Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-19
Beers RETREATING
RETIRE BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
BRITISH AT GLENCOE SAFE
RumOrs of TransVaal Repulse at MAIZE
king-Wires Cut by Invaders
Queens Speech at Parliament Open
ing Today viii Ask for Means to
Carry on War.

London, Oct. 17.-Dispatches from
the Cape were very meagre Monday
night but they include an important
p. m. announcing that the beers COM
mand which invaded Natal through
Laing's Mex, after occupying New
Castle, advanced to Pannhauser and
retired on Ingagane Sunday evening,
the transport service being reported
defective. This will delay Indefinitely
their anticipated hope for an assault on
the strong British position at Glencoe.
Another dispatch reports activity on
the part of the Free state commands in
the neighborhood of Aliwalnorth on
the southern frontier. The beers ad-
vice patrol dispatch says: Go to
frontier bridge nightly to keep watch,
firing shots at intervals as Gignals.'
1t is believed the enemy intends short
ly to try to rush the railway station
with the help of artillery posted on the
ridge commanding the town. There
are rumOrs that the beers have been
repulsed at Mafeking and are attacking
y
dispatch from the Orange river stating
that the telegraph wires have been cut
between Vryburg and Kimberly. 1t is
believed that the beers are taking adj
vantage of the presence of a large gath
/ ering of disloyal farmers at Vryburg,
celebrating Nachtmaal, to attack the
town, hoping that the farmers will as
sist them against the British. The
same dispatch says the British force at
Kimberley is confident of it's ability to
hold out, but urges the immediate dis
patch of q relief force. This question
of the possible rising of the Dutch
/ farmers in the northern portions Of
Cape Colony is very important.
The Invasion.
| Cape Town, Oct. 1.-THE Natal in
vasion was made in three columns at
| dawn on Oct. II, through Bothas pass
and Laing's Mex and from Walker
stroom, the objective point of the in
vaders being New Castle. The beers
utilized several thousand natives who
were tramplng from the Rand to drive
| their heavy guns up Laing's Mex. Pre-
cautions are being taken for the de-
Tense of Pietermaritzburg and Durham,
in the remote contingency that the
enemy may elude the vigilance of the
British at Ladysmith and Glencoe
Camps. The total strength of the in
vading army is estimated at 10000
men.
Free State Forces.
Durham, Oct. lit is estimated that
from II, 900 to 1900 Free State beers
are watching the passes in the Drakon-
berg Range from Olivier's Hook to Col
Inns pass. They have pushed few
patriots down to Berg, but hitherto
the main force has not debauched from
the actual passage, which is being en-
trenched. Commandant General Jou-
bert is heavily fortifying Laing's Mex.
Parliament Opens Today.
London, Oct. 1.-THE queens
speech at the opening of parliament
today will declare that parliament has
been summoned at an unusual date
for the specific purpose that has been
rendered necessary by two circumstan-
ces: First, her majesty's proclama-
ton calling out the reserve which must
necessarily be followed by summoning
parliament within ten days; second,
the position of affairs in South Africa
demands the attention of the legisla-
ture. Her majesty will then declare
her general peaceful relation with for
eign powers which, unfortunately, does
not apply to the Transvaal. The
house of commons will be invited to
provide ways and means necessary to
prosecute the British policy in south
Africa. The speech will conclude with
promise that when the proper time
arrives, the legislative program of
government regarding matters Of in
interest will be submitted |
to the house.