Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-10-20

Aowever---Further Particulars About
tho Attack on the Ammunition Train---
Hostilitics on In Earnest. 1rf~
London. Those who have been anx-
ious for more stirring news from the
seat of war are getting it to the full, as
according to dispatches, shooting must
be nearly continuous along the borders
Of the Boer republic, while pitched bat
ties have occurred or are occurring at
various points in Natal and British
Bechuanland nFsggsg TWE 5F4Vff
Most'o Of these reports, however, re-
main unconfrmed. As Mafeking is cut
off Geographically, the stories from that
point are generally Of Kaffir origin and
must be regarded with suspicion.
While there Is every probability that
Gen. Cronje's big command has begun
the assault upon Mafeking, reliable de-
tails must still be awaited.
Further details are at hand regarding
the destruction of the armored train at
Kraaipna. They show that Capt Mes
bit, who was in command OF the train,
was warned ct Maribogo that the Beers
held the line. He replied that he was
bound to proceed. Nearing Kraaipan
the train dashed into culvert that had
been blown up by the Beers, who were
lying in wait for the train. The Boer
ARTILLERY Immediately opened fire and a
desperate fight appears to have ensued,
lasting for hours with the odds greatly
against the British. The precise details
are uncertain.
1t seems, however, that police pa
troll, attracted by the firing approached
within about .. 900 yards Of Kraipan,
saw the train ditchsd. with the Beer
artillery still pounding at it, but no.
ticed no response. The Beers seemed
afraid to approach until the wreck was
complete aud the police patrol feared,
as there were no signs Of life near the
train that the entire force had perished
in desperate effort to get the tram
back to Mafeking. where they knew it
was anxiously awaited with It's load Of
guns and ammunition.
1t is expected that the Beers lost
heavily, but there Is no means of veri-
flying this. Two miles Of rails were
torn up. There is no authoritative
confirmation Of the report that battle
has been fought In Natal between Gen.
Sir George Stewart White and the
Orange Free State troops. although
there is no question that the Beers
have crossed the frontier at several
points. They are said to have eighteen
guns !. but IL, as is reported, the engage
ment began before the Beers had form
ed laager and thrown up earth works,
the British ca valry and artillery are
liable to have had the best of the fight
ing.
II is even already reported that the
British have gained a great victory.
that 1900 Beers we're killed and that
the British loss was very slight; but
this may be without foundation as an
other report has been published to the
effect that Lord Rothschild was IN re-
celpt # news Of Great British victory
but when the Associated Press reporter
questioned him regarding the alleged
dispatch, he replied:
"I am sorry that 1 have not received
anything of the sort. .
The following Official dispatch has
been received from Cape Town, where
1t was filed at 2:35 p. m. Saturday:
"The engine driver and one native
escaped from the armored train. Tne
former was wounded in the hand. He
reports that Capt. Nesbitt was slightly
wounded and that the party in the
train, whose number he does no know,
was captured by the Beers. He believes
that the prisoners were unharmed.
"The armored train that was sent to
Vyrburg from Kimberly with the two
seven Founders has returned to Kim
berly in safety, having transferred the
guns to the train that was destroyed" !"
The following dispach from Lady
smith has been received at the war
Office:
Gen. Sir George Stewart White went
n the direction of Van Reenan's Passi
ct 8 o o'clock q. M, Friday, but failed
to draw the Beers to the pass. He re-
turned to Ladysmith, where he is now.
st. Louis, Senegal. "A native craft
while attempting to cross the bar at