Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-01
Rumors May be Premature, but
Pressure IS lightened,
UNION MAY COME SUNDAY.
Sorties from Mafeking and Kimberley
Situation In Cape Colony
and Natal.

London, Dec. 1-While the rumors
Of the relief Of Kimberley current on
the stock exchange today may be pre-
mature in their literal sense there
seems no doubt that the pressure on the
garrlsons has been much llghtened by
Gen. Methuen's successes, and the ac-
tual relief OF the place is likely to be
fact very soon.
a clue to the urgent reasons which
dictated Gen. Methuen's hurried march
may be found in Governor Miners hint
to the relief committee at Capetcwn TO
prepare for the reception Of 10000 refu-
gees and indicated that the garrison
must have had reason to fear the re-
ductlon Of Kimberley by starvation and
disease.
The most recent news from Kimber-
ley comes by way Of Pretoria and al
most seems to show that Kimberley and
Mafeklng are acting in concert with
Gen. Methuen. for az the time the bat
tie was raging at Gras Pan both Col.
Kekewich and Col. Baden Powell made
The result OF the Matching sortle Is not
known. but according to a dispatch
from Pretoria Col Kekewlch Inflicted
considerable loss on the Beers. two
shells killing nine and wounding seven
teen In a group.
1t is reported that Gen, Methuen re-
sumed his northwest course Wednes-
day, IN order to form a junction with
~. L f.rgas 60 ttV1oN ar SIN.
day, Ii is suggested In some quarters
that the Beers have been withdrawn
from the north Of Cape Colony and may
be hurrying to attack Gen. Melhuens
rear, but as endorsements have been
pushed rapidly forward from Orange
river and De Aar It Is claimed that they
ought 10 circumvent such designs.
A special dispatch from Pretoria dated
Sunday. Nov. 26th, says there was an
other sortle from Mafeklng Saturday,
Nov. 9th
on the morning Of that day the char
tered police attacked Eloff's fort with
great determination. The fight was
progressing when the dispatch was
sent.
Several ambulance trains left Mafe-
king Nov 18th for the Free State,
MllFlt hhHNiAt - NNHNN 80
ing the then coming week, when the
Beers 4 Is added, would resist the adj
vance OF the Brush In the direction OF
Kimberley,
From Lord Wolseley's announcement
that ii had been decided TO call out one
more division Il appears clear that the
war office does not look for a speedy
COLLAPSE Of Boer resistance. The brief
telegrams coming from Natal and the
central theater Of the war convey little
information about the situation,
NauuwpOort reports that half
the Coesburg Dutch who respond
ed TO the Boer summons for military
service have not returned 70 their
homes so that the civil troubles ham
perlng Gen. Gatacre may b. lessened
and the military operations will COM
mence 50 far as known the Lady
smith relief force Is still at Frere,
though the bridge was perhaps suiii-
cietnly stable 10 permit Of It's passage,
Nov S0th, In which case the opposing
forces may already have come IN con-
tack near Colenso where apparently the
Beers are strongly entrenched on the
north side o. the river.
A special dispatch received here today
from Frere dated Tuesday, Nov. 18th,
SAYS. that while attempting 10 blow up
800 foot bridge over the river at Co
lenso. the Beers were driven back by
British artillery and mounted infantry.