Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1899 — HEAVY LOSS FOR BOERS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HEAVY LOSS FOR BOERS.

Three Hundred Reported Killed by British at Mafekln*. Advices from Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday reiterated the reports contained in previous dispatches that in the fighting at Mafeking Col. Hore repulsed the Boers, inflicting a loss of 300 men. The messages came to Cape Town by dispatch riders, and accurate details were hard to get, but it is certain that some heavy fighting has taken place. Information from Mafeking says that an armored train, while reconnoitering north of the town, engaged 500 Boers, who suffered heavily. Col. Fitzclarence’s column foiled the Boers, inflicting severe loss. The British casualties were two killed and fourteen wounded, two severely. The British garrison at Mafeking raised a white flag Sunday afternoon and the engagement ceased temporarily. The Boer messenger who was sent to inquire if the garrison meant to yield was held until after sundown. Col. Baden-Powell did not surrender. The burgher forces have practically destroyed the whole of

the railway line from Hopetown bridge over the Orange river, fifty miles south of Kimberley, to Ramoutza, forty-five miles north of Mafeking. The Boers cut off Mafeking’s water supply. A report from Boer sources says that the Transvaal lost sixty burghers killed and wounded in the fighting about Mafeking. A sharp engagement took place at Rathlabama station north of the town. The natives in Zululand are arming, and the Zulu chief, Dlmzulu, says he is unable to restrain his people. It is expected the Zulus will unite with the Swazis to the north and both tribes w ll help the British. Zululand is northeast of Natal and, like Swaziland to the north, borders on the Transvaal. Gen. Sir George White, commanding the British forces in Natal, has refused to arm natives who wish to fight against the Boers. The further advance of the Boers into Natal is being delayed by the failure of their transport service.

BRITISH TROOPS GOING INTO ACTION.