Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-13
FIGHT AT KRA|PAN .
Beers Destroy British
ArInored Train.
FIFTEEN ENGLISH WERE KILLED
An Attack on Mafeking Ex-
pected Today.
LADYSMlfH is also THREATENED
Reports Indicate Great Activity on
Part Of Dutch.
LADYSMIfH is ALSO THREATENED
THE NEWS IN LONDON

CAPE TOWN. October 13, 9:41 ANA
dispatch from Vryburg says that an ar
mored train has been destroyed. 1t is
feared that much loss of life will result.
The news has been officially confirmed
LONDON, October 13-The Evening News
publishes the following dispatch from Cape
Town: :.
AN armored train has been destroyed
south of Mafeking. Fifteen British troops
were killed. The Beers shelled the wreck
age after the train was derailed'
An official dispatch received at the col
onial office says:
THE armored train was destroyed near
Kraipan station while on the way to Mafe-
king with guns
This disposes of the fear that many wo-
men and children were involved in the dis
aSter.
1t is reported in Cape Town, though as
YET the rumor is unconfirmed, that a colli-
sion has taken place between trains bear
ing refugees Victoria, west, Cape Col
ony. nine persons being killed and many
others injured.
The Boer forces, with artillery. accord
ing to a dispatch just received from STAN
derton, broke camp at Sandspruit yester~
day morning, moving in the direction Of
Natal.
About to Assault Mafeking.
A dispatch from Paris late this after
noon says:
THE Beers, with twelve guns, are pre-
pairing to assault Mafekng."
Advices from johannesburg report the
communicating by the Transvaal govern
ment OF another 25.000 ounces of gold.
The announcement that the Beers had
destroyed an armored train on the western
border of the Transvaal is calculated to
bring home TO the man In the street tho
realities of war. There are attempts to
liken the occurrence to the blowing up Of
the United States battle ship Maine in Ha-
vana, but that event occurred in time of
peace. The Beers were doubtless within
their rights belligerents If they are re-
sponsble for the destruction of the train.
The only comparison that can be instituted
with the blowing up of the battle ship is in
respect of the loss of life as there is too
good reason to fear. the train in question
was one that had left Mafeking with 800
women and children.
Taken in conjunction with the earlier an
nouncement from Vryburg that 1000 Beers
were holding the line, 1t can only be in
ferred that the train was either destroyed
by artillery or blown up by dynamite or
some other powerful explosive.
Hope for the Helpless.
There is still faint hope that the dis
aster befel the train not while the women
and children were on board on the way to
Vryburg, but while it was returning to
Mafeking from Vryburg. with a detach-
ment of Col. Baden-Powells force, sent to
escort refugees to Vryburg, where the Cape
railway assumes responsibility for their
safety.
The war office, however, fears that the
worst has happened.
Apart from this destruction of the arm
ored train the most notable change in the
position of affairs is the presence Of the
Beers at Maribogo, forty miles south of
Mafeking, which seems to indicate that
they are endeavoring to get Col, Baden
Powell between two fires.
The gravity of the Boer advance can be
better estimated when it is realized that
they will thereby control railway and tele-
graphic communication to the north, iso-
lating several British positions, which must
be speedily relieved {
Anxiety About Mafeking. =
Despite the optimistic reports of the abil-
ity of Mafeking to repel attack. the great
est anxiety prevails here regarding the sit =
uation there, as 1t is known that the re.
doubtable Commandant Cronje, who cap4
tured the Jameson raiders, has the strons-
est commando yet put into the field, with
the exception of Commandant General Jou-
bert's force. Cronje's troops number be-
tween 5000 and 10000 men.
The position in Natal has not materially
been altered. The reported inroad OF 5000
Beers by way of Tintwa Pass is probably
Identical with the inroad Of the force re. ,
ported yesterday as having crossed Van
Reenen's Pass. VI
The Tintwa column. according to the last
advices, had reached within twenty miles
Of Ladysmith. On that showing there
ought to be speedy news Of fighting. Lady
smith is at present the Aldershot of Natal.
The second edition Of the Standard saye
that a dispatch from Ladysmith, datsd
yesterday morning, says that 1t is again
reported that the Beers have occupied
Laing's Mex. the younger burghers insist
Ing upon the occupation. despite the mora
prudent counsels.
Telegraph wires connecting with the Or
anre Free State have bean cut and an