Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-16

KIMBERLY INVESTED
Strong Boer Force in Front of the
City.
RUM0RBD ATTACKS ELSEWHERE
British Satisfied They Can Hold
the Larger Towns.
MARTIAL LAW IN NATAL

LONDON. October 16.-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Morning Leader, tele-
graphing Sunday night. says:
1t is reported that fighting began Kim
ber,ey this morning. The railway has been
cut at Belmont \ SPECIAL dispatch filed at
Dundee. Natal Suusay afternoon reports
that CoumauGau: NiIjoens force had left
Newcastle for Dannhauser, where the
TraUsyaal flag has been hoisted over the
town hall.
The gradual cutting off of outlying points
at the scene Of hostilities in South Africa
from telegraphic communication reduced
the accurate news obtatnable to a minimum.
Thus far. however. no reliable information
has been received Of any actual fighting
outside Of the affair at Kraaipan and oc-
casional exchanges of shots at various out
posts. There is no lack of circumstantial
stories regarding the fighting at various
points, but these are scarcely published be-
fore they are denied
The only salient facts in this mornings
telegrarns are that the Beers have ad-
vanCed beyond New Castle and formed q
laager near Dannhauser, about twelve
miles north Of Dundee. and that Kimberley
is isolated and probably invested.
Kimberley has thus become the inmedi-
ate center of interest. The last message
A4tL4 N4LlbtIitE prior 10 the cutting OF the
telegraph and railway by the Beers said:
All the troops at Kimberley are we'll
The Force at Kimberley
As there are 5000 troops there, little anx-
iety Is felt for the safety of the town, es-
peciaIly as the Boer forces are said to be
on-y Of about the same strength. Many
stories Of brisk fighting at that point are
In circulation. but. although the forces are
l-alv 70 hgv-
legged details must be regarded as. premature
and speculative. especially if the reports
be true that the Orange Free State troops
are now in complete possession of the rail-
way from Kimberley to Orange river. sew
enty miles away.
The alleged virulence of the Boer attacks
upon Mafcking and Kimberley can readily
De understood when IT is realized that Be
ehuanaland is 10 the Beers what AIsace-
Lorraine Is to France.
1t Il therefore probable that both towns
will he forced TO undergo a long and dreary
investment before the British are in a posi-
tion TO send relieving column.
On the other side Of the country the
Beers are closing around the British out
posts. and have already come into touch
with them and exchanged shots. Therefore
more stirring news is expected
Advtces from Cape Town relate that ex-
element is kept up there by ceaseless re-
ports Of battles, but that little uneasiness is
visible IN Official circles, where the opinion
prevails that Mafeking and Kimberley are
safe II is thought, too, that the Beers are
not likely to attack Vryburs in Bechuana-
land, owing TO the fact that the population
OF that district is largely Dutch
Beers Refused TO Accept Battle.
1t Is assumed that the refusal of the
Beers To accept battle in Natal last week
when Gen Sir George Stewart White ad-
yenCed and endeavored to draw them
through Van Reenen's Pass, indicates their
unwil!Ingness to commence hostilities On
the other hand. the Beers are probably too
asjuJe 10 play the British game at the risk
OF an engagement on ground where artil-
lery could be brought into play and cav
airy moved rapidly
The narrow city streets adjoining the
Guild Han and stock exchange today were
crowded. The immediate occasion was the
meeting convened by the lord mayor of
London, Sir John Voce Moore. to declare
the confidence Of business men in the city
proper III the South African policy of the
government.
Hundreds Of members Of the stock and
wool exchanges and Cf the great banking
and underwriting firms formed professions
in front Of their various offices and
marched 20 the Guild Hall. singing the ma
t'i2l airs and brand!shing flags. accumu-
lating masses Of recruits at every turn
The Guild Hall was packed with people
a band stationed In the orchestral gallery
played patriotic airs, which Were taken up
by -Ae audience. amid the waving of num-
berless union Jacks.
hruEcr'$ Name Pooh Poohcd
The lord mayor and sherins were loudly
chcvryd On arriving, and the name OF
president Kruger provoked a storm Of
"poohs."
resolution eNio-liHg the premier, Lord
Salisbury. and the secretary Of state for
the colonies, Mr.. Chamberlain. was pro-
pos by the lord mayor seconded by Sir
John Lubbock, uuipuist member of parlia-
plent for London University. and enthu.
siaStcai.y JdOp,ed.
Patriotic demons -ratjons took place today
AT Birmingham. Crewe and other town:
from which reserves started for Aldershot
The Atlantic Transport Company which
gave The United States a ship for hosp!ta
purposes during the war with Spain. hai
now done Great Britain similar service
The admiralty have gladly accepted tn,
vessel. which will be named the Maine.
The Evening News publishes a diSpatct
frtm m cape Town saying that, as the Cane
ministry refused 10 call out the volunteers
for the defense Of the colony, the imperfa
authorities have done so.
ON the other hand. the Cape Town cor
respondent Of the Daily Chronicle declare!
that the imperial authorities have never
suggested any such action; and he assert.
tEaI the widespread report regarding tn,
resignation. OF intended resignation, of tn,
Care premier, Mr.. Schreiner. is incorrect.
DUNDEE REPORTED INVESTED.