Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-10-21
ARE UNWILLING 70 ATTACK
Beers Anxious For the British
Forces to Make AggreS-
sive Movements.
FOUR DAYS OF FIGHTING.
Report Reaches London That the
Basutos Have Risen Against the
Orange Free State.


burg, Taungs, and Other Places.
. Four Hundred Beers Are Repored
Killed in an Engagement.
Iadvsmith, Oct 20.-The British
nlry patrols have been In acton at
Acton Homes and Besters Station,
about sixteen miles out. The action
began about 10 o'clock, and is stiii IN
srogress this evening A number OF
casualties have been reported. Sup
ports are leaving the camp and expect
10 fight at once.
A considerable engagement is expect
cd in the icinity of Ladysmith before
night. Gen. White has 1900 men ana
de pieces of artillery ready for action
at this point
London, Oct. 20.-'The Times's Lo-
batsi correspondent. says
..The Poers were around us all day
Yesterday and broke up the line sew
.eral times between Pitsani and MAIZE
king. They We're attacked and defeat
ed by party of our men from MAIZE
king. Thirty Beers were killed during
the night. Another lot broke up the
line a nile north of Lobatsi, cutting
the wires The stationmaster and all
of us here set to work and have just
restored communication.
"A runner has arrived bringing
news of Colonel Baden-powells sue
cess in keeping the enemy at bay.
A special dispatch from Pretoria
says.
The Boer Krupp batteries are now
covering the town. Military engineers
can be observed laying temporary
railroad. which will probably be used
in arniored- train defense by the gar
rison.''
A dispatch from Durham, Natal, says
that refugees who arrived there Tues
day from Pretoria declare that the
Beers at the Transvaal capital admit
ted Boer repulse at Mafeking, eight
Burghers being killed and number
wounded.
London. Oct. 19-Col. BadenPowell
has repulsed an attack on Mafeking,
the Beers retiring with a loss of 400
Killed.
News of the battle was cabled here
from Pretoria via Lorenzo Marquee,
Portuguese South Africa.
Advices from the Transvaal capital
were that white flag was hoisted by
Colonel Baden Powell. A Boer envoy
was sent III to see if it meant sur
render.
The envoy was detained six hours by
the British and then sent back.
Several Krupp guns have been
placed in position to shell the town.
Colonel Baden-Powell is laying a
temporary track from the town so that
he can utilize an armored train i'll the
defense.
Cape Town. Oct 20-A dispatch
rider telegraphed from Orange River
that Cecil Rhodes, at the head of a
regiment OF rough riders made dash
on the Boer forces investing Kimberly.
The attack was unexpected, and so
impetuous that the Beers broke and
scattered in confusion.
Before they could rally Rhodes and
his troopers dismantled the camp.
Cape Town, South Africa, Oct 90
Cronje is still Smelling Mafeking is the
news that comes from the front.
All the encouragement that could oe
derived from the brief bulletin was
that the garrison was still holding ont.
This is the fourth day of continuous
lighting. however, and the utmost anxi-
sety is expressed, even in official circles,
lest the defenders, worn out by unnec-
essary battle. should be forced to sue
cumb TO a rush from all sides.
London. Oct 20.--The situation in
South Africa appears TO be this: The
Beers seem unwilling to attack as yet,
and the British are strengthening their
position and rapidly getting ready to
assume the aggressive. The NEST inter-
esting news is contained in dispatch
TO the Morning Post from Ladysmith
to the effect that the Basutos have
risen against the Orange Free State.
The Daily Telegraph publishes the fol-
lowing from its correspondent at Cape
Town:
The Transvaal sympathiZer who was
mobbed at the railway citation on Sat
urday, turned out to be no less q per-
son than Mr.. Hofmeyr who was recent.
ly the envoy of the Afrikander party
TO Mr. Kruger. He and two prominent
Cape Town Bundmen we've hooted and
hustled and forced TO take refuge at
hotel AT late hour they We're es
cofted home by the police. A procla
nation has Just been issued establish
Ing martial law In the districts of Ma
feking, Nryburg Taungs, Barkly West,
kimberley and Herbert Public atten,
ton Is called to the penalty incurred
by communicating with the republics
Dy giving maintenance, succor and sup
port to the enemy.
Nearly $4,000 has been collected on
behalf of the refugee relief fund There