The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-19

Toyn-British Force hno"h 10 do a.
p,.,dyantnge-City's Water Supply Cut
ot-Br,t,,h Onicial Circles Uneasy over
IN. Possibility of Tprisings by the Native
rr,,..-Ho,r. Reported to HIVE Taken
r, Town, on tho Western Border.
s,,e,a,tdst Dstpltchn 10 TINS suu.
,ovnoy Oct. ls.-What will probably provo
% he the first important action OF the war Is
rcportsd 10 have commenced to-day. wed
res1ov about twenty miles westward
n, Ladysmith. Natal, the cavalry scouts
y, Gen. Sir George Stewart White
S.,,rr encountered the Orange Free State
commandos which are reported to NUMBER
rnu.h more than ten thousand men. and which
irva1ed Natal through the passes OF the Bra
Lorshure mountains II is understood that
Cen Prinsloo the Commhndant-Gen OF the
Free State. ia directing the movements OF the
Beers.
Gen. White, who has at Ladysmith about
nina thousand men Of all arms. is reported to
be sending a strong force to support the out
nosts and few hours are likely to give an in
dcation o, the result oitho first test ofstrength
between the Beers and the British.
The Boer force has left Nryheid and Is ad-
yanciug through Wants Drift and Rorke's Drltt
on Ladysmith The Beers from lnGagane are
advancing with a lew DhIteIleb VI
Meanwhile. there is no little uneasiness In
British official circles regarding the rumors OF
the eaRerness of the natives to take a hand in
the lighting 1t is to the interest OF both sides
To preyent an outbreak OF the natives. their
anticipation being practically an incalculable
factor None OF the dark peoples OF South AZ
RIGA love either the British or the Beers.
but some OF them hate one white race
less than the other. Tho British believe
that the Basutos and Swazis are
burning to attack the Beers, but there is no
doubt that the Zulus are equally hostile to the
British. If all these ruthless. intrepid war
riors get out OF hand. hell will be let loose.
The few fresh rumors from the Mafeking
distriet do not carry knowledge OF the real
situation. but as nearly all the reports
are from Boer sources and do not
claim substantial victory II may
be assumed that Col. Baden Powell
who is in command there. is holding his own.
The situation OF the British. however. is unde-
nably unpleasant 1t seems inevitable that
unless they are reinforced they will be COM
PEELED to succumb. as the enemy have all the
advantages. including, apparently, Mateking's
water supply. which has already been cut of
IADYsMITH. Natal Oct. lS.-An official no.
tice was posted here to-day stating that hostile
operations were begun by the burghers Of the
Orange Free State. 1t adds that as the Free
State began the fighting it cannot hereafter
pose as the injured party.
News arrived this afternoon that British
cavalry outposts had met the enemy near
Acton Homes. eight hours by cart from Lady
smith. and also at Besters. The firing
began at 10 O'Clock this morning. At
the time of sending this despatch
$50 7, NJ. the action continues. Some
annlti hu,.a kaa tnI h,,t iIa -
the engagement are very meagre. Supports
for the British are being forwarded.
general action is expected to- morrow.
Commandment General Joubert OF the Trans
wal army has courteously permitted a mes
senger on a bicycle under a white flag. to go
10 Glencoe with a letter from q magistrate at
Newcastle. stating that the British in that
town. which is in the hands OF the Boers are
all well.
LONDON. Oct. IA despatch to tho Daily
Ns'rs from Cape Town says that numbers OF
Basutos working in that nelghborhood are
starting for Basutoland.
The Ddiiy Mdips Cape Town correspond dent
says that the imperial authorities there have
impounded 100000 sovereiRns which arrived
on steamer for transshipment to the Trans
vaal. The money will be stored in the Stand
ard Bank until the end OF the war
despatch to the Mait from Durham reports
that the Natal Beers are designing to cut the
railway between Durham and Pistermaritz-
burg. This has necessltated the patrollinR Of
the line
The Ladysmith correspondent OF the Tele-
graph, referring TO the engagement at Acton
Homes, says that all correspondents have Doe :
forbidden to 60 to the front
The despatch odds that volunteers who
arrived at Ladysmith Wednesday even
ing stated that 300 OF the enemy
tried to cut of small parties OF
the British, but the latter were
too wary for them and retired firing. The
Beers followed their traditional tactics screen
Ing themselves behind rocks and in Rulliss. but
they were unable to advance. They used can.
non against the British riflemen The firing
was very heavy.
The enemy at Acton Homes are estimated tc
number 1000 men There 10 a rather smaller
number at Besters. which 10 reported to be
hemmed in and suffering severely.