Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-10-18
AT MAFE: KING.
Three Hundred Beers and Eighteen
British Reported Slain.
FIRST DETAILS OF FIGHTING.
General Cronje ard His burgheFs
Make Things Lively Both North
and South OF the In
vested Town.

London. Oct. 18.-A special dispatch
Cane Town says that 300 Beers and 10
British have been killed in battle at
Mafeking.
Colonel Baden-Powell made a sortie
from Mafeking in force and attacked
the Beers, who were investing the town:
After fierce fighting the British carried
the day.
A special dispatch from Pretoria, dateo
Oct. IA, by way of Delagoa Bay, says:
"A cyclist dispatch was received from
Ottoshoep. near Malman at u this even
ing. asserting that heavy fighting had
been in progress all day long north OF
Mafeking. The British troops on board
an armored train acted as a covering
force to military engineers engaged IN re-
pairing the track. A Maxim on the
train kept up continuous ire.
Conspicuous bravery was displayed on
both sides, but it soon became apparent
that the rifles of the burghers were in
effective against an armored train. The
latter, however, was once forced to re-
treat before a particularly strong as
sault, but it soon returned. accompanied
by British mounted contingent and the
fighting was reviewed tiercey.
lBuiEuS SUN Npiit'iitNH' 'A'N
holding their positions well. A dozen
Beers were killed OF wounded, but the
British casualties cannot be ascertained.
"ieavy firing can be heard south of
Mafeking; where General Cronje's COM
mand is operating.
"a corps of experienced continental
| engineers, former officers, has left Pre-
toria for the southwestern border, escort
Il Df IltnIl Shntl
Il is probably intended for large dyna-
hitting operations.
"A big engagement is expected shortly
| in the vicinity of Ladysmith. The forces
of Commandant Piet Vys are encamped
| on a mountain overlooking Dundee, from
which point they will be able to observe
the movements Of the British troops
Other belated dispatches from the
scene of action in South Africa throw
little fresh light upon the situation. The
Beers appear to be strengthening their
position in Natal and biding their own
| time for attack. The Orange Free State
| burghers are apparently threatening to
| invade Cape Colony by way of Norvals
Pont and Aliwal North, both of which
are at their mercy if they possess artil'
| lery.
| So far as is known the only British
force stationed at Aliwal North Is de-
tachment of the Royal Berkshire regi,
| ment.
Must Leave Railways Alone.
From Pretoria comes word that as it
has been discovered that attempts are
being made to tamper with the railways,
the 'Landrosts have been authorized to
shoot sipht oil fOIlnI
railways with dynamite.
Commandment General Joubert has es-
tablished his headquarters OF Nharles-
town and one,2. 1taegrapnlc commune
49, ..u the Transvaal by way Of
Laingsnek. Guns and foodstuffs found
secreted in the mines on the Rand are
contiscated. The government has or
dered the commando outside Johannes
\ burg to act in case of any disturbances.
The executive council has decided to,
release all burghers undergoing a years
Imprisonment or less. All other prison
ers who are in the same category will be
| sent across the border.
The French German and Italian con-
suls at Pretoria have issued proclama
lions calling upon their respective citi-
zens to remain neutral.
An armored train, while accommodating
near Spytfontein, engaged the Beers, kill
ing five and wounding seven. The Brit
ish had no losses.
1t is expected that the Beers will cut
| off Kmberley's water supply, but the
De Beers dam contains enough for con-
siderable period.
The threatened assault upon Glencoe
is believed to be a feint in the hope Of
! h. 4
ing the town to an attack from the west
ward. The Beers are resting, prepara-
tory, it seems, to completing their encr-
cling movement for the expected attack
upon Dundee They cannot advance
much farther without coming into contact
with the British cavalry, who screen the
position. Nevertheless the situation is
such that little fighting is expected in
the near future in that section apart
from desultory outpost skrmishes. All
the women and children have left Dun
dee.
Reserves Join the Co1Orn.
This was the last day for the reserves
to rejoin the colors, and the latest reports
from the principal centers show that vir-
tually all the reserves have presented
themselves.
According to a dispatch from Pretoria,
the Transvaal government received an
offer from IA wealthy European recently
to supply a feet of completely equipped
torpedo boats for the purpose of blowing
up the British transports on arriving in
South African waters. The offer was
curtly rejected, President Kruger refus-
ing even to consider it. The originator
of the scheme, who had been in Pretoria
only "a hours, left Immediately.
The Cork Constitution says that few
evenings ago DR.. Charles Tanner, Ma
tionalist member of parliament for the
middle division of Cork was abusing the
queen and the British soldiers, where
upon one of the royal engineers knocked
him down. promising to repeat the oper-
alton if DR.. Tanner would rise. DR..
Tanner says the soldier hit him with a
stone, thus causing the swelling and dis
coloration of his face.
The Prince of Wales, accompanied by
the Grand Duke Michael of Russia,
made a special inspection of the Scots