Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-20
NEARING MAFEKING.
Official lntimation that Relief
Is Near at Hand.
Next Fighting Expected Between Bul-
Ter and Botha in Natal.
Free Skaters in Force at Smithfeld-Bsitish
Beers Beiag Communicated.

London, March 20.-4 A. M.-The war
office has had no news up to this hour
confirming reports of the relief Of
Mafeking. but Mr.. George Wyndham.
parliamentary under secretary for
war, replying to a private inquiry i'm
the lobby of the House Of Commons
about midnight, smilingly said: II
| think it is all right"
The Free Statcrs seemingly have not
quite collapsed. They are in consider
able force around Smithfield although
much dispirited.
A British spy from Rockville reports
that Commandant Olivia and a COM
mando are going to Kroomstad. The
agents he left behind are using des-
perate means to raise recruits. They
are communicating British Beers I'M
der penalty Of death. Kroomstad,
where the Beers are concentrating is
137 miles from Bloemfontein. 1t is sur
rounded by country of hills and jun
giles.
Gen. Gatacre is now resting at
Springfontein, preliminary to joining
Lord Roberts. Cen Buffers hill work
before Ladysmith has given him an
experience which is about to be used
in forcing the Biggarsberg range 1t is
believed that $4,000 Of his 10000 men are
about to engage Gen. Bothas force and
the next news Of fighting will probably
come from Natal
The leaders of the Afrikander Bund
are circulating petition in Cape
Colony asking the imperial government
the Beers.
Thousand
troops for South Africa are now still at
sea.
London March 2O.-The Lourenzo
Marques correspondent Of the Times
telegraphing, Monday. March 49, says:
Last night. the Portugal authorities
hurriedly dispatched by special train
a force Of infantry to reinforce the
garrison on the Transvaal border"
London, March 20.-During the pause
in the military operations in South
Africa, Spencer Wilkinson, writing in
the Morning Post, deals speculatively
with possible movements. He says:
Lord Roberts may send one or two
strong cavalry columns to move un-
eXpectedly on various points. thus up
setting the Boer plans of defence and
rendering possible an advance of three
converging forces on Pretoria, without
any heavy preliminary fighting
London. March 2O-A Daily Tele-
graph special from Bloemfontein says:
In a speech made here, few days
before the British entered the town.
President Kruger admitted that his
men would be unable to keep in the
field for another month"
London March l9-215 P. M
Neither the advance by way of Four
teen Streams nor Col. Plumer's have
resulted in bringing news of Mafe-
kings relief From Boemfontein and
Natal there are, apparently. no serious
developments. and public interest re-
mains Centered in Col. Baden PowelTs
force. undistracted by events Of great
er military importance. However. 1t
appears likely that the Converging Of
the troops towards Mafeking indicates
a much more serious purpose than
merely its relief
Judging from Lord Methuen's pres-
cnce at Warrcnton and the capture of
the nearby passage If the vaal at
Fourteen Streams, keen observers be
lieve Lord Roberts meditates an ad-
vance in force on Pretoria by way of
Rustenburg. This might start either
from Fourteen Streams or Klerksdorp
and would probably coincide with an
advance via Bloemfontein and Natal.
Thus Lord Methuen may be given the
chance to redeem his reputa alton. as has
been done with Gen. Gatacre.
Commandant Olivier has accomplish
cd another step in his retreat from
Northern Cape Colony, evacuating
Rockville and going towards Kroon-
stadt, where President Steyn is.
London. March I'm the House Of
Commons. today, the chancellor of the
exchequer. Sir Michael Hicks Beach.
announced that the total number of
applications for the war loan was 49,
500 and that the total amount of sub
scriptions was G335. 500 900. The larg-
est application, he added. was for El0,-
900 900. Applicants for 5000 and up
wards would get per cent. Of their APP
plication. Below 10000 the assign
Continued on page %