ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11195, 16 October 1899, Page 5

ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER

SENSATIONAL RUMOUR, REFUGEES FROM MAFEKING SAFE. A TRAIN DESTROYED. COLONEL BADEN-POWELL'S FORCES ENTRENCHED. BELIEVED TO BE ISOLATED. THREATENED ATTACK AT BARKLEY. . PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. Capetown, October 13, A painful sensation was caused here by a report that the Boers on the western frontier 'had destroyed an armoured train, believed to b. conveying a large number of women and children from Mafeking to Vryburg, on the Cape-Buluwayo line, and that there had been considerable loss of life. Happily, however, the rumour proved to be unfounded in the most important particular, as later intelligence was received that the women and children had arrived safely at Vryburg, and that the train which had been destroyed was one conveying guns for the British troops at Mafeking. . , Colonel Baden-Powell, who is in command of the British forces at Mafeking, on the western frontier of the Transvaal, has reconnoitred the Boer position, and is now strongly entrenching his troops in anticipation of an attack. A large force of Boers is, encamped at Mariboga, a little to 'the north of Mafeking. . As., no news has been , received from Colonel Baden-Powell since the

intelligence of his reconr.aisance and entrenchment, it is believed that the Boers have isolated Mafeking. The women and children fit Barkley West, some forty miles :north of Kimberley, have been housed in the gaol for safety, and the building has been protected with isandbags against any attack by the Boers.