Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-24
FEAT OF THE WAR.
The Relief Of Mafeking a Bril-
liant Achievement.
Roberts Near the TrsnsvaaI Frontier
and the Beers Retreating.
Claimed that Pretoria Can Stand Iona Sicos
-Boer Forces DwindIing.

London May 2i-3.4O a. M-Lord
| Roberts is drawing near to the from
| tier Of the Transvaal. His infantry
masses are SO miles north Of Kroon-
stad. at the Rhonostcr river. Some
thousands Of cavalry are already
across the river. The Beers are retir-
| ing toward the Vaal, with their heavy
| baggage. They are reported from Pre-
toria as already across that river.
Twelve thousand men and IA guns
compose the rctreating army. Trains
continue to run regularly from Veren-
niging to Pretoria.
Foreign engineers assert that Pre-
toria is able to Withstand a years
siege According to advices from
Lourenzo Marques. the Pretoria forth
| fcations are described as complete:
but Johannesburg has not yet been
placed entirely in a state Of defence.
The Transvaal government papers and
the war chest have been removed to
Lydcnburg. Foreigners continue to
leave the republic. The Dutch cruiser
Freisland is at DelagOa Bay-so it is
| reported-to furnish an asylum to the
fleeing Hollanders and passage to Eu-
rope
The Boer forces continue to dwindle.
Some Of the correspondents assert that
probably only about "a, 900 of the hard
lest fighters yet remain, although there
are detached parties in various parts
If the Transvaal.
one of the curious pieces of gossip
from Lourenzo Marques. is that sew
eral women tried to sjambok Presi-
dent Kruger. who was rescued by his
body guard. He rarely leaves the
presidency now. but works necessarily,
holding councils at daybreak and dur
ing the night. 1t was announced at
Pretoria. Sunday. that the government
purpos q removing their prisoners from
Pref jria.
Mafeking dispatches continue to pour
into London relating to the events i'm
mediately preceding the relief and the
entry Of the troops. The correspond
orts agree that the Canadian artillery.
Major EndOns. seven guns, did splen-
did work. Some of them assert that
the Canadians did absolutely essential
work in the fighting"
About in the evening of the day
before the relief. after Col. Mahon and
col. Plumer had defeated the Beers.
2 miles from Mafeking. Major Davies
and nine scouts entered the town. The
Beers We're then retreating. At the
following III rning. the men, including
the Canadians. arrived. With them
We're 20 wagons Of food, which were re-
ceived with wild demonstrations. The
armored train and a detachment then
pushed forward To Gametree fort, the
scene of the unsuccessful sortie in De
ccmbter.
The Beers had evacuated it on the
east. They were pursued, and the cor
esplndrnt. telcgraphing these facts.
Thursday afternoon. closed his dis
patch thus: I'VE caught up with the
retreating Beers and have them now
surrounded"
Lady Sarah Wilson has managed to
get through a 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 pro-
ceeded yesterday, May is. from p.
NJ until dusk. The Beers We're forced
slowly to retreat. Contesting every
inch. At sunset. they still held the last
position. Col. Mahon entered the town
in the brilliant moonlight. The Beers
were as tired out as we were; and they
never guessed that an attempt would
be made to force an entry before MORN
ing Therefore their surprise was COM
nlete They deserted their laagers.
leaving 4 lot of food which was di-
vided up among the people of Mafe-
king"
a Daily Telegraph correspondent de-
scribing the march Of the relief col
umn says: con the morning before the
little force started from Kimberley,
Gen. Hunter wrote to Col. Mahon:
This is the most dashing exploit of
the war Every man in the column has
been especially selected. | wish you
God speed"
'Thc action oDencd at | II. NJ.
Wednesday, with Maxim fire, and this
soon told upon the enemy who sur
rounded us, but who had not hindered
the forward march. The value of Boer
methods Of warfare when used in fiat
country may be estimated by this
action. Little cover was afforded the
enemy with the result that they fed
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