Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-17
RUMORS ~ FIGHTING
AdVicas from Mafsking M hit Say
Battle is in Progress,
B0ERS RtPULSED TWELVE HOURS LATER
Dom Paups Troops Said to Have Been
Driven Back with Heavy Loss.
TuCCC DCDnDTC IhHn HnNCIDMhTiNM
THESE REPORTS LACK CONFIRMATION
Ladysmith is Practically Deserted, 1nhab-
itants Seeking Places of Safety.
ENGLAND ALARMED FOR CECIL RHODES
Government Much Exercised for Fear
Beers wiii Capture Him-Lively
Scenes Are Promised when Par
lament Assemblies Today.

Copyright. 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Oct. 16.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram.)-The Daily
Chronicles Capetown correspondent, under
date Of Sunday, 9:15 p. M, says:
There Is a report that fighting Is pro-
ceeding at Kimberley. The town is de-
Tended by a force of 5000. The investing
force is about equal. ! ought to add that
neither Sir Alfred Miner nor the general
commanding here has received any con-
nrmation of the reported fighting"
The Daily Telegraph's Capetown corre-
spondent says the defending force Is con-
sidered sufficient to repel any attack. The
place Is skillfully fortified and defended by
plenty of Maxims and field guns
The Daily Telegraphs correspondent at
Ladysmith Monday night says THE town
is now practically empty. Special trains
have brought down 5000 persons, mostly
women and children, besides natives in
trucks The military order to evacuate was
received at Dundee at this morning. Pri-
vate reports put the strength of the Boer
column advancing from De Jager's Drift
against Dundee at about 15,OO0 but this
number is greatly exaggerated. Probably
1t is only about 1000"
The Daily Mail s Capetown correspondent
Monday, IL p. m, telegraphs "A report
has reached here from native sources that
the Beers have been repulsed at Mafeking
with heavy loss. The news at present lacks
confirmation"
The same correspondent says: "Capetown
Is surging with bitter discomfort, mainly by
reason OF the cabinets betrayal OF Mafeking.
Many Capetown residents have relatives in
Vryburg and Mafeking and are furious at
the cabinets refusal to allow the Capetown
volunteer artillery to proceed to Mafeking.
ION Sunday night the streets were filled
with angry citizens, and rioting was feared.
This, accompanied by the pressure of the
imperial government, brought the Schrener
government to sense of its perils, as well
ms to it's duty, and decided 1t to call out
49, the volunteers. The ministerial party also
worked its hardest to prevent the ovation
to Conyngham Greene on his arrival from
Pretoria, but failed. The volunteers are
1000 strong and have eleven pieces OF ar
tillery.'
Alarm for Cecil Rhodes.
Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON. Oct. 16.-(New York World
Cablegram-Special Telegram)-Wi Cecil
Rhodes be captured by the Beers? That Is
the question agitating the British govern
ment and people more than any other for the
moment Oficial information received is
that Kimberley is completely invested by the
Beers and all communication cut off. The
railroad track has been destroyed by the
Beers at intervals for seventy miles, rem
derlng the forwarding OF relief slow mat
ter as repair is only possible under the
protection of a strong covering force not
available for four five weeks to come.
Rhodes boast Friday that he felt as safe
as If he was in Piccadilly Is now beginning
to wear a different aspect. The defending
force consists of 5000 men engaged on De
Beers mines, large proportion being raw
levies unaccustomed to the use of the
rifle. The Boer force investing the town Is
estimated at 1000, with several guns able
to give a good account on the defense works
which consist of refuse blue clay from the
diamond mines.
No fear is entertained for Rhodes safety
If captured alive but its moral effect would
be very serious for Englands prestige, espe-
cially among the natives, who are waiting to
attack whichever side they consider likely
to be beaten. Rhodes, accompanied by Roch-
fort Mcguire, formerly Parnellite member
of parliament, whose wife and her sister
Mrs. Goldman, are daughters OF Viscount
Peel former speaker of the House of Com
mons, are both in Kimberley.
When Parliament meets tomorrow the op.
position leaders will move no amendment tc
the address, reserving criticism OF the
war policy OF the government until after
hostilities are ended. Even Harcourt ant
Morley are said to have agreed to this self,
denying ordinance, so the task OF attacking
the government will be left to the Irisf
members aided to a certain point by few
OF the extreme radicals. The Irish members
are quite resolved to assail the governmen
at every point. but the feeling is so fierc,
for war among the ministerialsts that ther,
is promise of lively scenes. proposal ha
already been made on the ministerial sid,
that when the Irish members speak the min
iserialsts, as a demonstration, should leav,
the house, but 1t is more than likely they
will endeavor to drown their voices by inces
SAINT noise.