The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-20
WAR MINES EXPLODED
THEY WE'RE LAID FOR THE DE.
FENCE OF MAFEKING.
YET THE BRITISH WAR OFFICE is slLEN
1t Has no News of Importance from Natal. An
other Dispatch from Cape Town
Speaks of Bridges Blown up
bv the Beers.
by the Beers.

London, Oct 19-The Daily News
Cape Town correspondent says:
ut is rumored here that news has
reached Deaax junction that the Beers
attacked Mafeking in force, hut were re-
pulsed. The defenders, seeing the enc
my retreating, pursued them for some
distance. Then feint was made. and
they commenced to retire on the town.
allowing themselves to be driven in by
the Beers, who, eager to retrieve their
position, again advanced to the attack
and were drawn over Lyddite mines
laid for the defence of the town. 1t is
reported that 1,500 Beers were killed
by the explosion.
1T is reported from Delagoa Bay
that the Swat King Bunu, is collecting
his forces with the object, presumably,
of attacking the Beers. 1t is stated that
the Portuguese forces at Delagoa Bay
viii be raised to war strength.
1T is announced from Pretoria that
ain eccentric person known as Baorn
Deginsberg has been court martialed and
shot as a spy. Plans of the local forts
We're found in his possession"
WAR OFFICE WITHOUT NEWS.
London, Oct 19.-The War Office this
evening issued the following bulletin:
No news of Importance has been re
ceived from Natal today. The cavalry
attached to our forces at Ladysnith and
Dundee are engaged in observing the
enenly's movements. Steps have been
taken to secure Pietermaritzburg and
Durham against raids on the western
frontier.
There is no recent reliable intelligence
from Kimberley of Mafeking, both places
being cut off from railway and tele-
graphic communications. 1t is believed
however, that a skirmish took place on
Sunday six miles south of Kimberley
and that the Beers were beaten off
with some losses, by an arnored train.
There was some fighting at Mafeking
ON Friday or Saturday, ending with a
repulse of the attacking force.
Beers in considerable numbers are
assembled opposite AIiwal North and
Z etInllie, on the Orange River. Railway
communication with the Orange Free
State and the Transvaal has now ceased
the remaining refugees having been
warned to leave by way of Delagoa
Bay"
ALL WE'LL AT MAF'EKING.
Cape Town, Octoberk ia dispatch
from Kimberley dated October 18th
says:
'All is well here Colonel Hore en-
gagged the Beers at Mafeking on Octo-
Der 18th with great success. MAIZE
king was still safe on October 10TH
A special dispatch to the Cape Argus
reiterates the statement that in the
fighting at Mafeking Colonel Hore re-
pulsed the Beers, inficting loss of
800 men.
Complaints of Boer outrages upon the
natives continue to arrive. These serve
to further infiame the Basutos and
Zulus. Yesterday one hundred and fifty
Basutos from Johannesburg arrived at
Burghersdorp, Cape Colony, and alleged
that the Beers had robbed them whole
sale and logged them with .'black
snakes"
FIRE ON BRITISH PATROLS.
Durham, Natal, October 19.-Delay-
ed.)-The following official note has
been issued regarding the Boer adj
vance:
The Orange Free State force, with
a few guns, moved about ten nles
down Tintwa Pass, opening with ar
tillery on small British cavalry patrols
The range was distant and The shoot
ing Indifferent. The object may have
been either a feint to draw our troops
from the real point of attack Of a
prelude to Boer concentration against
Ladysmith."
MILITARY FEVER HIGH.
Cape Town, October (Delayed.)-
There is an increased procession of
applicants for active military service.
and the new force of 5000 mounted
infantry, which the Imperial Govern
ment has sanctioned will be quickly
raised
VRYBRUG IN Beers HANDS.
London, October 19-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Mail, tele-
graphing at 10 o'clock Thursday night
says:
"Vryburg surrendered Sunday. To
nights dispatches from Thurman, nine
ty miles west by south of yryburg.
state that the police having withdrawn
from Vryburg, the town surrendered to
the Beers, the inhabitants fleeing in ali
directions. mostly toward Thurman.
When the police withdrew the Cape
Beers notified the fact to the enemy,
thus inviting them to take possession.
There was "A fearful panic. The Brit
ISL are wildly indignant at this scut-
Ting"
BRIDGES BLOWN UP.
Cape Town, Oct. 19.-The Beers have
blown UP the bridges at Fourteen
Streams and the Modder River. the for
mer north and the latter south of Kim
berley.
TRAIN LOAD OF WOUNDED.
London, Oct. 19-lThe Daily Mails
Cape Town correspondent says that a
refugee who has reached GIahamstown
from the Rand states that a train arriy-
ed at Johannesburg on Monday from
Klerksdorp with 300 wounded burghers.
Every available conveyance, the refugee
says, was called into reauisition to take
the wounded men to the hospital,
The Daily Mail suggests that these
wounded were from Mafeking.