Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-10-20
BOERS REPULSED
Their Assault on Mafelzing Was a
Failure.
The Burghers Occupy the Town of
New Castle, in NRtaI-A British
Hospital Train Narrowly Hss-
capes Capture by Trans
vaRI,s Soldiers.

London. Oct. 14.--An Edinburgh pa
per. the Scotsman, this morning as
serts that a battle has taken place be-
tween Gen. White, commanding the
forces in Natal, and the Beers, who
entered Natal by way of Van Reenan's
pass.
The Nails Cape Town correspon-
dent says: learn on good authority
that the Beers are attacking MafelSing.
They are reported to have already suf-
fered several repulses. 1t is general
" admitted that Vryburg cannot stand
a strong Boer attack.
The Ladysmith correspondent of the
Times says: A subsequent recon-
Nuisance shows that the invading force
from the Free State numbers approXi-
mately $4,000 men. The Times ex-
plains that this dispatch is evidently
referring to previous telegram which
has not yet reached it.
A dispatch from Cape Town says:
"An armed train has been destroyed
south of Mafcking. Fifteen British
troops were killed. The Beers shelled
the wreckage after the train was de-
rallied"
According to the Kimberly corre-
spondent of the Telegraph Cecil
Rhodes had a narrow escape from cap
ture while on his way to Kimberly.
His train was delayed and he passed
the Modder river three hours after the
expiration of the ultimatum, when the
Beers were only five miles distant and
some of their spies were on the plat
form. Rhodes laid low and was not
recognized. Had he been, his cap
ture would have been easy, as the line
.l.,gn IaI l., nIs I,
strength of the enemy is greatly ex-
aggerated.
Pretoria. Oct. 14.-An official mani
festo has been addressed to Afrikan-
ders throughout South Africa appeal
ing to them to resist the unjust de
mands of Great Britain" and accus-
ing Lord Salisbury, Mr.. Chamberlain
and Sir Alfred Miner of treachery.
Ottawa, Ont, Oct. 14.-At n meeting
of the cabinet Friday n decision was
reached to send 1000 Canadian soldiers
to South Africa as Canada's contribu-
tion to the British force now fighting
the Beers. This is double the num-
ber of troops asked by the British gov
ernment.
Cape Town, Oct. 16-Five hundred
Boer troops occupy Border Siding,
northward of Fourteen Streams with
cannon, where they are awaiting ord
ers to destroy the line or attack Four
teen Streams.
The railway telegraph officials have
abandoned Maribogo. The nearesu
British point OF communication to Ma
feking, therefore, is understood to be
Setlagoli, 60 miles away.
Following is the strength and dis
position of the troops in Natal: At
Ladysmith, seven batteries, 80 guns,
1000 infantry; ut Estcourt, 200 volun-
teers, and at Colenze APT volunteers.
These, with the force at Pietermaritz-
burg, make total of $4,000 men in
Natal.
Vryburg, Cape Colony, Oct. 16.-A
hospital train that started for Mari
bogo has returned after an adventur-
Gus journey. 1t had reached n curve
on a culvert 700 yards south of Mari
bogo and had just slackened speed
when it was observed that the rails
ahead had been upturned. The brakes
were applied, but the engine passed
onto one rail partly raised and was
derailed, The occupants Immediate
ly righted the engine. AT the same
time il was observed that party OF
Beers were galloping into line east of
the railway but well on the Cape Col
ony side of the border.
The train ran back to Vryburg at
full speed, the engine flying awhile flag
with red cross. Picks and shovels
were seen lying about and the Beers
had apparently been disturbed while
removing the rails.
1t is learned that previous to the
starting of the train Maribogo tele.
phoned Nryburg asking that tn. train
he sent up, rs all was quite safe. The
operator mt Nryburg recognized the
voice as that of a European store clerk
In view of the subsequent report that
the Beers were removing the rails il
is believed the Beers compelled the
clerk to speak through the telephone
A Katfir brought to Vryburg by the
returning hospital train says b., passed
the scene of the recent armored tram
disaster and s;.w several bodies 81
white men lying there.
Durham, Oct 16.-Owing to the rigor
GUS censorship maintained, news from
the front is greatly delayed and
reaches here in disjointed dispatches.
1t is learned from an authentic
source that a large number of troops
including cavalry, artillery and infan
try. left Ladysmith Friday morning
with wagons, going in the direction o.
Acton Homes, where the Beers are
reported TO he encamped.
The Dublin Fusileers arrived from
Glencoe by train at IL o'clock and pro
ceeded in the same direction. There
has been no engagement, the Beers re
treating. The British troops remair
Mt a point ten miles from Ladysmitl
with the exception of the Dublin Fusi
leers, who returned to Glencoe, Gen
Symons having wired that an attacl
was expected there Saturday.
The Roers possess I'rallwal station
25 miles west of Ladysmith, and de
tachments have also been seen by car
bineers at BesIers, two stations nearer
The carbineers retired and the 'Boeri
retreated in the direction of Bralewal.
/ ~ l.