Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-17
MAFEKING'S RELIEF
Is Hoped by London to Have
Been Accomplished.
Battle Reported, tuesday. at Kraai
Pom, 81 Miles from Mafeking.
Pretoria Feverish Over Suppressed Kews-Re-
Iiel Column Reported Defeated.

London My 17.-3.30 A. M.-The
British relief column fought the Beers
at Kraai Pom, 81 miles south Of Mafe-
king, Tuc sday, according to n tele-
gram received, Wednesday night, at
LourenzO Marques from MolopO, 100
miles north of Mafeking. This intel
ligence is accepted here with some re-
serve, because it il difficult to under
stand how the news could have been
50 quickly put on the wire from a
place - miles from the scene of the
engagement.
a correspondent Of the Morning Post.
presumably John Stuart is reported
captured by the Beers at Kraai Pan.
The British public is keenly expect
ant Of the announcement that Mafe-
king Els been relieved. In army cir
cles the opinion seems TO prevail that
this has already been accomplished, al
though two hours after midnight the
war office asserted that news of the
relief had not been received. The
steadfast courage of the hunger bitten
garrison has produced a deep impress
sion; and the news of succor is await
ed with more anxiety than has been
felt regarding any other event of the
war.
Douglass Story, the Daily Mail cor
respondent at Pretoria, wires: THE
Boer government is holding back some
big news. Fever activity prevails here
President Kruger is working day and
night. The latest Boer official bulletin
is that the relief column has been de-
fcated with great loss"
Lord Roberts continues passive at
KrOOnstad. His cavalry are stretching
like a semi-circular screen many miles
in length with overlapping 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"
1t seems that Gen. French's cavalry
had one lively fight after crossing the
Zand river. A mixed squadron, COM
poksed Of the Scots Greys, the Innis-
killings. Carbneers and Australian
Horse. took a kopje and dismounted
The Beers suddenly fired from a CON
cealed position. killing many horses
and stampeding the rest. The Beers
then advanced in overwhelming num-
bars and drove the squadron, capturing
some. The Beers robbed the dead ami
looted the saddles. Finally a brigade
of cavalry drove them off. Farther
north the Hussars charged the Beers.
killing and wnunding many stragglers
with sabreS and pistols. Lord Roberts
infantry marched 100 miles in seven
days. Gen. French marched 30 miles
in one day. The Beers when retiring,
dragged - guns through kroonstad.
Gen. Butler is moving toward New
castle. He appears to be using 5000
men marching against 5000 or 5000.
His operations will almost certainly re-
suit in his forcing his way into the
Transvaal. possibly in time to Co
operate with Lord Roberts advance,
although Gen. Butler is now 252 miles
from Johannesburg, or % days march.
\ Dane who was captured by the
South African Horse. says that there
are 900 Frenchmen with the Beers who
are opposing Gen. Butler, together with
many Germans and other foreigners.
The LadEsmith correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph says that only one
Boer was shot in the movement which
resulted in the taking of Helpmaakar
Gen. Rumble is sweeping through the
northeast Of the Free State. The
Beers are dissolving before him and
some are surrendering. Their main
force is assembled between Ficksburg
and Winburg but if is without close
organization.
Today's instalment Of the war story
from every part Of the field is there
fore, seemingly a narrative of British
successes; but. with the Beers prepar-
ing for a last desperate fling further
in the interior and with Boer guerilla
parties looting houses and stores in
the northwest section of Cape Colony
it is not all roses for the British. The
Upington district is the locality where
the guerilla tactics of the Beers are
just now most in evidence.
The proposed congress of the Afri-
kander has been called to meet at
Paarle, June II.
A Canadian battery Of 15-pounders
arrived at Beira, Portuguese East Afri-
ca. May 10.
The LourenZo Marquee correspondent
of the Times, under Tuesdays date,
says: There has been heated dis
cussion in the Rad, in secret session,