Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-14

OF r1ClAlAlJ4 CON + IflhAlLL--l IL L
BOERs REPORTED TO BE PRE-
PAIRING TO ASSAULT MAZE
KING WITH TWELVE GUNS.
BOER ARTILLERY FORCES
MOVING IN TIE DIRECTION Or
NATAL.
LONDON, October 1S.-The war Of
fee has received the following dispatch
from the general commanding the Cape
forces:
CAPE TOWN, October 10, Lac p. m.
An armored train from Mafehng,
escorting two seven FOUNDER guns sent
from here to Mafaking, was attacked
las; night at Kraaipan Apparently a
rail had been removed. The train left
the track and the Beers fred INTO it
with artillery for a half hour and cap
tured it.
'Telegraphic communication with
Maieking is interrupted at Kraaipan.
The women and children have been
sent to Cape ToEn. The guns referred
to belonged to the Colony. They are
light and are OF old pattern. We have
10 details as To casualties"
LONDON, nc,oAer 19. The Even ng
News publlshes tie following dispatch
from Cape Town;
An armored train has been Ge-
sroyed south Of Matching. Fifteen
British troops were killed. The Beers
shened the wreckage after the train
was derailed."
Ire announcement that the Beers
had destroyed an armored train in
Bechunanland is calculated to bring
home to the man in the street" the re-
aides of war, Attempts are made to
liken the occurrence to the blowing up
OF the United states battleshp Maine
in Havana harbor, bu, that event oc-
Cured in time OF peace. The Beers
were doubtless within their rights as
belngereHts, if they are responsible for
the destruction of the train. rhe only
COMPARISON that can be instituted with
tAe D.owlng up OF the bate hip is III
ress yet Of The loss Of life, If. as there
question was one that had left MAIZE
king with SOC women and children.
Taken in conjunction with the earlier
announcement from Vryburg that the
beers were holding the line, it can only
be inferred mat the train was either
6tstrl we'd by artillery or blown up by
dynamite or some other powerful ex-
plGsiye.
There is still a faint hope that the
disaster befell the train, not while the
women and children were on board on
the way to Vrybl7g, bu, while it was
To.urning to Mafeking from Vryburg
with detachment of Col. Baden-Pow-
cls force sent 10 escort refugees 10
Eryburg. where the Cape railway as
SUM respo- sibility for the safety. The
-, offiee however, fears hat the worst
has happered,
LONrON. October 13.-Later--An
c@c.aj dispatch &C we'd a. lie colonial
ofRce saws. "The armored train was
DESTROYED pear Kraipan station, while
on ne way to Mafeking with guns.
This disposes. Of the fear thar many
vcmen ard children were involved in
the disaster.
she train from Mafeking with 800
women and children passed through
Tryburs on the way to Kimberley. All
on board were well
Advica5 from johannesburg report
the Communicating by the Transvaal
government Of another $4,000 ounces of
gold
Apart from the destruction of the
armored train, the most notable change
in the position of affairs is the presence
of the Beers at Maribogo. 40 miles
south of Mafeking, which seems to in
dictate that they are endeavoring to get
Col. Baden-Poweu between two fires.
The gravity Of the Boer advance can
be better estimated when it is realized
that they will thereby cut IA lway and
Geographic communication to the north.
is9lating several British positions
which must be speedily relieved.
Despite the optimistic reports Of the
ability of Mafeking to repsl attacks. the
greatest anxiety prevails here regard
ing the situation there, as it is known
the redoubtable commandment, Col
Cronje. who captured the Jameson
raiders. has the strongest command yet
put into the field with the exception OF
Commandant General Joubert's force.
Cronies troops number between nine
and ten thousand men.
The position in Natal has not mater
tally altered The reported inroad OF
three thousand Beers by way Of Tin
twa Pass is probably identical with the
inroad of the force reported yesterday
as having crossed Van Reenan's pass.
The TintRra column, according to the
last adyices, had reached within twenty
miles OF I4adysmith. On that Showing
there ought to be speedy news of fight
ing.
A dispatch from Paris this afternoon
says: The Beers with twelve guns
are preparing to assault Mafeking..'
The Boer forces with artillery. ac-
cording to q dispatch just received from
Standerton, broke camp at Sandspruit
yesterday morning, moving in the d.
rection of Natal.
Assuming that the Transvaal Beers
are advancing on Glencoe and Dundee
from the north, it is quite on the cards
that the Orange Free State force. which
is reported TO have entered Natal by
Reenen's pass, which crosses the Drak-
enburg range midway between Harri-
smith and Ladysmith, should move
easterly upon Glencoe. leaving Lady
smith on their right. This would ex-
pose them TO a flank attack. but the
British are not likely to assume the
offensive until the arrival Of further re-
Inducements. Combining their opera
tions on Glencoe and Dundee. the two
BOer forces might be eXnec+ed m n,,t