Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1899 — NEWS IS HARD TO GET [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEWS IS HARD TO GET

•■_ ' ~ BOERS CUT TELEGRAPH LINES IN BCUTH AFRICA. //■' /I fevcre Censorship Important Battle* at Lady •mlth on ttib Kutand Klmbsrlejr on the West of tli* Tranavaak Cable companies hare notified the Stdte Department at Washington of the intfr- \ ruption of communication with the 'Transvaal.* Severe censorship interferes with the sending of war news from Soijth Africa, but advices received indicate early battles at several points. On Tuesday Kimberley was still besieged by BoerS, attd therc were rumors of an attack on Vryburg. Dutch forces meting south fin Natal have been delayed by the difficulties met with in transporting supplies and equipments. , . The disposition of the Boer forces at the outset of the war iu South Africa makes it manifest that the Boer generals, instead of contenting themselves with defensive or guerrilla warfare, mean for a time to act systematically on the aggressive. The four military expeditions thus far put under way from the Transvaal and the Orange Free State have moved directly to the Important strongholds on the enemy’s frontier. These movements, while apparently independent, give evid-rnee of concerted action At the time this is written the northern commandos of the Transvaal under Commandant Cronje are investing Ma%)iing, which is defended by Col. Baden-Bowell and a relatively small force. The same expedition is known to have seized the railroad to the south of Mafeking. The southern commandos of the Transvaal, under Gen. Koch, at the same time have moved into Natal, with Ladysmith, apparently, for an objective. The troops ■of the Orange Free State have been aimilarly divided, the commandos of the southern part of the republic striking for Kimberley, which they are now besieging in force, meantime destroying the railway to the south. A fourth column, also made up of Boors from the Orange.Jfrpe’

•State, has struck into Natal, where it will be in»a position to co-operate with the Transvaal force iu front of Ladyemith against Gen. Sir George Stewart White and his formidable army of 15,•000 men. The opening of the campaign thus finds the Boers making simultaneous attacks upon three of the most important British strongholds—the points which naturally •would be the bases of supply and communication for the invading army. That the defense of these strongholds will be stubborn and very likely effective need

hardly be said. But n is evident that the policy of the Boer leaders thus far promises to give them advantages which will obstruct the British advance materially and greatly prolong the war. The 'Boer forces arc mounted. They are operating on interior lines and are able to maneuver over long distances on ground with which they are familiar. They at-, ready control all the passes igtjp- 4fie

Transvaal. With Mafeking and Kimberley under siege and two columns operating on the offensive in Nataly they, for a time at least, will be able to devastate a considerable territory, catting telegraph wires, destroying railways and bridges and seising stores of ammunition and sunnlies.

TYTES OF BOER SOLDIEKS.

GEN. CRONJ[?]. COL BADEN-POWELL.