Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-28
EXPECT A BIG BATTLE
Dispatches From South Africa An.
ticipate Engagement Of Main
Forces Of Both Sides.
Gen. Whites Column Within Short
Distance Of the Main Camp
Of the Beers
British Troops In Precarious situa.
tion Owing to Inferior Numbers
-Mafeking's Danger.

London, Oct. 2s.-A Capetown spe-
cial says:
Scouts from Modderspruit having re-
ported Beers in force on Helpmakaar
road, Gen. White ordered out q strong
force of artillery, mounted infantry
ana cavalry. A small patrol of mounted
infantry was shelled by the Beers nine
miles from Ladysmith and the Boer
position was finally located three miles
beyond Modderspruit. The British force
IS now four miles from the Beers. The
dispatch does not give date but must
nave been since Thursday. when the
last news arrived from Ladysmith. so.
ene Boer advance from Dundee south
ward and from Bester's station east
Ward mas evidently proceeded steadily
IN the interum and the engagement
loreshadoWed by the above dispatch.
may nave already been fought. Frag-
mentary details are arriving of the oc-
cupation of Dundee by the Beers If
is alleged that twenty men of the town
guard occupied the outposts a connie
OF miles from town, when the Boer
shells dislodged them. They fled to the
neighboring hills, where 800 Beers sur-
rounded them and shot the maioritv
Ihe Beers then entered Dundee
dragged several civilians out of their
houses and shot them in the streets
BRITONS HARD TASK.
fransvaal War Takes on More
Gus Aspect.
London Oct o2--If Il,
granted in well-informed quarters here
that the fall of Mafekiny will soon a.,
reported. The public has been prena rod
ior that dismal news from the first.
put the imrninence of the disaster as
enphasized by the news that the town
mas peen subjected to heavy bonn
8pardnaent' breeds gloomy apprehen-
sions.
Despite the acknowledged bravery
ana fertility of resource of Col. Baden
Powell he is obviously unable, with his
oeo or 500 men, to hold out much longer
against Gen. Cronje's force. which
numbers probably as many thousands
He lacks proper artillery too. while the
boers at this point are particularly
strong in that respect.
Attention has been partially diverted
to the western border by reason of the
periious position of Baden Powell and
the growing extremity of the Kimber
ley garrison 1t can not but be ad
mitted that, though there is no imme-
date danger at the latter point. still
kimberley is in far from satisfactory
situation
AS for Gen. Sir George White. the
disconnected kilograms that continue tn
arrive from Natal do not add material
~ to our knowledge of his state. but
the deductions from what is known are
not altogether reassuring. Every one
comedies that the next action at I.ady-
smith. expected now at any moment.
may be reverse, and that victory. if
comes. will come after a hard-foueht
battle
1t is thought Gen. White will be able
to maintain defensive position at
Ladysmith, though the main body of
Transyaal Beers from the north no
longer hampered by the fierce resist
ance of Gen. Yule's command, will be
able to advance and carry out still fur
ther the plan of isolating Ladysmith
and cutting it off from it's base, joining
hands in the first place, if possible,
with the Orange Free State Beers from
the west.
Gen. Whites command has been con-
siderably reinforced, and probably now
numbers $1,000 men. Forty-two guns
have recently been landed. and rifle
brigade is being hurried up country. SO
that the situation is improving some
what.
1t is probable that one severe action
will have to be fought. This, it is be-
lieved here, will take the form of an at
tack by Gen. White on the Orange Free
State Beers. to prevent their junction
with Gen. Joubert's forces.
Nothing further is heard regarding
the Boer commands in Zululand. |
These commands are reported to be
5000 strong. and they probably are
about to make raid on Durham. The
first border regiment from Cape Town,
however, will be at Durham in a day or |
two, and two batteries of the Royal ar |
tillery. just arriving at Cape Town, will !
also arrive at Durham Tuesday or |
Wednesday next.