The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-12
IN CUTOFF
MAFEK|NG
British Worrying the
Beers.
GALLANT NIGHT SORTIE
Religious Meeting Broken Up--The
Treatment of Boer Prisoners
At Simon's Bay,

NEW YORK, Dec ga CORE
spondent of the New York Times, writ
ing from Cape Town under date of No
vember 16, writes of Ladysmith and
Mafeking
Matters have been pretty lively at
Mafeking," he says. Colonel Baden
Powell has been keeping the Beers on
the move day and night, and has taken
every precaution, not only to prevent
the town being rushed by the Beers,
but also to render as small as possible
any damage resulting from the Boer
bombardment. The night attacks of
the British appear to have worried the
Beers considerably. Although the
latter have shelled the town day by
day, but little damage has resulted.
the British casualties having been but
few. Commandant Cronie has brought
all his guns to bear on the town, and
hailed shells in its direction for hours.
His pieces. however, appear to have
been light field guns, and have proved
singularly ineffective. Learning this.
.Cronje sent to Pretoria in haste for
heavy field guns. keeping up a light
bCmbardment in tie meantime. ftrst TO
show that he was in the neighbOrhood.
Immediately on it's arrival a a.
FOUNDER Krupp cannon commenced
throwing shells into the town, caus-
ing a few casualties and damaging
some Of the buildings. Under cover of
the bombardment the Beers attempted
to get within rifle range. Being dis
covered. they were beaten off after a
sharp engagement. In the sortie both
soldiers and civilians behaved gallant
ly, and the Beers had their first oppOr-
tunity of Judging the mettle of the
PrOtectOrate Regiment at close quar-
ters.
Night Attack on the Beers.
However, Colonel Baden-Powell.
observing that the enemy was coming
to too close quarters, determined on a
night attack, an enterprise of great
daring. A squadron under Captain
Fitzclarence, in the dead of night, left
the camp in Mafeking, where the few
who knew Of the undertaking awaited
the result in great anxiety, and crept
stealthily toward the Boer trenches.
The Beers were taken completely by
surprise. The British squadron left
the camp with fixed bayonets, and as
soon as they had reached their desti-
nation, the Captains whistle was
sounded, and was followed by a ring
ing cheer as the men dashed forward
to the Boer trenches. For a time the
night air rang out with the shouts and
wells of the cOntending forces. The
BOer forces in the rear rushed forward
and discharged their rifles. Captain
FitZClarence's whistle sounded again,
and at this signal the Britishers sprang
out of the trenches and scattered
themselves silently in all directions.
just as the Beers in the trenches were
reinforced by their comrades from the
rear. Under a shower OF rifle shots
the British ran back to their lines.
Besides a loss of six killed. the British
had ten wounded. including Captain
Fitzclarence, and also one man taken
prisoner by the Beers. This bayonet
attack has had the effect of stopping
the Beers from making trenches with
in range of the town. It is estimated
that the loss OF the Beers was very
utdN w utA Nut DIlLlSu ambulance
went out to fetch in the dead, it was
met a quarter of a mile distant from
the town by Commandant Botha, who
expressed his admiration of Fitzclar-
ence's attack.
Tragedy of Vryburg's Surrender.
There has just arrived in Cape
Town a number Of refugees from Vry-
burg, in British Bechuanaland, but
which, on the declaration of war by
the Transvaal, was promptly annexed
by the Beers. The townspeople. In
public meeting. determined TO yield 70
General De Ia Rey in order TO avoid
bloOdshed. With a force Of 100 police
and sixty volunteers, and with one
Maxim. the town was helpless against
the Beers. who were 1 100 strong. and
had three guns. The part played by
Major Scott in the surrender was he
-uic and pathetic.
when the meeting had resolved to
surrender. and sent a deputa ton to re-
quest him 10 retire. the Major first
'alled the officers Of the volunteers and
police together and explained the po-
sition, namely. that his orders from
Colonel kaEpyvfrh yy-ava 70 hold tha