The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-17

has decided TO place small bodies of troops
in the various country districts. Martial
law. he says. has been proclaimed at Mafe-
king. .Vryburg Taungs, Herbert and Barkley
West.
Dispatches from Dundee say that accord
ing TO the report of the refugees the Boer
invaders of Natal are estimated at 5000.
All the noncombatants and women and chill
dren have been sent from Dundee. The
news that the Beers had arrived at Damn
hauser raised hopes that they would risk
an engagement I'm the open. but it's now as
certained that the detachment which
reached there was only a small advance
body of Commandant General Jouberts
main column. The advance of the Beers
was accompanied by some looting of stores
at Newcastle and Ingagane. A refugee as
serts that Commandant Viljoen's command
contains a surprising number OF Holland
ers. Germans and Englishmen.
Dispatches received during the day stated
Kimberley was isolated the Beers having
cut off the telegraph and the railway. The
last message received from that point said:
"All the troops at Kimberley are well"
AS there are 1000 troops there. there is little
anxiety for the safety of the town, especial
ly as the Boer forces said to be only of
brisk fighting at that point are in circula-
tion. but, although the forces are likely to
have come into contact. all alleged details
must be regarded as premature and specu-
Iative, especially If the report be true that
the Orange Free State troops are now in
complete possession of the railway from
Kimberley to Orange river. seventy miles
away. The alleged virulence of the Boer at
tacks upon Mafeking and Kimberley can
readily be understood when 1t is realized
that Bechuansland is TO the Beers what
Alsace Lorraine Is TO France. II is there
fore probable that both towns will be forced
TO undergo long and dreary investment
before the British are in a position to send
relieving column.
The Orange Free State troops have cut
the telegraph wires and destroyed the rail-
way track at Norvalspont, just across the
Free State southern border
Two extraordinary gazettes have been is-
sued at Dunbar. The first proclams mar
tial law in the New Castle. Dundee. Kip
river. Unsiga and upper Tugila divisions.
The reason given Is a belief that Natal SUBJ
jects have joined the invading Beers and
assisted the enemy. The other gazette re-
minds British subjects of their obligations to
the Queen and warns them to abstain from
intercourse and trade with the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State.
WATCHING THE PASSES.
A dispatch from Durham says: 1T is es-
timated that from 1000 to 1900 Free State
Beers are watching the passes on the Drak-
onberg range froni Oliviers hook to Col
Inns pass. They have pushed a few patriots
down the berg. but hitherto the main force
has not debouched from the actual pas
sage, which is being intrenched. Command
ant General Joubert is heavily fortifying
Laings Mex. Two Boer spies have been
| arrested at Ladysmith and handed over to
| the military authorities. The enrolment of
| 1,e00 outlanders under the imperial gov
| ernment's sanction is proceeding briskly at
Durham and Pietermaritzburg Reports are
| persistently circulated of a breakdown in
the Boer commissariat and transport de-
| partments."
The calling out of the Cape Colony VOL
unteers is supplemented by decision to
| raise two thousand more volunteers in
Cape Colony and one thousand in Natal
| Thus the total strength OF the forces in
both places will amount to 1850 men.
According to the programme of embark
| ations from Great Britain next Friday and
the four following days, which has been
Il d
| 1900 troops of all ranks and Loo horses.
Among the newly chartered vessels are the
White Star line steamer Britannia and the
| National liner America.
Since the reports of the fighting at Kim
berley and the Orange river bridge people
are urging the immediate removal of fam
| lilies from Daar Junction The latest Kim
berley and Vryburg reports were brought to
| Orange river by dispatch rider, who sue
| ceeded in getting through the Boer forces.
The War Office issued the following note
| this afternoon with respect to the situa-
| ton in South Africa 'The dispatches re-
ceived do not point to any material change
| In the situation. Small bodies of Beers are
/ reported to have crossed the Natal from
tier at various points and entrenchments
are said to have been thrown up at Van
/ Reneen's Pass"