The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-14
B0ERS' FIRST ATTACK Their Capture of an Ar mored Train Official
 Iy Confirmed.
GUNS FOR WATERING LOST
THE TRAIN FIRST DERAILED THEN
 SHELLED.


 to Have Successfully Repulsed Several
 Attacks on Mafelsing g-saIisbury's Son
 With the Forces There.
 London, Oct 13.--Ths actual facts oi the attack and capture of an armored train by the Boers were given out by the war office tonight. No mention is made of any refugees being on the train and although the capture is considered unimportant, 1t was purely victory for the Boers so far as it goes. Following is the dispatch regarding the matter, which was received by the war office to-day from the commander of the Cape forces and given out for publications:
 Cape Town, Oct. 13-1:40 D. m.--An armored train from Mafeking, escorting two seven-pounder guns sent from here to Mafeking, was attacked last night at Kraaipan. Apparently rail had been removed. The train left the track, and the Boers fired into it with artillery for half an hour and captured it. Tele- graphic communication with Mafeking is interrupted at Kraaipan The wo- men and children have been sent to Cape Town. The guns referred to be- longed to the Colony. They are light and of old pattern. We have no details as to casualties
 An Edinburgh paper the Scotsman. this morning asserts that battle has been engaged in between General Sir George Stewart White, commanding the forces in Natal, and the Boers who en- tered Natl by way of Van Reenan's Pass. General White, the Scotsman says, is very sanguine of the success of the British movement The fore- going report is considered to be cor rect, as late last night the war office had news of a British advance from further intelligence
 A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph from it's correspondent at Ladysmith, dated at noon on Friday, says: "A strong mobile column under Sir George Stewart White, accompanied by Gen. eral Sir Archibald Hunter, proceeded before daybreak this morning towards Atcon Homes for the purpose of recon noitering. General Whites object was
 
 also to test the mobility and efficiency of his forces General White had twelve guns and the Boers eleven"
 The Daily Mails Cape Town corre- spondent, telegraphing Friday evening, says: 'I learn on good authority that the Boers are attacking Mafeking. They are reported to have already suf- fered several repuses. It is generally admitted that Vryburg cannot stand a strong Boer attack"
 According to the Daily Mails Cape Town correspondent, MT. Schreiner, premier of the Cape colony, will un- reservedly support the imperial govern ment, His previous reserve was dic- tated by desire not to drive the ex- treme Dutch residents to excesses.
 Evart Grabler, member of the Volks- raad for Philipolis, has been elected commandant general of the Free State forces. He is only thirty five years of age, is we'll educated and was Free State delegate to the Chicago exhibi- tion. It is an interesting fact that Lord Ed ward Cecil, son of the Marquis of Sal isbury, is with Colonel BadenPowell at | Mafeking. According to the Kimberly correspon- ! dent of the Daily Telegraph, Cecil | Rhodes had marrow escape from cap | ture while on his way here. His train was delayed and he passed the Modaer river three hours after the expiration of the ultimatum, when the Boers were only five miles distant and some of | their spies were actually on the plat form. MT Rhodes laid low and was not recognized Had he been his cap ture would have been easy, as the line was not defended. He believes the strength of the enemy is greatly ex- aggerated and that they will not attack the entrenchments. The chief cause of anxiety is ignorance of their artillery strength.
 The correspondent says:
 Trustworthy information shows that the orange Free State has half its available force, viz, 10000 men, scat tered along the extensive western bor- der between the Vaal and Orange riv- CTS. The strategy displayed in their disposition is crude"
 Cape Town, Oct. 13.-4:05 D. m.-The entire crew of the armored train, with I the exception of the engine driver, were 1 made prisoners by the Boers.
 London, Oct. 1.-The Daily Mails { at Dundee, Natal says: ' Reports are circulated here that the Boers have reached Newcastle, but no l l of either this or of the re- ports of fighting at Mafeking and ( odySn1ith are vet arriViner'' ''