The Oskaloosa herald., 1899-10-19
Beers MEET DEFEAT
P, -sistent Rumors of Heavy Battle
at Mafeking.

! tie at Ma1eklng.
Col. Baden-PowelI made sortie from
Mafeking in force and attacked the
Beers, who were investing the town
After fierce fighting, the British car.
ried the day.
News Brought By Refugees.
Lorenzo Marques, Oct. 1s.-Refugees
who have just arrived here from the
Transvaal report that the Beers have
been repulsed at Mafeking, sustaining
heavy losses.
Report from Pretoria.
Pretoria, Oct. Is delayed in trans.
mission) Further dispatches received
by the government say that fighting
continues north of Mafeking. The
| British, after the second engagement.
retired in the direction of the town;
but they resumed the attack shortly
| afterwards, two burghers being killed
| and three wounded.
The commando engaged was impeded
owing to the want of heavy artillery,
which was subsequently, obtained from
Gen. Cronje.
Courier Tells of Battle.
London, Oct. 1s.-A special dispatch
from Pretoria, dated October IA, by way
of Delagoa bay, says: "A cyclist dis
patch was received from Ottoshoep,near
Malmani, at six this evening, asserting
that heavy fighting had been in prog
ress all day long north Of Mafeking.
The British troops on board an ar
mored train acted as covering force
to military engineers engaged in re-
pairing the track. 4 maxim on the
train kept up continuous fire. Con-
spicuOus bravery was displayed On
both sides; but it soon becaf APP
parent that the rifles of the buTghers
were ineffective against an armored
train. The latter, however, was once
forced to retreat before a particularly
strong assault; but it soon returned,
accompanied by British mounted con-
tingent, and the fighting was renewed
fiercely. Fighting still continues, the
Beers holding their positions well. A
dozen Beers were killed or wounded,
but the British casualties cannot be as
south of Mafeking, where Gen. Cronje's
commando is operating.
A big engagement is expected short
~ in the vicinity of Ladysmith. The
forces of Commandant Piet Nys are en-
camped on a mountain overlooking
Dundee. from which point they will be
able to observe the movements of the
British troops.
Beers Killed by ArmOred Train.
Kimberley, Oct. IS. - An armored
train, while accommodating near Spyt-
Lontein, engaged the Beers, killing five
and wounding seven.
The British had no losses.
London, Oct. 18.-The skirmish near
Spytfontein, says special dispatch
from Cape Town. was quite lively. The
armored train, with a detachment of
the Lancashires, approached unmolest-
ed until within range, when the Beers
opened fire. The maXims were instant
" set to work, and did great execution
among the burghers. The latter also
used artillery, but ineffectively. The
armored train returned to kimberley
unframed.
The crew of the armored train say
the Beers fired 13 shells, but their aim
was wretched. and not a single shot
struck the train. which then made bold
to approach nearer, and opened fire
with the maxims. The burghers replied
with heavy rifles, again shooting wild
~. Only three or four bullets struck
the train. Subsequently the crew
learned that five Beers and two Boer
horses were killed, while several Beers
and horses were wounded. Not a men,
Der of the British force was so much as
scratched.
The News mt LOndHn.
London. Oct. 1s.-Belated dispatches
from the scene of action in South At
RIGA throw little fresh light upon the
situation. The Beers appear to be
strengthening their position in Natal
and biding their own time for attack.
The Orange Free State burghers are APP
parently threatening to invade Cape
Colony, by way of Norval Pont, and
Aliwal North, both of which are at their
mercy, if they possess artillery.
So far as is known the only British
force stationed at Aliwal North is de-
tachment of the royal Berkshire regi-
ment.
The days news from the western bor-
der probably reduces the alleged heavy |
fighting at Mafeking to ordinary pro-
portions. Apparently the earlier sem
sational story originated in the Skin
mishes between the armored train and
small detachments of Beers, although |
since then much may have happened to
the little garrison.
It is difficult to understand how
refugees now arriving at Lorenzo Mar
ques should have come into possession
of news of serious Boer losses at MAIZE |
king. At the same time, it must be re-
membered that much news from the |
Transvaal is likely to come by way of
Delagoa bay, as most other channels
are strictly censored.