The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-18

London, May 15., 3:45 a.. m.-GeneraI
Buffers turning of the Biggarsburg
position was effected by a bold move
nent- The Beers had evacuated Hell
makaar, but were making a stand
Monday evening at P~leskoplaagte,
seven miles from Dundee. The cor
respondents on the spot regarded this
as a rear guard action, intended to
cover the retreat of the army. At the
same time General Hildyard ooh In
doba, n it is reported that the Beers
Withdrew in disorder.
General Butler, who seems to be en-
plOying his full strength, is expected
to push on. His first marches were
forty-five miles in three days. He is
thus breaking into British territory
which had been administered for six
months by the Transvaalers as though
it were part of the republic, they old
ding courts and levying taxes. His
success, therefore, has practical as we'll
as military consequences.
While Lord Roberts infantry are
concentrating at Kroonstad, where they
will rest for a days or two, his horse
AAA~L AAAf POAAO $500 AAAAACo
~nOrthWard. In the squadron which
cut the railroad fourteen miles beyond
KrOOnstad was the American scout,
Frederick Durham.
Two hundred Beers who had hidden
in the i've jungleS near KroOnstad
to escape service have surrendered to
the British and have taken the oath
of allegiance.
According to a dispatch from Ben
nett Burleigh to The Daily Telegram,
dated Thursday, May 10th, Paul BOtha
and Macdonald, members of the Free
State volksraad, demanded hat the
chairman should call a meeting to sue
for peace, as further resistance vas
suicidal, and proposed to make Presi-
dent Stein a prisoner.
Nothing definite has been heard
about the expected relief of Mafeking.
The Cape Town correspondents con-
tinue to wire that relief is imminent,
fixing Tuesday or Wednesday as prob
able dates. Inquirers at the war office
are told that the news of the relief
will be made public Immediately upon
its result.
At the British hospitals in Bloem-
fOnteins the deaths from entric fever
average from eight to ten daily.
London May 4.-The war office has
published d dispatch from Lord Rob-
erts, dated KroOnstad, Sunday, May
18th, giving the correspondence be
tween Lord Roberts and President
Kruger relative to the alleged i'll treat
ment of colonial prisoners The Trans
vaal president said that there was no
difference in the colonel and other pris-
onerS and only a few had c~Ontravened
martial law or had tried to escape or
who. when it had been suspected might
try to escape, had been placed in Jail
for security. Otherwise they had been
treated like the other prisoners of war.
The entric fever was prevalent
among the civil population as we'll
as among the prisoners and every rem
edical measur had been taken.
Lord ROberts replied April 22nd
that he was glad to receive President
Kruger's assurance and pointed out that
no difference was made by the Brit
ish authorities in regard to the Beers,
against whom there might be reason
able grounds for suspicion that they
would try to escape, adding that such
exceptions ave room for abuse by
officials without knowledge of the au-
thOritieS.
The parliamentary secretary, reply
ing TO a question in the house of COM
mons today, declined to divulge Lord
Roberts plans for the relief of MAIZE
king. but he added that he hoped they
would shortly be accomplished.