The record-union., 1899-10-17
The WAR IN
SOUTH AFRICA.
News From the Seat of HostiIiiies
Unreliable.
No Lack Of Stories as to Fighting Being
In Progress,
But They Are Scarcely Put Before
the People Before the Rumors
Are Denied-The Beers Advance
Beyond Newcastle.

LONDON, Oct. 16.-Dispatches from
the Cape are very meager tonight, but
they include an important message
from Glencoe Camp, dated $50 this
CMonday) afternoon, announcing that
the Boer commandos, which invaded
Natal through Laings Mex, and, after
occupying Newcastle, advanced TO
Pannhauser, retired on Ingagene yes
terday evening, their transport SER
vice being reported defective This
will delay indefinitely the anticipated
and hoped for assault on the strong
British position at Glencoe
Another dispatch reports activity on
the part of the Free State commando
in the neighborhood of Aliwa North,
on the southern frontier The Beers
advance patrol, the dispatch says, go
to the frontier bridge nightly to keep
watch, firing shots at intervals as sig
nails. 1t is believed the enemy intends
ton, with the help of artillery posted
on ridge commanding the town.
There are rumors that the Beers
have been repulsed at Mafeking, and
are attacking Vryburg.
A Cape Town paper has a dispatch
from the Orange River stating that the
telegraph wires have been cut between
Vryburg and Kimberly, and it is be-
lieved that the Beers are taking ad-
vantage of the presence of a large
gathering of disloyal farmers at Vry-
burg celebrating Nachtmaal to attack
the town, hoping the farmers will as
sist them against the British.
The same dispatch says that the
British force at Kimberly is confident
Of it's ability to hold out, but advises
the dispatch of a relief force. This
question of a possible rising of the
Dutch farmers in the northern portions
of Cape Colony is very important.
The Daily Nails correspondent at
Colesburg has been inquiring regard
ing the matter, and, on the whole,
thinks the chances are against a rising.
He bases his opinion on the prospect
Of good crops after four lean years
which he believes will predispose the
farmers to peace. Nevertheless, there
is serious distrust and much British
agitation in these districts, while the
Free State Beers threaten an imme-
diate invasion of Colesburg and Aliwa
North.
The DAILY Nails" correspondent as
serts that Sir Alfred Miner is worked
to DEATH and that Cape Town is surg
ing with bitter resentment at what
is called the Schreiner Cabinets be-
trayal of Mafeking by it's constant re
fusal to send volunteer artillery
thither
Many residents of Cape Town have
relatives at Vryburg, and they are
furious with Messrs Merriman and
Souer. respectively Colonial Treasurer
and Commissioner of Public Works
and the Ministers are mobbed when
ever they appear in public. Mr.. Hoff-
meyer, the Afrikander leader, has gone
to the country in order to escape the
outbursts of indignation.
On Sunday night the streets were
filled with angry citizens, and it was
feared that rioting would occur. This
combined with the pressure of the I'm
m hrni1obt fhf
Schreiner Government to sense of its
peril as we'll as of it's duty, and moved
it to decide to order out the volun'
teers. The Ministerial party also
ton to Conyngham Greene on his ar
rival from Pretoria, but failed.
The volunteers are 1000 strong, and
have eleven pieces of artillery. There
is no further news regarding the pres
ent position
The Natal invasion was made III
three columns at dawn on the 18th
through Botha's Pass, Laing's Mex
and from Wakkerstroom, the objective
point of the invaders being Newcastle
The Beers utilized several thousand
natives who were tramping from tho
Rand to drive their heavy guns uE
Laing's Mex.
Precautions are being taken for the
defense of Pietermaritzburg and Dur
ban. in the remote contingency that
the enemy may elude the vigilance OF
the British at Ladysmith and Glencoe
Camps.
LONDON, Oct. 16.-The gradual cut
ting off of outlying points at the
scene of hostilities in South Africa
from telegraphic communication re.
duced the accurate news obtainable tC
minimum Thus far, however, no re-
liable information has been received OF
any actual fighting except at Kraaipar
and occasional exchanges of shots a.
various outposts. There is no lack o.
circumstantial stories regarding fight
| ing at various points, but these arr
scarcely published before they are de.
MED. The only salient facts in thi:
mornings kilograms are that the Boer:
have advanced beyond Newcastle, ant
/ formed a laager near Dannhauser
about twelve miles north of Dunde,
and that Kimberly is isolated ant
probably invested.
| Kimberly has thus become the imme