The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-19
Free state Burghers Reported to Have
Committed the First Hostile Act
ON British Territory.
MANY BELATED DISPATCHES
LITTLE ACCURATE NEWS FROM THE
VICINITY OF MAFEf<ING.
white Flag Said tn Have Been Hoisted
I'm the Cfty-Prisoners Taken
by the Beers.


thentic news from Mafeking. but all reports
tend 10 confirm the belief that Colonel
Baden-Powcll is holding his own and no
credit Is given to the vague rumor. that
nag of truce has been displayed.
A considerable engagement is anticipated
I'm the vicinity of Ladysmith to-day. The
combined advance of Beers and Free State
troops in this direction has been executed
with no inconsiderable skill and shows
clear appreciation of the British position
Gen. Sir George Stewart White has 1900
men and forty-six guns available. besides a
considerable force of volunteers. to hold
Ladysmith, and no anxiety is felt on his ac-
gagement is expected is fairly open, and
although the work of moving them will be
difficult. the guns are likely to do good
work.
The country Is not favorable for Boer
tactics and it will be very difficult for them
to avoid exposure of their fianks to attack
occupying useful positions, that is, suppos-
ing they really mean to fight and not merely
to attempt to draw General White farther
out with a view OF surrounding him. General
White has a large body Of excellent cavalry
which will be put to good use.
The Daily Tclegraphs correspondent at
ore
are allowed tc proceed from there either to
Bester's station or Acton Homes and adds
that General Jouberts forces are moving
against Glencoe and Bester's station on the
Harrismith-Lynch line.
THE FIRST FIGHTING
According to the same authority some vol
unteers who had just come into Ladysmti:
from Besters Station and Acton Homes
before the dispatch was sent, reported that
three hundred Beers tried Intellectually to
cut off small parties of British troops, but
the Natal men were too wary to be caught.
and retired firing. The enemy, as usual, hid
themselves behind the hills and rocks and
in gullies but were unable TO advance. They
used cannon against the British rifiemen,
who nevertheless maintained stout re-
sistance. The firing was very heavy. The
country about Acton Homes being more
open, the British mounted volunteers there
retired upon Dewdrop. Two thousand Beers
were engaged at Acton Homes and rather
fewer at Bester's Station. II is reported
that the enemy is hemmed ia and suffering
severely.
The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the
foregoing dispatch from Its correspondent
says 1t is difficult to understand the refer
ences to Glencoe and Bester's Station, ex.
cept on the theory that Commandant Gen.
eral Joubert Is dividing his forces.
The Tsmess I.obatsi correspondent tele
graphing under date OF Oct II. says: 1.-The
Beers were around all day yesterday and
broke up the line In several places between
Pitsani and Mafeking. They were attacked
and defeated by party OF our men from
Mafeking. Thirty Beers were killed during
the fight Another lot broke up the line
milo ncrth OF Lobatsi, cutting the wires
The station-master and all OF US here Sc
TO work and have just restored communica
tiou A runner has arrived bringing news o
Colonel Baden-Powells success I'm keeping
the enemy at bay
A dispatch from Glencoe camp says
Several commandoes which were advanc
ing with the main body from Newcastle
on-Dundee. are marching TO join large
force stationed at Doornberg, near Lands
mans drift. twelve miles east of Dundee
Two Boer spies were Caught in the camI
this morning.
The Cape Town correspondent of tn,
Times. under date OF Tuesday, says: ''An 4
well at Kimberley, though communication
Is almost entirely cut of. There is n,
means of learning anything that happen
north OF the Orange river unless. perhaps
by way OF Rhodesia and Beira."
NATIVES MAY RISE.
The Daily News's Ladysmith correspond
ent. teiegraphing on Tuesday. says n
learns that the discomfort I'm Swaziland 4
taking form hostile TO the Beers. VIII
quilted Bremersdorf precipitately. Accord
Ing 10 this correspondent. the Beers drea'
Swaxi rising. and most OF the Dutch set
tiers in that country preparing 10 leave
having already sent their wives and fam
ilies into the Transyaal
The Cape Town correspondent OF TN
Daily News says. In dispatch dated Tues