Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-14
BOER FORCES ACTIVE
Attack on Ladysmith by the Transvaal
Army is Hourly Expected.
BRITISH SOLDIERS EAGER TO FIGHT
Dom Pahl's Army Will Find Tough Job on
Their Hands,
B0ERS POUR THROUGH MOUNTAIN PASSES
They Attack and Wreck an Armored Train
at Kraipan.
FTEEN BRITISH ARE REPORTED KILLED
Rumor is Not Confirmed ms to Loss
of Life, but the Train is
Wreck and Prisoners
Are Takcn.

Arc Tnkcn.
Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LADYSMlTH, Natal oct. 13.-(New York
World Cablegram-Special Telegram.) Fri
day, 4;S0 p. ma rulnor is current that
Ladysmith is to be attacked tonight. There
10 the utmost activity in the British camp
here. Yet l doubt the report because the
Beers hate attacking and rarely leave their
laagers (camps) after sundown.
i am strongly OF the opinion that the Beers
Will find tough job at whatever point they
invade The British officers and soldiers are
well prepared and eager 10 fight. Authentic
news from the Transvaal is most difficult
to obtain, but it cannot be that war has not
been declared. 1t is also impossible to doubt
that the Beers have taken position on the
lngogo Heights on the British side of the
border. They have moved their camp from
Albertina, near the border and are at pres
ent in force at Mount Tintwa.
The chief difficulty lies in the number OF
passes through which the early mobilized
! Beers may attempt to rush. Obviously the
whole plan of attack has been carefully pre-
| pared Steady rains are falling throughout
northern Natal. Boer scouts have been within
fifteen miles of Ladysmith. l have every
reason to expect that we will have fight
here by tomorrow IL not tonight
| Kaffrs say the Beers will advance here.
The spirits of the whole force are excellent.
l doubt the reports that Newcastle is al
ready occupied, but it is pretty certain that
it will be taken tomorrow and Lalng's Mex
| also.
WreckinE of n Trntn.
The Scotsman today publishes the fol-
lowing from well informed source: 1.-THE
| bav jp,
pass with eleven guns and the battle now
RACES. General White has twelve guns and
Is very sangune Of success
Bennett Burleigh, cabling the Daily Tele-
graph from Ladysmith Friday noon, says:
- strong. mobile column composed of all
arms under the command of Sir George
White, who, accompanied by Sir Archibald
Hunter, proceeded before daybreak this
morning toward Acton Homes for the pur-
pose OF reconnoitering."
In confirmation of these reports inquiries
at the war Office elected the fact that Of
fetal information has been received of the
advance of British troops from Ladysmith
toward Acton Homes, and further intelli-
: gence was hourly expected Acton Homes
lies fifteen miles southwest of Ladysmith on
venter's Sprut, one of the tributaries of the
Tugela river.
The Daily Mail Capetown correspondent
, cabling at o'clock Friday, says: II learn
on good authority that the Beers are at
tacking Mafeking and are reported to have
r already suffered severed repulses. 1t is gen
g orally admitted that Vryburg cannot with
/ stand strong Boer attack"
The same correspondent gives the follow
t ing account of the attack on the armored
train at Kraipan:
= Captain Nesbit was in command, and
+ when the train was steaming full speed to
S get through in time and had reached Krai.
pan it was found the burghers were In
e strong force. 1t was impossible, perhaps,
:, to go back but there was chance of run
= ming through Nesbit pluckily but dsas'
trously, as it proved TO the train, chose the
q latter alternative. The permanent way had
: been ampered with and directly the train
left the metals the Beers opened fire with
carefully posted artillery. Ncsbit unable
, | to reply effectively. Fifteen British are r.
q ported killed, but yet IT Is mpcss > q
to speak with certainty. Tho fate of che
remainder Is unknown. but escape was of
!. course out of the question. The number Of
Beers is probably between 1000 and 5000"
= The Daily News Capetown correspondent
| says "Eyart Grobler, member OF the Raad
for Philopposes, has been elected command
c ant general OF the Orange Free State forces,
e He is man of 35, well educated intelligent
- and was Free State delegate to the Chicago
" exposition.
= oueen Worries Chamberlain.
ouoo, victorio,s errorts to maintain reaco
a have heen n sore obstacle IN Colonial secre-
o tary Chamberlain and the war party. She
a was aided in the cabinet chiefly by Prime
Minister Salisbury and the duke OF Devon :
,r shire. the latter OF whom. the lord urr.t-
ii dent OF the council OF ministers has In.
" Cured the bitter hostility OF the tinso.g
! by making two speeches declaring n,.c,
ly still possible after Mr.. Chamberlain and 81,
lg Alfred Milner. the British high commIssione,
ne in South Africa had irreyocablv conmi,ter
I'd themselves to war. Had Deyonshlre sue.
Mt ceeded Chamberlain's resignation wouIc
have been inevitable. The chancellor of IN,
OF exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, is alsc
q |