Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-10-17

| isolated ana prODaDiy invested. Mill
berley has thus become the immediate
center of interest.
| The last message from Kimberley
prior to the cutting of the telegraph and
railway by the Beers said, "All the
| troops at Kimberley are Well" AS there
are 1000 troops there. there is little anx-
iety for the safety of the town, especially
| as the Boer force is said to be only
of about the same strength as the Brit
ish.
Many stories of brisk fighting at that
point are in circulation, but, although
the forces are likely to have come into
contact, all alleged details must be re-
garded as premature and speculative,
especially if the report be true that the
Orange Free State troops are now in
complete possession of the railway from
Kimberley to Orange river, 70 miles
away.
The alleged virulence of the Boer at
tack upon Mafeking and Kimberley can
| readily be understood when it is realized
that Bechuanaland is to the Beers what
Alsace-L Lorraine is to France.
Dreary Sieses Ahead.
1t is therefore probable that both
lONIlS w III bC lOltt,l " Ni4uNlSo Il IohS
and dreary investment before the British
are in a position to send relieving col
umn. On the other side of the country
the Beers are closing around the British
outposts and have already come into
touch with them and exchanged shots.
Advices from Cape Town relate that
excitement is kept up there by ceaseless
reports Of battles, but that little uneasi-
ness is visible in official circles, where
the opinion prevails that Mafeking and
Kimberley are safe. 1t is thought, too,
that the Beers are not likely to attack
Vryburg, in Bechuanaland, owing to the
fact that the population of that district
is largely Dutch.
1t is assumed that the refusal Of the
Beers to accept battle in Natal last week,
when General Sir George Stewart White
advanced and endeavored to draw them
through Van Reenen's pass, indicates
their unwillingness to commence hostili-
ties. On the other hand, the Beers are
too astute to play the British game at
the risk of an engagement on ground
where artillery could be brought into play
and cavalry moved rapidly.
The Cape Town correspondent Of The
Morning Leader says: ut is reported that
fighting began at Kimberley this morn
ing. The railway has been cut at Bel
mont"
Beers Threatening Dundee.
A dispatch from Dundee, Natal, saws
that a Boer commando, estimated at
1000 men. with Is field guns, has reach
ed Dannhauser, northeast of Dundee,
with the probable intention Of surround
ing Dundee and cutting off the garrison
from communication with Glencoe and
Ladysmith. 1t Is supposed that this
force is commanded by Commandant Vii
joen and comprises the German gunners.
The rest of the Boer force from Newcas-
tie is believed to be marching around
Glencoe to sever its connection with La
dysmith.
The Orange Free State troops have
the railway track at Norvals Point, Just
across the Free State border.
The Beers who occupied Newcastle aft
er it's abandonment by the British con-
sist Of Transvaal and Free State troops
and 400 Hollanders. General Joubert,
commander in chief of the Transvaal
forces, is believed to be at Laingsnek,
which he is fortifying.
Fifteen refugees from Harrismith have
reached Ladysmith. Among them is the
guard of the Natal train which was COM
Wandered by the Orange Free State.
He says that the English driver and fire.
man were detained to work the train,
which is used in carrying Free State
troops to Van Reenen's pass, where
earthworks have been thrown I'D and
two guns have been placed in position.
Two extraordinary gazettes have been
Issued at Durham. The first proclaims
martial law in the Newcastle, Dundee,
Kip river, Unsiga and upper Tugila d.
visions. The reason given is belief that |
Natal subjects have Joined the invading
Beers and are assisting them. The other
gazette reAinds British subjects of their |
obligations to the queen and warns them
to abstain from intercourse and trade |
with the Transvaa and the Orange Free
State
Beers Good Shots Yet.
The Manchester Guardian prints an
with +. G. Selous, the famous
hunter who is an authority on all mat.
ters pertaining to South Africa. Mr..
Selous estimates the duration Of the war
at more than Is months. He discredits
The notion that the Beers have deteriorat-
ed as marksmen.
The Birmingham Post says there is
excellent authority for the statement that
several bonds given by DR.. Leyds, the
European representative Of the Trans
Vaal government, and his agents for sup.
plies purchased from continental firms
nave been dshonored. The supplies were
for the South African Repub
lie, and payment is being pressed for.
1t is not likely, however, that the money
will be Forthcoming. 1t is strongly ru-