The record-union., 1899-10-19
That Colonel Baden-POWeII is Holding HIS
Own.
A Considerable Engagement Ex-
pected in the Vicinity of Lady
smith, Where There Has Been
Some Skirmishing - Combined
Advance of Beers and Free State
Troops Made With Much Skill.

LONDON, Oct 19-There is still no
authentic news from Mafeking but all
reports tend to confirm the beHef that
Colonel Baden-Powell is holding his
own and no credit is given to the vague
rumor that a flag of truce had been
displayed.
A considerable engagement is antici-
pated in the vicinity of Ladysmith to-
day. The combined advance of Beers
and Free State troops in this direction
has been executed with no inconsider-
able skill, and shows a clear apprecia-
ton of the British position. General
Sir George Stewart White has $4,000
men and forty-six guns available, be-
sides a considerable force of volunteers
10 hold Ladysmith and no anxiety is
felt on his account, for the Natal coun-
try, where the engagement is expected
is fairly open and although the work
Of moving them will be difficult, the
guns are likely to do good work.
The country is not favorable for Boer
tactics and it will be very difficult for
them to avoid the exposure of their
flanks to attack by a vigorous and mo-
bile enemy already occupying useful
positions, that is, supposing they really
mean to fight and not merely to at
tempt to draw General White further
out with a view of surrounding him.
General White has a large body Of
excellent cavalry. which will be put to
good use.
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
risings, which, whether on behalf of
or against the Beers, are certain TO
produce serious complications, besides
danger to the few hundred whites in
these districts.
The havoc the Beers are making with
the railway and the telegraph lines will
seriously impede the movements of
General Sir Redvers Buffers army
corps: There are conflicting reports as
to whether the Beers have or have nos
occupied Helpmakoar. According I'd
the best accounts the rumor that they
have done so is untrue, but if the Beers
have succeeded in this maneuver they
are completely around the right of Cen
eral Stewart Whites position and will
be able to both attack him at an ad-
vantage or move down into Natal be-
hind him
The Daily News" points this out and
seems to think that if the Beers loop
their way through Zulu territory or
Basutaland the natives ought to be
permitted to exact respect for their
own territory.
The Morning POST criticises Eng
lands apparent weakness for defensive
action with inadequate forces: and
says that if Colonel Baden Powell holds
his own it will be because his assafl-
ants are beneath contempt.
The Times" editorially complains of
the lax observance of neutrality on the
part Of some of the States of the Unit
ed states in permitting the sympathetic
recruiting and enlistment of men open
~ and ostentatiOusly for service gainst
England in South Africa Regarding
shipments Of contraband goods for the
Beers, the Times" says the shippers
must not complain if the goods are
seized by British cruisers and notes
that these consignments appear to
come mostly from Hamburg. 1t SAYS
Perhaps, though this is doubtful.
and some shipments may have been
made in American ports. If this is
so American lawyers will be aware
that they have only TO read Lorenzo
Marques is situated near the Trans
vaal frontier for 'Matamoras is situat-
ed near the borders of the Confederate
States TO bring such consignments
within the precise terms Of some OF
the best known decisions of their Su-
preme Court. With respect to the rea1
destination of cOntraband articles this
country asks that the rules and usage.
of international law should be impair
tally applied"
JOUBERT IS MOVING.
LONDON, oct. 19-The Daily Tele-
graphs" correspondent at Ladysmith
says that no newspaper reports are al
lowed to proceed from there either to
Besters Station or Actonhomes. and
adds that General Joubert's forces are
moving against Glencoe and Besters
Station on the Harrismith-Lynch line
1t is stated that the enemy's scouts
are almost in touch with the outposts
at Glencoe. The Beers are working
around both sides with the idea of get
ting south of Ladysmith and attacking
in force with the cooperation of Com
mandant General Joubert
AT Glencoe the British patrol covered
a wide area in order to prevent out
hanking and were subjected to a hot
fire in persistent skirmishng General
Sir George Stewart White is quite pre-
pared to offer battle and the camp is
pleased at the prospects of striking a
definite blow.
According to the same authority
some volunteers who had just come in
to Ladysmith from Bester's Station
and Actonhomes before the dispatch
was sent, reported that 300 Beers tried
ineffectually to cut off small parties OF
British troops, but the Natal men were
too wary to be caught and retired fir
ing. The enemy, as usual, hid them
selves behind hills and rocks and in
gullies, but We're unable to advance.
They used cannon against the British
riflemen, who, nevertheless, maintained
a stout resistance The firing was very
heavy. The country about Actonhomes
being more open, the British mounted
volunteers there are retiring upon Dew
drop. Two thousand Beers were en-
gagged at Actonhomes and rather fewer