Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-18
FIRING ALL ALONG THE LINE
Reports of Fighting Are Received
from Various south African
Points, but Are Indefinite.

LONDON, Oct. 17-Beated dispatches
from the scene OF action in South Africa
throw little fresh light upon the situation.
The Beers appear to be Strengthening their
position in Natal and biding their own time
for attack
A special from Capetown says that 300
Beers and eighteen British have been killed
in a battle at Mafeking.
The Orange Free State burghers are threat
ening to invade Cape Colony by way OF Nor
valpont and Ailwalnorth. both of which are
at their mercy, il they possess artillery.
So far as is known the only British force
stationed at Alwalnorth is detachment of
the Royal Berkshire regiment.
Today's news from the western border re-
duces the alleged heavy fighting at Mafekng
to ordinary proportions. The earlier sensa-
tional story originated in the skirmshes
between the armored train and small de-
tachments of Beers, although since then
much may have happened to the little gar
risop.
1t is difficult to understand how refugees
arriving at Lourenzo Marquee should have
come into possession of news of serious
Boer losses at Mafekng. At the same time
Il must be remembered that much news from
the Transvaal is likely to come by way of
Delagoa bay, as most other channels are
strictly censored.
Attack ON ArmOrcd Train.
CAPETOWN, Oct. 17.-It is reported here
that the Beers have had an engagement with
another armored train from Rhodesia.
A special dispatch from Mafeking says
that all was intact there up to Saturday
night. At that time the Boer artillery was
being brought up, but it had not been placed
On According n these adyippS the
British have blown up the Hopetown rail
way bridge over the Orange river, with q
view to checking the Boer advance south
ward.
1t is expected that the Beers will cut of
Kimberleys water supply, but the DeBeer'
dam contains enough for a considerable
period.
The archbishop has issued a pastora
earnestly reminding the clergy and lat!
that men OF honor and integrity equal tt
their own espouse the opposite side, seeing
that warm friends and even families arr
divided in this crisis, In concluding h
SAYS: ~ beg you all to avoid rash talking
and to endeavor to pave the way to durable
peace and to friendly relations, when, b.
Gods mercy, the war shall be thing o
the past"
Allwaluorth, Cape Colony, is now iso
lated From ColesburE come persistent re
iterations of the report that the Beers hav
attacked Mafeking, being thrice repulse
with heavy losses,
Smallpox has broken out among the ma
tiyes from JOHANNESBURG Eight cases hav
been discovered.
COLESBURG. Cape Colony, Oct l7.-Pas
sengers arriving from Johannesburg ar
forced to leave the train ncrth of Norval
mont and 10 make a detour through tn
vedt, under escort, Joining the train farthe
south This is understood to be due TO tn
fact that the Beers have undermined tn
bridge
Expect Little Fighting soon.
LADYSMITH, Natal, Oct, l6.-The threat
ened assault upon Glencoe is believed to b
a feiut in the hope OF weakening the gar
rison here and exposing the towns to tn
westward.
The Beers are resting, preparatory to com
pletng their encircling movement for an at
tack upon Dundee.
They cannot advance much further wlthot
coming into contact with British cavalr!
which screens the position Nevertheless II
situation is such that little fighting is eN
pected in the near future in this section
apart from desultory outpost skirmishes.
All the women and children have le
Dundee.
LOURENZo MARQUEE, Oct. l7-Refu
gees who have just arrived here from tn
Transvaal report that the Beers have bee
repulsed at Mafeking, sustaining heay
losses.
KIMBERLEY, Oct. 17.-An armored trail