The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-10-18
KIMBERLY BESnGED BY BOERS.
AFTER CECIL RHODES.
The Burghers Offer Large Reward for The
Enslishman's Body, Dead or Alive
Enemy Occupies New Castle.

The formal declaration of war be-
tween England and the Beers occurred
at johannesburg last Thursday morn
ing.
Kimberley is besieged by the Beers
who are massing in great force.
The Beers have cut the railway at
Belmont, have seized the Spyfontein
railway station and constructed forti-
fed earthworks. There are strong de-
Tending forces at Modder bridge and
the orange river bridge.
The object of these energetic opera
tlons is believed to be the capture of
Cecil Rhodes. Kimberley is now iso-
lated. both railway and telegraphic
communication being cut.
1t is said reward of $4,000 was Of
fered by the Beers for Cecil Rhodes,
dead or alive. Rhodes is said TO have
declared Kimberley well protected and
as safe as Piccadilly, and that he in
tended to stay there.
Sir Alfred Miner has wired TO MIR.
Chamberlain the text of an infiamma-
tory circular which Field Cornet Vii
joen circulated in johannesburg some
weeks ago with view Of inccnsng the
AfTikanders on both sides of the Orange
river against England.
So far as actual news is concerned,
very little change I'm the situation is to
be noticed. The occupation of New
castle by the Beers was prepared for
and expected, the place having been
abandoned by the British.
An armored train from Mafekng,
escorting two seven-pounder guns sent
from Cape Town to Mafeking, was at
tackled Friday night at Kraaipan. APP
parently a rail had been removed. The
train left the track and the Beers fired
into 1t with artillery for half hour
and captured II. Fifteen British SOL
diers were killed.
Telegraphic communication with
Mafeking is interrupted at Kraaipan.
The women and children have been
sent TO cape Town,
A body OF Beers have cut the border
fence. advanced TO the railway and cut
the telegraph wires. Two thousand
Beers are now occupying the railway
line.
There is an unconfrmed rumor that
the imperial forces intercepted body
of Transvaal Beers who We're attempt
ing to join the Boer forces at Modder
river, and that a heavy engagement
occurred at Spytsfontein station, south
of Kimberley.
A force under Commandant Vlljoen
from Spitzkep occupied Newcastle
Saturday afternoon, and, it Is reported,
planted their flag over the town hall
1t is rumored that the Beers have
captured a police patrol of six men
at De Jagers drift, on the Buffalo
river
A dispatch from Durham says: "The
Beers who have occupied Newcastle
consist of Transvaalers, Free Staters
and 400 Hollanders. Gen. Joubert is
believed to be at Laings Mex, which he
ir fortfying"
Following is the text of the British
reply to the Boer ultimatum:
"Chamberlan to Miner high COM
missioner, sent 10:45 p. m, october 10,
1899. Her majesty's government has
received with great regret the per-
emptory demands Of the South African
republic, conveyed in your telegram of
October .. You will inform the gov
ernment of the South African republic
in reply that the conditions demanded
by the government of the South Afri-
can republic are such as her majesty's
government deem 1t impossible to dis
cuss."
The latest estimates of the Boer
strength are put in the total at 21,000
men, distributed as follows: on the
Western frontier 20O0; against Kimber-
ley 5000; on Drakensberg, 1000; Volks-
rust and Utrecht. 10000; on the Portu-
guese frontiers 1000. The Orange Free
State has 10000 in the field. but they
are largely neutralized owing to the |
lengthy frontier line and the necessity
of guarding against an invasion by the |
Basutos, the most formidable natives |
in South Africa next to the Zulus and
the only Kaffir tribe who go into battle |
mounted.
Very heavy rains and SHOWS are re-
ported, which hamper the Boer move |
ments, and they are finding that they |
began too late to easily obtain the ini- |
tial successes counted upon. They ev-
identity find the advance upon Lady !
smith difficult, either from the north or
west, as Gen. Sir George Stewart |
Whites reconnaissance seems to have |
suffced to deter them for the present.
The peaks of the Drakensberg range |
are snow-covered and the storms which |
have occurred must have caused the |
explains their failure to attack Gen. |
White. Mastery inactivity character |
ize the operations of both sides.
In London II Is intimaled that the |
government has received notification |
OF the Boer ultimatum, and ore relieved |
In consequence. as the government con- |
slider the Beers now placed in a posi- |
tion of having forced on war.
Official confirmation of the an |
nouncement that the Orange Free |
State burghers have entered Natal by |
way of Van Reenens pass is at hand |
1t leaves no further room for doubt |
that acts of war have already been |
committed and that the campaign has |
begun
The only wonder Is why, If President |
Kruger is resolved upon fighting, he |
has waited so long. The explanation |
seems to be that his hand has been |
forced by the fact that the Beers have |
got out of control, or that If he awaited |
the arrival of the British army corps |
the chances of military success for him |
would be of the slimmest possible cha |
racter.