Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-01
Stock Exchange Rumor Not Gen.
orally Credited in London.
MEfHUEN HURRYlNG FORWARD
The BeIeaguered Garrison Was in
Desperate Straits.
SORTIE FROM MAFEKING NG

LONDON, December 1-While the ru-
mors of the relief of Kimberley current on
the stock exchange today, may be prema-
ture In their literal sense, there seems no
doubt that the pressure on the garrison has
been much lightened by Gen. Methuen' $
successes, and the actual relief of the place
Is likely to be fact very soon.
A clue to the urgency reasons which die
tated Gen. Methuens hurried march may
be found in Gov. Miners hint to the relief
committee at Cape Town to prepare for the
reception of 10000 refugees. indicating that
the garrison must have had reason to fear
the reduction of Kimberley by starvation
and disease.
News Comes via Pretoria.
The most recent news from Kimberley
comes by way of Pretoria, and almost
seems to show that Kimberley and Ma
feklng are acting in concert with Gen. Me-
thuen. for at the time the battle was rag
Ing at Gras Pan both Col. Kekewich and
Col, Baden-Powell made sorties and as
sailed the beleaguers. The result of the
Mafeklng sortie Is not known. but accord
ing 20 a dispatch from Pretoria. Col. Keke-
wich inflicted considerable loss on the
Beers. two shells killing nine and wounding
seventeen in a group.
1t is reported that Gen. Methuer resumed
his march northward Wednesday, and ex-
peoted to form junction with the Kimber-
ley forces Saturday or Sunday
1t Is suggested in some quarters that the
Boer forces have been withdrawn from the
north Of Cape Colony, and may be hurry
ing to attack General Methuen's rear but
as reinforcements have been pushed randi
ly forward from Orange river and De Aar
1T is claimed they ought to circumyent
such designs.
From Lord Wolseley's announcement that
1t had been decided to call out one more
division 1t appears clear that the war Of
flee does not look for a speedy collapse Of
Boer resistance.
The brief kilograms coming from Natal
and the central theater of the war convey
little information about the situation
Naauw Poort reports that half the Coles
berg Dutch, who responded to the Boer
summonses for military service, have now
returned to their homes, so, perhaps, the
serious civil troubles hampering General
Gatacre may be Iessened and the military
operations under his direction will COM
mence.
Ladysmith's Relief Force.
So far as known, the Ladysmith relief
force is still at Frere though the bridge
was perhaps sufficiently repaired to permit
of its passage November 80, in which case
the opposing forces may already come in
contact near Colenso, where apparently
the Boers are strongly entrenched on the
north side of the river
A special dispatch from Pretoria, dated
Sunday, November %, says there was an
other sortie from Mafekng, Saturday, No
vember %. On the morning of that day
the chartered police attacked Eloffs fort
with great determination. The fight was
progressing when the dispatch was sent
several ambulance trains left Mafeking
november 70 for the Free State, where
heaVy nshtlHg was expected during the
toIlowing week, when the Beers, it was
addea' would resist the advance of the
British in the direction of Kimberley.