The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-20
HOSTS WHITE FLAG.
Pretoria Reports that Mafeking
Seeks a Truce.
SYMBOL OF SURRENDER SENT UP.

London Clings to Belief Statement is I'M
true-British Forces Meet Enemy in
~Neighborhood of Acton Homes-Free
State Forces Are Advancing.
LONDON, Oct. ia special dispatch,
dated at Pretoria at noon yesterday,
says: CATER a few shots were fired
at Mafeking the white flag was hoisted.
A Boer party bearing a flag of truce
was sent to inquire whether the town
surrendered. The Boer messenger was
detained for six hours and then re-
leased."'
Another special dispatch from Pre-
toria says: "The Boer Krupp batteries
are now covering the town. Military
engineers can be observed laying a tenn
porary railroad, which will probably be
used in armored train defense by the
garrison"
LADYsM1rH, Oct. 19.-The British
forces came into contact with the enemy
in the neighborhood of Acton Homes and
Testers station, about 16 miles out, yes
terday morning. The firing began at
10 o'clock.
LONDON, Oct. 19.-There is still no
authentic news from Mafeking, but all
reports tend to confirm the belief that
Colonel Baden-Powell is holding his
own, and no credit is given to the ru-
NOR that a flag of truce had been dis
played.
A considerable movement is antici-
pated in the vicinity of Laydsmith to-
day. The combined advance of Boer
and Free State troops in this direction
has been executed with not inconsider-
able skill and shows a free appreciation
of the British position. General Sir
George Stewart White has IL 1000 men
and 46 guns available, besides a consid-
cradle force Of volunteers, and no anx-
lety is experienced on his part, as the
Natal country is fairly open, and al
though the work of moving them is
difficult the guns are liable to do good
work. The country is not favorable for
Boer tactics and it will be difficult for
them to avoid the exposure of their
tanks to attack. General White has a
large body Of excellent cavalry, which
will be put to good use.
The Daily Telegraph's correspondent
at Ladysmith says no newspaper rep
resentatives are allowed to proceed from
there either to Besters Station or Acton
Homes, and adds that General .Joubert's
forces are moving against Glencoe and
Besters.
According to the same authority some
volunteers who had come into LADY,
smith from Besters Station and Acton
Homes reported that 300 Beers tried in
efectually to cut off a small force of
British troops but the men were too
wary. The enemy, as usual, hid them
selves behind hills and rocks, but were
unable to advance. They used cannon
against the British rifemen, who never
theless maintained a stout resistance.
The firing was very heavy. The coun-
try about Acton Homes being more
open the British mounted volunteers
there are retiring on Dewdrop. Two
Thousand Beers are engaged at Acton
Homes and rather fewer at Besters Sta
ton. 1t is stated the enemy there is
hemmed in and suffering severely.
The Times Lobati correspondent tel
egraphing under date of Oct. IA, says:
"The Beers were around us all day
yesterday and broke up the line in sew
eral places between Pitsani and Mafe-
king. They were attacked and defeated
by a party of u men from Mafeking.
Thirty Beers were killed during the
night. Another lot broke up the line
north of Lobati, cutting the wires. The
stationmaster and all Of us here set to
work and have just restored commune
cation. "A runne has arrived bringing
news of Colonel Baden owell's success
in keeping the enemy at bay"
Worst Feature of the Situation.
The foregoing about exhausts the
actual war news this morning. The
worst features Of the situation are re.
garded to be the probability of native
rlsings, which, whether on behalf or
against the Beers, are certain to produce
serious complications besides danger to
the few hundred whites in these dis.
tricts. The havoc the Beers are MAX
ing with the railway and telegraph
lines will seriously impede the move
ment of General Sir Redvers Buffers
oAy SOAPos LACI0 dI0 COuI1lCCl0Q
rumors as to whether the Beers have or
have not occupied Helpmakoar. 40
cording to the best accounts the rumor
that they have done SO is untrue, but if
the Beers have succeeded in this ma.
neuver they are completely around the
right OF General Sir George Stewart
Whites position and will be able to
either attack him at an advantage or
move down into Natal behind him.
The Times editorially complains Of
the lax observance of neutrality on the
part OF some states of the United States
in permitting the sympathetic recruit
Ing and enlistment Of men openly and
ostentatiously for service against Eng
land in South Africa,
Wichita Dry Goods Store Burns.
WICHITA, Oct. 19.-The dry goods
store of George lines 8 Co., burned
yesterday. 1t was brilliantly lighted
n prettily decorated becanse If tho