Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-03-23
The WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
ROBERTS WORK HALF DONE
Free staters Dtsheartened-PrisO
ers Sent to the Island Of -. Helena
Some BOSr Positions lmprexua-

London, March ~ Amidst the iestiv-
ties OF ST. patrick's day, London va. lis
tening for word that Mafeking is relieved. I
ii is remarkable that the revival vi this
holiday, which puts St Patrick's here
after on an equality With Primrose day, |
has been the occasion OF the first real gaia
day since The declaration of war. CHRIST
mastlde was gloomy, indeed, IN compar-
ison With todays merrymaklng.
There is much III the situation in South I
Africa TO justify the JOY, however, for
the rapid paciticAtion OF the Free Staters
leads Englishmen to believe they have
a statesman, as we'll As a strategist hero,
i'll "Bobs."
With railway communication open to
the Cape and the morale Of his army ~
its highest, England i. now ready - trust
the comman4ey IL chic! 10 complete ths
remainder OF his task III his own way,
confident OF his ultimate success.
The Transvaal officials are said 10 have
vacated Laing's and Nryburg, but the
rebels are unwilling TO enter the Trans
vaal, being anxious to trek homeward.
No one would be much surprised If
great spread Of this contagon occurred
in the next fortnight.
Lady Randolph Churchill, who started
1 homewaid on the hospital ship Maine,
cabled TO the committee that she regards
| 1t compliment to the United States that
the Maine was the first ship To leave SIN e
Lady smith was relieved. There were II
officers and l53 commissioned officers
and men aboard the Maine.
The peaceful conquest OF the Orange
Free State progresses 50 evenly that 1t
is now believed that there Vii be hltle
or no fighting until Lord Roberts reaches
the Naal river When the move comes It
will doubtless be accomplished with The
secrecy and swiitness which have chaTac-
terized all the British advances since Lord
Roberts assumed command. In the meali-
while the fate Of Mafeklng remains un-
known. The revolt of the Cape Dutch
in the northeast seems to have It's back
broken, and it is likely General kitch-
ener will soon resume his place beside his
chief
The lull that let's the British troops IN
the Natal and the Free State recuperaie
brings no rest TO the engineers and trans
port service.
Girord. the young Canadian officer who
rules supreme over the railroads, IS now
putting his system to the most severe
test in an endeavor TO pour supplies from
Cape Town to Bloemfontein.
Dr. Leyds, who disappeared from Brus-
sells. according to Globe special, Is be
lieyed to have come 10 London, but noth'
ing is known here about his arrival. 1t
seems scarcely likely that he would Jump
into the lions mouth, and the energetic
Boer representative is more hkely to be
heard of at one of the European capitals
II has been decided 10 send only the
Transvaalers to St Helena, the authorities
finding it difficult to prevent eoniiicts oe-
tween the Free Staters and the Trans.
; vaalers
Colonel Schiol, who was captured IN
Natal in the early part OF the war ha'
! special sentry al his door to prevent
him from doing himself bodily violence
Captain johnson and Third Otheer bol'
] tey. Of the steamer Mashona, captured
: bv British cruiser, and subsequent.
released were dfoa ned in gale iss'
night. Four Others were drowned, ana
boat, crew from the Cheshire IS MISSING
strong at Van Reenan's Pass.
Iadysmith. March l9-Lord Dundon
aids cavalry patrols reeonnoitered th'