The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-19
MOVE ON MAFEKING
1T Is NOT SO RAPID AS REPORTS
FROM UNOFFICIAL SOURCES
WOULD INDICATE Il
DO NOT FANCY OPEN FIGHTING
BoERs PREFER COVER, AND THEIR,
ADVANCE is MADE SLOWER
BY THAT WEAKNESS
LADYSMITH rs THREATENED

| Forces of Boer Commandants Are
CircIing About British Strong
hold, and Big Battle Is Expected
Today-Brftons Too Wary tn Re-
Caught In Traps Set for Them
English Militia to Be Called Out.
| LONDON, Oct. 1S.-There is still no au.
thenuc news from Mafeking, but all re-
ports tend to confirm the belief that Col.
Baden-Powell is holding his own, and no
credit Is given to the vague rumor that
nag OF truce has been displayed
considerable engagement is anticipate
ed in the vicinity of Ladysmith TODAY,
The combined advance of Beers and Free
State troops in this direction has been in
creasing with not inconsiderable skill,
| and shows steady approach on the Brit.
ish position.
Gen. Sir George Stewart White has 12,-
600 men and twelve guns available, be-
sides considerable force of volunteers. to
hold Ladysmith, and no anxiety is felt on
his account, for the Natal country, where
the engagement is expected, is fairly
open, and, although the work of moving
them will be difficult, the guns are like
ly to do good work.
The country is not favorable for Boer
tactics, and 1t will be very difficult for
them to avoid the exposure of their
fanks to attack by vigorous and mobile
enemy, already occupying useful posi-
tions; that IS, supposng they really mean
to fight, and not merely to attempt to
draw Gen. White farther out, with view
of surrounding him.
Gen. White has a large body of excel
lent cavalry which will be put to good
use.
The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at
Ladysmith says that no newspaper rep
resentatives are allowed to proceed from
there either to Bester's station or Acton
Homes, and adds that Gen. Jouberts
forces are moving against Glencoe and
Bester's station the Observation-Disclosures
line. According to the same authority
some volunteers, who had just come into
Ladysnnith from Bester's station and Ac-
ton Homes before the dispatch was sent
report that 300 Beers tried Intellectually 70
cut off small parties of British troops,
but the Natal men were too wary TO be
caught, and retired firing.
BOERS SEEK COVER.
The enemy. as usual, hid themselves
behind hills and rocks and in gullies, but
were unable to advance. They used can
non against the British rttiemen, VINO
nevertheless maintained a stout resist
ance The firing was very heavy Ihe
country about Acton Homes being more
open, the British mounted volunteers
| thousand Beers were engaged at Acton
Homes and rather fewer at Bester's sta
ton. 1t is reported that the enemy there
is hemmed in and suffering severely
The Daily Telegraph, commenting on
the foregoing dispatch from its corre-
spondent, says it is difficult to understand
the references to Glencoe and Besters
station. except on the theory that Com
mandant General Joubert is dividing his
forces.
The Times Lobatsi correspondent, tele-
graphing under date of Oct. IA, says:
1.-The Beers were around US all day yes
terday and broke up the line in several
places between Pitsani and Mafeking
They were attacked and defeated by
party of our men from Mafeking. Thirty
Beers were killed during the night AT
night they broke UP the line mile to the
north of Lobatsi cutting the wires. The
station master and all of US here set to
work and have just restored communica-
ton News has been received of Col.
Baden-Powell's success In resisting at
tack"
The Times correspondent at Cape Town
says:
''All is we'll, though communication IS
almost wholly cut off. There is no means
of learning what happens north Of
Orange river, except perhaps by way OF
Rhodesia and Beusoto.
BOERs DREAD swAZIs.
The Daily News Ladysmith correspond
ent, telegraphing Tuesday. says he learns
the natives in Swaziland are taking
form hostile to the Beers. According to
the correspondent the Beers dread
Swazi rising, and most of the Dutch set
tiers in that section are preparing to
leave, already having sent their wives
and families into the Transvaal.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News says, in dispatch dated.
Tuesday, that large numbers of Basutos
employed on various works in the Cape
Town district are returning to Basuto-
land.
The Daily Nails Cape Town corre-
spondent says:
1.-The authorities at johannesburg have
announced that they will make house to
house search and compel British subjects
to leave the town.
THE imperial authorities have i'm
pounded 100000 sovereigns, which arrived
by steamer today for the Transvaal The
money will be kept here until the war is
ended.
"Conyngham Greene and Lady Greene
sailed for England today. An enthusas-
tic crowd assembled to bid them fare
we'll.
dispatches from Brier. dated Saturday,
state that the Beers, advancing north
ward were repulsed at Lobatsi station.
This doubtless means that Col. Plumer's
force, advancing TO the relief cf Mafe-
king had encountered the Beers"
BAD FOR BUILER.
The havoc the Beers are making with
the railway and telegraphic lines will sert-
7usly impede the movements of Gen. Sir
Redvers Buffers army corps. There are
conflicting reports as to whether the
Beers have or have not occupied Help
makoar According to the best accounts
the rumor that they have done so Is un-
true. but If the Beers have succeeded in
this maneuver they completely
around the right of Gen. Sir George Stew
art Whites position, and will be able
to either attack him at an advantage or
to raove down into Natal behind him.
The Daily News points this out and
seems 70 think that if the Beers loop their
way through Zulu territory or Basute-
land the natives ought to be permitted
to exact respect for their own territory.
The Morning Post criticises England