Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-19
BOER MOVEMENT IN NATAL.
Indications of an Effort to Surround
Gen. While.


LONDON. October 19-NataI again claims
a share of the attention which. during the
last few days. has been focused upon the
beIeaguered garrison at Mafeking. The
combined advance of the Boer forces on
the positions held by the British general
commanding in Natal. Sir George Stewart
White. has already occasioned a sharp af-
fair of outp0sts. which possibly has since
developed into a pitched battle.
The Beers. according to the latest In
formation at hand do not appear TO have
been driven back. Perhaps however, their
movements are only part of general plan
q Isolate both Ladysmith and Glencoe from
the south.
The simultaneous Boer movements from
Acton Homes from the west and from
EJrkes Drift and Hslpmakaar from the
east indicate projected attack upon the
IallTOad below COIensO. The movement
from the east also suggests an attack upon
the railway at Waschbank between Lady
smith and Glencoe. Military experts are
inclined to the opinion that the troops at
Glencoe are only small rear guard left to
attract the force under COmmandant Cen
eral Joubert while Gen Whites full
strength il concentrated at Ladysmit b, with
g view Of attacking the Orange Free State
force while Gen Joubert is still forty miles
away.
British Victory at Mafeking.
Stories Of British successes in the Mafe-
king district are so persistent that, in the
absence Of contradiction from Boer sources,
they may be accepted as true in the maiu
although the alleged killing Of 300 Beers is
Giscredited
Cen Crunje's troops are regarded as the
flower OF the Irau>vaal forces. and decisive
Fighting must occur on the western border
II, a. was lntimated in last nights dis
patches reltefS are approaching from Rho
tt-la. Il VIII probably not be long DELAYED.
heir trsaFvr
ilFautaS- by capturing Mafckiug and
thereby attracting the Dutch col0nists, the
object Of the Beers in maSSing In Bechu-
aua-aad is due. doubtless to the fact that
tEls splendid stock country is fun OF cat
tie. and as il IS only sparsely settled would
give the Trausvaal a route by which TO i'm
port arms and munitions by way of Wal
hSch bay, Damaraland, on the west African
coast
y dispatch from Pretoria asserts that the
IranSNaaI government has Cabled to To-
sePh benjamin Robinson, the millionaire
so4J mine owner aud chairman OF Ih. Rob
lHs"n South African Banking Companv
VINO Is now in London. TO return to J0han-
nesburs on pain OF the conhscation of his
property. Mr.. Robinson Characterfzss tbe
alleged threat as ridiculous
he SAYS he Is a British subject, that the
IrdisNdal government has no right TO de-
maha ms return and that his property has
not been and cannot be conhscated
Portugal. according TO a dispatch from,
Berin, mas gwen distinct assurances Of her
neutrality. A continuance of Commerce
with the TransvaaI by way Of DeIsenl ~,
Is therefore secured. '
None of Nesbitt's Party Killed.
According TO private information received
here from Bloemfonteln. capital Of the
Orange Free State. President Kruger te!e-
graphed an account to President stevn Of
the affair at Kraaipan. where the Beers
deraEed and bOmbarded the British ar
mored train carrying Capt Nesb!tt's party.
Mr.. Kruger said that Nesbitt and seven
men were seriously wounded, that no one
was killed and that all the prisoners were
well.
According 10 the same advices a Dutch