The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-20
REPEATED ENCOUNTERS WITH THE
BRITISH 0UTP0STS.
A DECISIVE ACTION TO-DAY
With the Main Body of British Troops
at Ladysmith Expected - strategic
gun by the Free state Troops Ru-
mors of a White Flag Displayed at
Mafeking-That Town still Holding
Out.

patch dated at Pretoria at noon yes
terday says:
| After a few shots were fired at
Mafeking the white flag was hoisted.
A Boer party, bearing a flag of truce,
was sent to inquire whether the town
surrendered No definite reply was re-
| ceived. The burgher messenger was
detained for six hours and then re-
| leased"
The war office has issued the follow
ing statement:
News has been received from Gen.
eral Sir George Stewart White, the
general commanding in Natal that the
| Anticipated movement of Boer forces
across the Drakensberg, already report
ed from several quarters, was likely to
be continued on October 18th and that
more of them might be expected to ar
| rive at Boaan bank that night and
probably to come into contact with our
cavalry between Ladysmith and the
passes of the Drakesberg.
''On the north the Boer forces from
Ingagane are advancing, accompanied
Buffalo river the Beers from Vryheid
are moving toward Wants and Borker's
drifts.
Our cavalry remain in observation
and report movements in the Orange
Free State. The Basutos are said to
manifest an attitude hostile to the
Beers and they may neutralize another
| number of Boer forces.
| Ladysmith, October 18.-The British
forces came into contact with the enc
| my in the neighborhood of Acton
Homes and Testers station, about six
teen miles out, this morning. The firing
began about 10 o'clock.
| Lorenzo, Marques, October 18.-The
| VOlkssten, the Boer official organ at
Pretoria, gives the following account of
the occupation of the British camp at
| Ramathla bama, just north of Mafe-
| king:
.'The British camp at Ramathlabama
fhas been captured and sacked by Gen
eral Cronje after severe fighting. Many
| burgherS were killed or wounded. The
British loss is not known"
The Volkssten added that success
has thus far everywhere attended the
burghers," although it admits that in
the various skirmishes near Mafeking
| and at other points the Boer casualties
number some sixty or seventy killed
and wounded.
a representative
government has arrived here and is
buying up all the provisions obtainable.
One hundred and thirty persons just
released from the Barberton Jail,
Transvaal, have been put over the Por-
| tugese border.
Pretoria, October 17.-Delayed in
transmission. n.)-Commandant General
Joubert has arrived at Newcastle, Ma
| tai. He found only 100 men there when
he entered the town. General Jan H
M. Kock, second in command of the
| Boer forces, is still at Ingogo. He has
cannon commanding Bothas and Linnet
passes and has cut the railway be-
tween Dundee and de Jaager's drift.
Several Transvaal commandos are
moving toward the Biggarsberg noun
tains, to the south of Glencoe.
| The telegraph superintendent at
Heidelberg, Transvaal, reports that on
Sunday night, a balloon passed over
Nigel in the direction of Standerton.
General Cronje, after warning the
women and children to leave Mafe-
king, opened fire upon the town with
cannon this afternoon. No response
was made. In spite of the severe strain
the health of President Kruger con-
tinues good. The first batch of military
prisoners is expected here this evening
ENGLAND WANTS MORE MEN AND
MORE MONEY.
London, October 1S-A supplementary
army estimate has been issued, asking
the house of commons to vote an ad-
ditional $4,000 men and 10000, 900 in
consequence of the situation in South
Africa. 1t is expected that the $4,000
men represent the probable maximum
excess beyond the establishments fixed
for the year 1S99-1900 and is in conse-
quence of the calling out of the re-
serves and of the temporary transfer
of troops from the Indian to the British
establishment. With the additional
100000 900 the total army estimates are
ESQ, ,617, 200.
Ladysmith, October 17.-(Delayed in
1 transmission "A native tribe in Zulu
land whose cattle have been raided
by the Beers, applied to General Sir
George Stewart White, the British
commander in Natal, for permission to
make armed resistance. General White
refused their request, as he is opposed
| to the use of coIored auxiliaries in the
coming struggle.
Camp Glencoe, Natal, October 1s.-
2 p. m.-Boer scouts have been sighted
at Hating Spruit, seven miles from the
British camps. An engagement is inn
| minent.
Ladysmith, Natal. October 1S.-An
| official note published here says: "A
| Free State commando yesterday COM
| menced actual hostilities. The Free
State has thus taken upon itself the
responsibility of beginning war and
cannot hereafter pose as the injured
party
The British cavalry patrols have been
in action at Acton Homes and Lester s
station since midday and the action is
still in progress. A number of casual
ties have been reported. Supports are
leaving the camp and expect to fight
tomorrow.
London, October 1S.-According TO a
special dispatch from Durham, Natal
the Zulus are arming with assagais.
Chief Dinzulu says he is unable TO re-