The record-union., 1899-10-14
Reported That an Engagement Has
Already Occurred
Between General Whites Command and
the TransVaaI Forces.
The First Passage at Arms on the
Natal Border, and the British
Confident of the Success of
Their Movement.


paper, the Scotsman" this Saturday
morning asserts that a battle has taken
place between General Sir George Stew
art White, commanding the forces in
Natal, and the Beers, who entered
Natal by way Of Van Reenan's Pass.
General White, the Scotsman says, is
very sanguine of the success of the
British movement.
The foregoing report is considered to
be correct, as late last night the War
Office had news of a British advance
from Ladysmith and was hourly ex-
pecting further intelligence.
A dispatch to the DAILY Telegraph"
from its correspondent at Ladysmith,
dated at noon on Friday, says: "A
strong mobile column under General
Sir George Stewart White, accompanied
by General Sir Archibald Hunter pro-
ceeded before daybreak this morning
toward Actonhomes for the purpose of
reconnoitering. General Whites object
was to observe what was going on, and
also to test the mobility and efficiency
of his forces. All the men are well and
the weather is now fine'
According to dispatches from Lady
smith to the Standard and the
Daily Telegraph" dated Thursday,
heavy storms have begun and forage is
scarce on the veldt. Therefore, moth
ing is expected to happen for a few
days, unless the Beers, who were re-
ported to be advancing, should threaten
the British line of defense drawn from
Glencoe Junction TO Ladysmith. In
this case, according to the dispatches.
no apprehension is felt as to the re-
suit. General White has twelve guns
and the Beers eleven.
The Daily Mails" Cape Town cor
respondent, telegraphing Thursday ev-
ening, says: 4 learn on good authority
that the Beers are attacking Mafeking.
They are reported to have already suf-
fered several repulses. 1t is generally
admitted that Vryburg cannot stand a
strong Boer attack"
According to the Daily Mails" Cane
Town correspondent, Mr.. Schreiner.
Premier of Cape Colony, will unreserv-
edly support the Imperial Government
His previous reserve was dictated by a
desire not to drive the extreme Dutch
residents to excesses. According to the
same authority the railway department
had early intimation of the intention of
the Beers to destroy railway bridges
over fourteen streams, and sent ade-
quate forces to protect these points.
The result was that the Beers postpon-
ed their attempts.
Evart Groble, member of the Volks-
raad for Philpotis, has been elected
Commandant General of the Free State
forces. He is only % years of age, is
well educated. and was a Free State
delegate to the Chicago Exhibition.
The correspondent of the Daily
Mail" further says that the Free State
forces have completed all preparations
for the destruction Of the Bothulie
bridge when that action becomes neces-
sary.
The Prince of Wales has promised to
see General Redvers Butler and his
staff off from Waterloo station to-day.
A big demonstration is expected.
1t is an interesting fact that Lord
Edward Cecil, son of the Marquis of
Salisbury. is with Colonel Baden-Powen
at Mafeking.
REALITIES OF WAR.
LONDON. Oct. 13.-The announce
ment that the Beers had DESTROYED an
armored train on the western border of
the Transvaal is calculated TO bring
home TO the man in the street" the
realities of war. Attempts are made
to lken the occurrence TO the blowing
up Of the United States battleship
Maine in Havana harbor, but that
event occurred in time of peace. The
Beers were doubtless within their
rights as belligerents. if they are re-
sponsible for the destruction of the
train.
The only comparison that can be in
stituted with the blowing up of the
battleship is in respect of the loss of
life, If, as there was at first good rea-
son TO fear, the train in question was
one that had left Mafeking with 800
women and children. Taken in con-
junction with the earlier announce
ment from Vryburg that 1000 Beers
were holding the line, it was inferred
that the train was destroyed by artil-
lery or blown up by dynamite or some
other powerful explosives.
An official dispatch received later at
the Colonial Office says: THE armor-
ed train was destroyed near Kraipan
Station while on the way to Mafeking
> with guns" This disposes of the fear
that many women and children were
involved in the disaster
The War Office, however. fears that
the worst has happened. Apart from
the destruction of the arrnored train
the most notable change in the posi-
tion of affairs is the presence of Beers
at Maribogo. forty miles south of Mafe-