patrol,
attracted by the firing. approached within
about 1900 yards of Kraaipan, saw the
train ditched, with the Boer artillery still
pounding at it, but noticed no responses.
The BCers seemed afraid to approach un-
Til the wreck was complete, and the po-
lice patrol feared, as there was no sign
of life near the train that the entire force
had perished in a desperate attempt to get
the train back to Mafeking, where they
knew 1t was anxiously awaited with its
load of guns and ammunition.
1t is reported that the Beers lost heavily,
but there is no means OF verifying this.
Two miles of rails were torn up. There -
no authoritative confirmation Of the report
that a battle has been fought In Natal be-
tween Gen. Sir George Stewart White and
Orange Free State troops although there
is no question that the Beers have crossed
the frontier at several points. They are
said to have eighteen guns: but If, 10
reported. the engagement began before the
Beers had formed laager and thrown up
earthworks. the British cavalry and artil-i
lery are liable to have had the best of the
lighting.
RumOred British Victory.
It is even already reported that the Brit
fish have gained a great victory /; that 2o00
Beers were killed, and that the British loss
was very slight; but this may be without
foundation. Another report has been pub
lfshed to the effect that Lord Rothschild
was in receipt of news of a great British
victory but when the Associated Press rep
resentative questioned him regarding the
alleged dispatch he replied: 81 sorry
that 1 have not received anything Of the
sort
The probability seems to be that there
has not been any fighting as yet in Natal
The admiralty has been cautioned against
allowing shiDowners who are to provide
transports TO engage crews at Rotterdam
or Antwerp, these ports swarm with
Boer spies and sympathizers.
The Sun of this city publishes an In,
credible story to the effect that the Boers