Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-17
NEWS KEPT BACK
BOERS ARE IN POSSESSION OF I'M
PORTANT INFORMATION
KRUGER IS WORKING HARD.
News of Relief of Mafeking Expected
Observation-Disclosures at
Kroonstadt.

London, May II, 1920 a. m.-The British
relief column fought the Beers at Kraai
Pan, 81 miles south of Mafeking. on
Tuesday, according to a telegram receiv-
ed Wednesday at Lorenzo Marques from
Molopo, 100 miles north of Mafeking.
This intelligence is received here with
some reserve, because it is difficult to
understand how the news could have
been SO quickly put on the wire from q
place 1872 miles above the engagement.
A correspondent of the Morning Post,
presumably John Stewart, is reported
captured by the Beers at Kraai Pan.
The British public is keeping expect
ant of the announcement that Mafeking
has been relieved. In army circles the
opinion seems to prevail that this has
already been accomplished, although two
hours after midnight the war office as
serted that the news of the relief had
not been received. The steadfaSt cour-
age of the bitten garrison has
produced a deep impress n the news
of succor is awaited with more anxiety
than has been felt regarding any other
event of the war.
Douglas Story. the Mails correspond
ent at Pretoria. wires:
The Boer government is holding back
some big news. President Kruger is
working day and night. The latest Boer
official bulletin is that the relief column
has been defeated with great loss.
Lord Roberts continues passive at
kroonstad. His cavalry are stretching
like a semi-circular screen many miles
in length, without tapping TANKS. The
railway will probably be completed to-
day. The Kroonstad censor permits the
passage of long dispatches dealing with
incidents prior to the occupation.
Lorenzo Marques. May ia Portu-
guese official dispatch says an encounter
has occurred at Mafeking and that the
Beers nave been repulsed with heavy
loss.
Thabanchu. Tuesday, May 15.-The
British force advanced this morning 20
miles to the northwest and took possess
sion of Maruqatling's Mex. Prisoners
continue to be taken daily.
1t seems that General Frenchis cavalry
had one lively fight after crossing the
Zand river. One mixed squadron, COM
posed of the Scots Grays. the lnniskill-
ings, the Carbineers and Australian
horse, took a kopje and dlsmounted. The
Beers suddenly fired from a concealed po-
sition. killing many horses and stamped
ing the rest. The Beers then
in overwhelming numbers and drove the
squadron Off. capturing some. The Beers
obbed the lead and looted the saddles.
A small brigade of cavalry drove them
off. Farther north the Hussars charged
the Beers, killing and wounding many
stragglers with sabers and pistols.
Lord Roberts infantry marched 12o
miles in seven days. General French
nlaccneQ 81 Inll6S one uds. 1AS InoClS.
when retiring. dragged 81 guns through
kroonstadt.
General Butler is moving towards New
castle. He appears to be using %, 900
men against 5000 or 5000. His operations
will almost certainly result in him fore
ing his way into the Transvaal possibly
in time to cooperate with Lord Roberts
advance although General Butler is
now 252 miles from Johannesburg. or 25
days march.
A Dane who was captured by the
South African soldiers says that there
are 500 Frenchmen with the Beers who
are opposing General Butler together
with many Germans and other foreign
ers.
The Ladysmith correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph a Y that only one Bner
was shot in the movement which result
ed in the taking OF Helpmaaker. Cen
eral Rumble is sweeping through the
northeast of the Free State. The Beers
are dissolving before him and some are
surrendering. Their main force is as
sembled between Ficksburg and Win
burg, but is without close organization.
To-day's installnent of the war story
from every part OF the war field is.
therefore, seemingly a narrative of Brit
ish successes, but with the Beers pre-
pairing for a last desperate fight farther
in the interior and with Doer guerilla
parties looting houses and stores in the
northwest section of Cape Colony, it
is not not all roses for the British.