The record-union., 1899-10-20
LATEST WAR NEWS.
AN EXCITING DAY AT BRITISH
WAR OFFICE.
Intelligence of the Capture of a
Train at Elandslaagto Causes
Much Commotion.

there to learn the result of the relief
expedition to Gordon at Khartoum.
The news that the Fifth Lancers had
been engaged brought many ladies and
other friends of the regiment to inquire
for news.
The gravest intelligence to-day seems
to be the report of the capture of q
train with officers at EIandslaagto, be-
cause it was understood that the whole
cross country line was regularly pa
troled.
AS no correspondents are allowed at
the front, it is impossible to gain def
mite information, though it is known
that General Sir George Stewart White
has been making some extensive move
ments of the troops in that neighbor
hood, and developments are hourly ex-
pected.
It is rumored that Commandant Cen
eral Joubert's northern column, with
twelve guns, is now at Dannhauser.
Although the Beers have shown con-
siderable activity in Natal, there is
nothing to indicate that they are yet
prepared for a serious combined attack,
and the general belief here is that un-
less something unexpected happens,
General Sir George Stewart White will
maintain the defensive
Mafeking news is still confined to a
repetition of the stories that Colonel
Baden-PoweH moved down 800 Beers
Vryburg is not of great Importance
but it will be regarded throughout
Boerdom as a splendid triumph over
the British.
Some military critics think it not i'm
possible that General Sir George Stew
art White may be able to withdraw
his forces from Glencoe and concen-
trate them at Ladysmith, there to
await developments.
The latest advices received here say
that the Natal carbineers who were
engaged with the enemy at Bestor Sta
ton had six men wounded. An armored
train has been sent from Ladysmith
to bring in the wounded.
Several spies have been arrested at
Ladysmith.
The Daily Nails" Cape Town cor
respondent says that refugee who has
reached Grahamstown from the Rand
states that train arrived at Johan
with 800 wounded Burghers. Every
available conveyance, the refugee says.
was called into requisition to take the
wounded men to the hospital.
The Pietermaritzburg correspondent
Of the Daily Mail, in dispatch dateo
Thursday, says: "The brunt of the
fighting at Bestor's Station yesterday
was sustained by the volunteer patrols.
The fighting was brisk The Beers
numbered 1000. The volunteers at one
moment were in great peril, being
nearly cut off, but the officers handled
their men splendidly and the Maxims
effectively stopped the Beers rushes
The Beers shooting was wretched. The
volunteers lost their kit, and altogether
the fight was pretty trying one. The
men were in the saddle three days and
two nights, with hardly rest. The
Basuto natives were fighting with tee
Beers. 1t is reported that sixteen
Beers were killed.
THE cavalry are still bivouacking,
and slight skirmishes are frequent.
Il learn officially that Commandant
General Joubert has moved his head
quarters to Dannhauser'
IOei
respondent says: 1T is rumored that
news has reached Deax Junction that
the Beers attacked Mafeking in force,
but We're repulsed. The defenders, see
ing the enemy retreating, pursued them
for some distance. Then a feint was
made, and they commenced to retire on
the town, allowing themselves to be
driven in by the Beers, who, eager TO
retrieve their position, again advanced
to the attack, and were drawn over
Lyddite mines laid for the defense Of
the town. 1t is rumored that 1,5OO
Beers We're killed by the explosions.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mall telegraphing at 10 o'clock
Thursday night, says:
"Vrysburg surrendered Sunday. To-
nights dispatches from Kuruman, ten
miles east by south of Vryburg, state
that the police have withdrawn from
Vryburg, the town surrendering to the
Beers, the inhabitants fleeing in all
directions, mostly toward Kuruman.
THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAIN.
CAPE TOWN, Oct ia copy OF
the STANDARD and Diggers News" has
been obtained here giving the Boer
account of the armored train fighting
in the vicinity of Mafeking, with Boer
coloring. 1t fully confirms the account
given by the engine driver of the train,
who escaped, adding that the deserted
trucks were riddled with bullets. They
contained dynamite and terrible ex-
plosion occurred, the trucks being
blown to atoms. There were no casual
ties among the Burghers according to
this story.
With regard to the second armored
train fight, the paper says the Beers
had two killed and four wounded, and
that when the train was seen approach
ing with Colonel Baden Powelrs men
on board the Beers formed in battle
array and poured whitening fire upon
the train at thousand yards, but the
armor rendered their fire ineffective.
The fiat nature Of the veldt yielded no
cover, and the men were compelled to
lie on the ground. The British repeat
edly raked their lines
The STANDARD and Diggers News"
admits that a total of about forty
Burghers were disabled 1t prints
Iydenberg telegram which discounts