The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-26
IN SOUTH AFRICA
No Battle Has Occurred
AS far as Known.
Mifeking Holding Out Against the Beers
But VIII Fail ~ NOT Relieved
SOFA.

LONDON Oct. lS.-Dispatches from
South Africa tell OF fighting along the
railway both north and south of Mafe-
king. but so far as known, nothing
worthy the name OF battle has yet oC-
CURED. Apparently operations have
lSen confined TO skirmishes along the
railroad in which losses on neither side
have been serious. Reports are OF 4
meager and contradictory character.
but it seems that the Beers have not
Jared well in their conflicts with the
British troops. and strangely enough
the craftsmanship OF the burghers has
been poor. II reports are to- be believed.
Early dispatches from Cape Town
yesterday Tuesday said that the
Beers had attacked Mafeking and been
repulsed with a loss OF 300 killed. but
later news reduces the alleged heavy
fighting at Mafeking to- small proper
tons. The earlier sensational story
originated in the skirmishes between
the armored train and small detaCh-
ments OF Beers. Although since then
much may have happened to- the little
garrison, il is difficult To understand
how refugees arriving ut Lorenzo Mar
ques should have come into possession
Ga news OF serious Boer losses at Mafe-
king. At the same time IL must be
remembered that much news from the
Transvaal is likely to- come by way
of Delagoa bay, as most other chan
nels are strictly censored.
At latest advices the gallant little
force of Baden-Powell at Matching was
still holding out. but unless relief Is
sent soon the Beers are almost certain
tC take the place, as they have strong
forces both north and south OF the
town. and last nights dispatches said
they were bringing up their artillery
preparatory TO a general attack.
On the Natal side little has been
done. The Beers are slowly advancing
their forces with a view To cutting Oh
the garrisons at Glencoe and Dundee
DR.. Leyds. the PlenipotentiaTy OF tdC
South African Republic to- European
Governments. is said to- he going q
Berlin shortly to- confer with political
peTsonages.
Advices from Durham announce thai
the Consul of the Netherlands Their,
has issued warming to- all subjects
ne NeSuerlduuS Is 10 EtlutAu ututIdt
The Posts Ladysmith correspondent
teleSraphs that the BasutOs have riser
against the Free State.
LONDON. Oct. lS.-A special dis
| patch from Pretoria states that a whit,
flag has been hois;ed at Mlfeking. Tn,
correspondent does not know whethe
or not the town intends TO surrender
Following is the special disgI;cl
| from Pretoria in fun. dated - moor
| yesterday:
After a few shots were fred a
| Mafeking the white flag was h1is;sd
4 Boer party bearing a flag OF true
was sent to- inquire whether the tOwI
| surrendered. No definite reply was re
| ceived. The Boer messenger was de
tanned for six hours and then released
| PRETORIA. Oct. 1S-General Cronte
after warning the women and children
| TO leave Mafeking, opened fire upoI
] the town with cannon Monday after
noon. No response was made.
The report current at De!agoa b9!
| that 5000 Beers have been repulsed a
| Newcastle is false.
The Beers continue to close in upo'
Mafeking and to- destroy the raErod'
north and south of the town.