The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
FIGHTING ON THE BORDER.
BoERs AND BRITISH CLASH At MAZE
KING AND OTHER POINTS.


pectcd to Hold Out for Re.enforcemonts
A skirmish Near spytzfentsin - Tho
Coast Towns Crowded with Refugees,
Special Cab. Despatch to THE Sun.
LONDON. Oct. 1S.-The War Office issued Mt
7 o'clock last evening an official notification
that no news OF portnnco had been received
from South Africa during the preceding
nty-tour hours. The same may be said re-
oardInR the columns OF matter. dated from
y,rious points in South Africa. which half MI
the morning papers and which Ia largely spec
ul,tiye, or. at best. lacks solid confirmation.
Notwithstanding. however. the absence OF
official support. it seems unquestionablo that
there has been a great deal OF firing In the
nrighborhood OF MatekinR. and thore has been
,om. in the nelghborhood of Spytzfontcin and
y,vhurc. Respecting these engagements there
ia some confusion OF dates and the statements
,.o,rdine the results are not the least trust
wor,hv There il no confirmation OF the re-
,ort ,h,t 400 Beers were killed by Col. Baden
Powells command.
In Natal matters have not advanced much.
The Beers seem 10 be waiting TO elect
better concentration. or. according to reports
from British sources. because tho commissa-
rim, and transport services have collapsed.
In England mobilization proceeds apace. but
the members OF the reserve are not responding
IN ina call Of the Government with unanimous
a,acrity. Nevertheless. great numbers have
reported themselves. A majority OF the trans
ports that will be used to convey the troops to
South Africa are now ready at southampton.
correspondent OF the DdNy MAI, dating
his despatch Orange River Station. Oct. II.
claims to have reliable information that all Is
well at kimberley He says there mas poem no
serious fighting there.
A despatch to the Daily Mail from Cape
Town saws that the Government has received
information that the Beers have been repulaed
three times with severe losses. by Col Baden
Powell at Mafeking.
The NdrS Lorenzo Marquee correspondent
rays TINT ths British warships Phlomel and
Partridge are stopping all vessels and search
lug them for contrabard OF war.
CAPE Town. Oct 17.-Col Baden Powell who
commands the small British force holding
Maieking. is making a successful resistance to
the attempts ofthe Beers to take that place.
Advces were received to-day to the
effect that he had made sortie
against the enemy and inflicted severe
loss upon them. The report says that
900 Beers and - British were killed.
The town will be relieved as soon as reen-
forcements can DO forwarded to it. 1t is feared
tives there that the Boer force will be strength
ened and the British defenders overcome by
mere weight Of numbers before aid can roach
them.
According to advces received here heavy
firing 10 going on at Kimberly between the
British garrison there and the Boer forces
which are attempting to capture the place.
Though therD is much popular an xiety regard
ing the ability OF the British to hold out
against the assaults OF tho enemy
the military authorities regard the
force there as amply sufficient to maintain
their defensive attitude until endorsements
which are already being despatched. can reach
the town and raise the siege. There has been
no communication with Kim berley for several
days except through despatch rider. who ar
rived at the Orange River yesterday.
There Is strong force OF Rough Riders.
headed by Cecil Rhodes. at Kim ber!ey. The
Beers are extremely anxious to capture Mr.
Rhodes they believing that with him q prls-
orer they would hold strong card to play
against the British.
IN armorcd train reconnoitred spytzfontein
from Kimberley and engaged the Beers at that
point. Five Beers were killed and seven
wounded. The British suffered no loss.
Dispatches confirm the capture by the Beers
OF Newcastle and a number OF minor points on
the Natal border.
Tho coast towns are crowded with refugees
from the Rand. The authorities here are
making every effort to relieve the distress that
Is prevalent among Thorn. Some OF these
refugees were compelled to leave the Trans
wal with nothing but the clothes they wore.
Aresident OF Johannesburg. who left that
city last Friday. arrived here to-day.
lie Gays that four thousand British
in VNk
Boer Government has made excellent arrange
ments for safeguarding property there. A
strong force Of special police. chiefly Germans
and Frenchmen. armed with rsvolvers. patrol
the streets
The government issued a proclamation
threatening heavy penalty upon those
caught looting Nevertheless. the govern
nent intended to search the houses for
@uables. 1t has withdrawn its passports from
most OF those who possessed them. All British
SUBJECTS found in Johann esburR after Oct. 20
Will be summarily dealt with by martial law.
The man says the train on which he travelled
was pelted with sand and stones throughout
the journey
LONDON. Oct. ia despatch from Pretor a
confirms the statement regarding the fighting
On Oct. IA north OF MatekinG. An armored
train attacked Bosr commando. Two Beers
then retired. Subsequently tho train again
attacked the Beers. Nine British soldiers were
wounded.
telegram from Lorenzo Marquee states
mat Iransvaal refugees who have arrived there
report that the Beers have been repulsed at
MAfeking with heavy loss.
Ahews agency despatch dated Pretoria says
mat six weeks ago the Boer Government
received an offer from a wealthy European
tuTenturer to supply the Transvaal with a
nSet Of torpedo boats. fully manned. to destroy
Ihe british troopships arriving at Cape Town.
DURHAM and other places. The offer was
rejected without even being considered.
BERLIN. Oct 17-Dr. Leyds. the Transvaal's
representative in Europe. Is expected to
arrive here tomorrow.
PiRLIIAENT PROMISES SUPPORT.