Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-28
Boar and British Forces Closing in
on Each Other.
CAMPS ONLY FOUR MILES APART
LITTLE NEWS FROM FRONT


news from Ladysmith. Natal. which
beginning to be regarded as ominous. has
at length been broken by a Cape Town
dispatch. under this mornings date say
ing:
Scouts from Modderspruit having re
ported the Beers in force on the Helpma-
kaar road, General White ordered out
strong force Of artillery. mounted infantry
and cavalry. A small patrol of mounted
infantry was shelled by the Beers nine
miles from Ladysnth and the Boer posi-
ton was finally located three miles beyond
MOdderspruit. The British force is now
four miles from the Beers"
The dispatch does not give the date of
the above occurrence, but 1t must have
been since Thursday when the last news
arrived from Ladysmith So the Boer ad-
vance from Dundee southwark and from
Besters station eastward evidently pro-
ceeded steadily in the interim and the
gagement foreshadowed by the above dis
patch may already have been fought
The other news from the front does not
enlighten the situation in Natal. Frag-
mentary details are arriving of the occupa-
tion Of Dundee by the Beers It is alleged
that twenty men of the town guard occu-
pied an outpost a couple of miles from the
town. when q Boer shell disodged them.
where 300 Beers surrounded them and shot
the majority The Beers then entered Dun
dee, dragged several civilians out of their
houses and plstolIeI them in the streets.
Beers Found Dumdum Bullets.
As a pendant to the above comes a story
from Cape Town to the effect that several
cases Of dumdum bullets were found By the
Boers at Dundee. which the British aban-
doned in their flight. Some Of the Beers
wanted to use the dumdums In the next
battle but President Kruger vetoes this.
saying:
No. it must not be 50. Whatever the
British are we Beers are at least humane"
The bullets were then destroyed.
Further details from EUlUwayo. Rho
desta, show that the armored train from
there on October Il. sent toward Mafekfnc
under the command Of Lieut.. LIeweIlyn
got within seven miles Of Lobatsi, when
the British found the railroad badly dam
aged Beers We're visible on hills in the
vicinity Lcbatsi had been looted The
train encountered the Beers three miles
south Of Crocodile Pools and the British
opened fire with their Maxins and drove
the Beers back to the hills, whence they
had advanced Besides eight men killed
the Beers lost eleven horses.
Dispatches from Sydney and Melbourne
record the departure of the Australian con-
tingents for the war amid wild scenes of
enthusiasm.
A Dutch ambulance corps has also start
ed from Amsterdam for Lorenzo MARQUES
Mr.. Z lesser Coop Of London has placed
his steam yacht Sunrise at the disposal of
the government, and starts for South
Africa Monday with several women volun-
tser nurses and doctors.
Newspaper CONGRATULATIONS
ION .-v-
the seat of war gives the newspapers here
the opportunity for retrospective gratu-
lations, firstly, on the success of General
Whites strategy in the face OF greatly su-
perior forces, in pUzzIing the Beers. pre-
venting the junction Of the Orange Free
State and TransvaaI armies. and in word
gaining time and delaying the invasion of
Natal until the arrival Of Gen Butler and
the army corps permits of real operations
for the invasion of the two republics to
commence: secondly. on the bravery and
daring. both Of The officers and men, Of the
British army, which has astounded not
only their enemies but the continental
neighhurs Of Great Britain: thirdly. on the
readiness OF the reservists TO resDond to
the call TO arms. and the sTnoothness. sue
cess. swift precision and completeness of
the mobilization, which has equally amazed
the European critics. though they did not
anticipate disastrous repetition of Crime
an history. had not an idea OF the immense
Improvement made in the organization of
the c"mmssarfat and lighting machinery
The Spectator SAYS:
II We could only bring the militia up to
the army level of discipline we sbou1d he
sate beyond any conceivable danger. II
cannot any lCL ger be cortended either thai
education and examinations take the p,uck
81 rFsar
The Chronicle raises a wall over -.
Wordlng OF the queens speech which n
says. clearly regards the war as ..or,ara
tioHs designed 10 bring revolted colonists
Into submission, SO that the Dutch neonia
who were assured by Mr.. Chamberlain tba.
We had no designs on their independence.
are informed that they are already re-
carried as citizens OF our empire"
The Chronicle adds:
These fateful words are DRAGONS. ,aa.r
which Will produce abundant harvest"
According to a special dispatch from
Cape Town received here today rumors Of
dissension az Bloemfontein. capital Of the
Orange Free State. have reached Cane
Town 1t Is said a movement is on foot
70 depose President Steyn and install Mr.
Fraser president
Prison Ship for Beers
GAZE TOWN October 2S-A dispatch
IRON Simons Town says the prison shin
Penelope is being fitted for the reception Of
Boer prisoners, and that the first-class
cruiser Powerful is expected to leave Dur
ban shortly, presumably to convey +bs
prisoners 10 Simons Town
a dispatch from Bulswayo. MatabeleIand
reports an engagement on October II when
an armoret train was sent from Bulawavn
toward Mafeking and encountered a rarfy
Of Beers In the fighting which ensued ~
Beers lost eight killed but there were no
casualties among the trains crew