Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-17
BOERS ON OFFENSIVE
Dom Paul's ARMY Virulently
Forces the Fighting.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Wires Down and News from the Field
MeaRre. Orange Free State Troops
Probably Hold Railroad from
Kimberly to Orange River
(By Tclcgraph.)

g. (By Telegraph ...
LONDON. Oct. 1G.-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Morning Leader,
telcgraphing Sunday night says: IS"
1t is reported that fighting began at
Kimberley this morning. The railway
has been cut at Belmont A special
dispatch filed at Dundee Natal Sunday
afternoon, reports that Commander
Niliean's force had left Newcastle for
Dannhauser. where the Transvaal fla :
has been hoistcd OYER the town hall.
The gradual cutting OF of outlying
points at the scene of hostiltie:s in
South Africa from telegraph communi-
cation reduces the accurate news OH
tainable to minimum.
NO RELIABLE INFORMATION.
Thus far, however. no reliable nfOr-
nation has been received of any actual
fighting outside of the affair at kraai-
ian and occasional exchanges of shots
at various outposts. There is no lack
CT circumstan1ial stories regarding the
lighting at various points. but these
are scarcely published before they are
denied.
The only salient facts in this morn
ing's kilograms are that the Beers have
advanced beyond Newcastle and form
Ell laager near Dannhauser about -
miles north of Dundee. and that Kim
jeiieS IS Isolated anu pFODa Oily invested
KIMBERLEY q CYNOSURE
Kimberley has thus become the i'm
mediate centre OF interest The last
message from Kimberley prior to the
cutting of the telegraph and railroad
by the Beers. said
"All the troops at Kimberley are
WE'LL
AS there are 5000 troops there. little
anxiety is felt for the safety Of the
town. especially as the Boer forces are
c. f.. h.a >y,l, : .,l,.>
strength. Many stories of brisk fight
ing at that point are in circulation. but
although the forces are lkel. To ha ",
come into contact. all alleged details
must be regarded as premature ami
speculative especially if the reports },,
true that the Orange Free state troo $
are now in complete possession OF ms,
railroad from Kimberley 10 the Orange
river. 20 miles away.
The alleged virulencc of the Roer at
tacks upon Mafeking and Kimberley
can readily be understood when it is re-
allied that Hechuanaland is to the
iSoers what Alsace-I. Lorraine is to
France. ".
FIGHT WILL BE STUBBORN.
1t is therefore probable that both
towns Will be forced to undergo Il long
and dreary investment before the Brit
ish are in a position to send 4 relieving
column
On the other side Of the country. the
Isoers are closing around the 3ritis..
outposts and have already come into
touch With them and exchanged shots
Therefore more exciting news is ex-
pecled.
MARTIAL LAW AND WARMING. .
DURHAM, Oct. 1.-two extraur,i-
nary gazet,es have been issued. The
frSt proclaims martial law in the New
castle. Dundee, Kip river, Unslga ana
Upper TuSila divisions The reason
given is a belief that Natal subjects
have Joined the invading Beers anu as
sisted the enemy
The other gazette reminds British
subjects OF their obligation to the Queen
and warns them TO abstain from in
tercourse and trade with the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State
The Beers who occupied Newcastle
after it's abandonment by the British
consist Of the Transvaal and Free
state troops and 400 Hollanders.
JOUEERT At LAINGS MEXICO
General Joubert, communicating chief
Of the TransEaal forces is believed to
be at Iaings Mex. Which he is fortify-
ing.
Fifteen refugees from Harrisnith
have reached Iadysmith. Among them
IS the guard of the Natal train when
was commanded by the Orange Free
State. He says that the English driv-
e. and fireman were detained to work
the train. which is used in carving
Tree State troops to Van Reenan's
Lass. where earthworks have been
thrown up and two guns placed in po-
SitiOn.
BOER COURTESY.
CAPE TOWN, Oct. 15.-Evenins-Co
yngham Greene, British agent at Pre-
toria. received every civilEty on his
journey from the Transyaal capital
Six Of President 1<ruger's body guard
accompanied Mr.. Greene to the border
Of the Free State and he received the
same courteous treatment there
News of the fighting on the Modder
river is confirmed. The station master
at Modder River telegraphs that Beers
from the ncrth and south have taken
Gangershat. which they are fortifying
BuRGHERS CUT WIRES
CAPE TOWN, Oct. 16.-The Orange
Free State troops have cut the tele-
graph wires and destroyed the railway
track at NorveFs Point, just across the
Free State southern border.
A dispatch from Dundee. Natal. says
that Bocr commando. estimated at
1000 men with 16 field guns, has reach
ed DanNhauSer. northeast Of Dun1a@.