The age-herald., 1900-05-24
LORD ROBERTS
 NEAR FRONTIER Thousands of Cavalry Across
 RhenOcter River. BOERS RETIRING TO THE VAIL Foreign Engineers Assert That Pre- toria is Able to Stand a Years Siege-Fortifications Said
 to Be Complete.
BOERS RETIRING ID THE VAIL

London, May A.-3:40 a. m.-Lord Rob- erts is drawing near to the frontier of the Transvaal. His infantry masses are thir- ty-three miles north of Kroonstad, at the Rhenoster river.
 across the river
 The Boers are retiring toward the Vaal with their heavy baggage. They are re- ported from Pretoria as already across that river. Twelve thousand men and fourteen guns compose the retreating army. Trains continue to run from Veron- niging, at the Vaal, to Pretoria.
 Foreign engineers assert that Pretoria is able to stand a years siege. According to advices from Lourenzo Marques, the Pre- toria Notifications are described as com plete, but Johannesburg has not yet been placed entirely in state of defense. The Transvaal government papers and the war chest have been removed to Leydenburg.
 Foreigners continue to leave the repub- lic.- The Dutch cruiser Friesland is at Delagoa Bay so it is reported, to furnish an asylum to the fleeing Hollanders and passage to Europe.
 Boer orces Dwindling
 The Boer forces continue to dwindle Some of the correspondents assert that probably only about "A GOO of the hardest fighters yet remain, although there are de- tached parties in various parts of the Transvaal. One of the curious pieces of gossip sent from Lorenzo Marques is that several women tried to sjambok President Kruger, who was rescued by his bodyguard. He rirely leaves the presidency now, but works necessarily, holding council at day. break sffId during the night. It was an- nounced at Pretoria Sunday that the gov ernment proposed removing the British 2risoners from Pretoria.
 Mafeking dispatches continue to pour into London relating to events immediately pre- ceding the relief and the entry of the troois The correspondents agree that the Canadian artillery, Major Endon's seven guns, did splendid work. Some of them as- sert that the Canadians did absolutely essential work in the fighting"
 About seven in the evening of the day before the relief after Colonel Mahon and Colonel Plumer had defeated the Boers nine miles from Mafeking, Major Karri Davies and nine scouts entered the town The Boers were retreating. At o'clock on the following morning 1000 men, including the Canadians, arrived. With them were tween- ty wagons loaded with food, which were received with wild demonstrations. The armored train and detachment then pushed forward to Game Tree Fort, the scene of the unsuccessful sorties in December The Boers had evacuated it on the east.
 Had Them Surrounded
 Thy were pursued and the correspon- dent, telegraphing these facts Thursday afternoon, closed his dispatch thus
 we caught up with the retreating Boers and have them now surrounded"
 Lady Sarah Wilson has managed to get through message from Mafeking, dated Thursday and announcing the entry of the relief column. She says.
 ''The fighting before the relief was very hard. A severe struggle proceeded yester- day (May l6) from 2 D. m. until dusk. The Boers were forced slowly to retreat con- testing every inch. At sunset they still held the last position.
 "Colonel Mahon entered the town in the brilliant moonlight The Boers were as tired we were, and they never guess ed that an attempt would be made to force an entry before morning.
 Therefore the surprise was complete. They deserted their laagers, leaving a lot of food, which was divided up among the people of Mafeking."