The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-27
FOR MAFEKiNG FROM GENERAL ME-
THUEN OR COLONEL PLUMER.
FORMER SIXTEEN MILES AWAY
He Has Made No Advance in Five DAYS.
Colonel PIumer W~ithdraws to the
Point Occupieda Month Ago-GeneraI
French Skirmishing with the Enemy
East of Recommendations Surren-
derinC AEtiquated Firearms and
Hidil- their Mausers.

LONDON, March "a, Ais a.. m.-Lcrd
Roberts main army continues waiting
at BloeI-5ontein. The sentimental in
terest =. ne fate of Mafekiug has in
tensifieI With Colonel PlUlner's forces
retirement to Crocodile pools, where
he was two months ago Relief now
dwindIes to improbabifity. LORD Me-
thuen is skirmishing with the Beers at
W~arrentOn, sixteen miles away. AL
though seemingly in force sufficient 10
do pretty much as he likes, he has not
advanced these five days. II is hoped
tina his military administration has a
pleasant surprise in preparation Tor
the Britishers by raising the siege with
a strong column of cavalry and artiI-
Iery detouring to Mafeking while Com
rnandant Snyman is drawn off to en-
gage Colonel PIumer.
General French's cavalry and mount
ed infantry, according to 4 rGmcf. are
fighting somewhere east IF Bioemfon-
teiE. This suggests more Boo bad
news, as C~Ommandant Olivier's COM
mando with two thousand aSonS Is
reported on the Basutoland frontier,
tOiling nOrthward toward KroOnstadt,
via L~adybrand. This enormous wagon
train is supposed to be moving twenty
five miles a day. enc French's
cavalry posts stretch from Bloemfon-
tein eastward to the mountains.
General Butler has not yet moved
in Natal.
The eighth division will go direc. 10
BIOemfOntein. Lord Roberts effective
dispOsable at the front ten days hence
will be, it is estimated, 0,000 man, with
the easy possibility of moving east
--nv1 fn-1Snn tha pnnrC %n re
the Biggarsberg range and joining
hands with General Butler before con-
~tinuing the promenade to Pretoria.
London. March 23.-According to a
special dispatch from Cape Town dat
ed today, General French's brigade is
fighting eastward of BIOemfontein.
lit was in the dispatch to
the Associated Press from BloemfOn-
tein last night hat General French,
with 4 brigade of cavalry and mounted
infantry, had arrived at Thabanchu,
east OF BlOemfontein, or about half
way betWeen that place and Lady
brand. on the frontier of BaSutOland
and had opened photographic cOmmu-
nicatiOn with Maseru, the chief town
of BdSutOidnd. 1t was added that he
reported all we'll; but the position tax
en- by General French would indicate
that his Instructions were to intercept
the BOer forces which ave been Ope-
IdIilS i5d4iISt lhc bIlllSH lIOOpS ullueI
GeneT Gatacre and which are under
stood to be in retreat from Bethulie,
Rockville, and other places in the
southern part of the Orange Free
STATED
COLONEL PLUMER RETIRES.
Colonel Plumer apparently retired
to Crocodile pools and Mafeking seems
further off than ever from relief. This
news was contained in a dispatch from
PuIEy-a1-n dated Monday March 10Th
and published in the second edition
of The Times. These advices add that
the base hospital has been brought
back 70 GaberOnes, though the CORE
spondent further say it is thought the
object Of the BOer demonstration of
March 18th and March 10th was to
cover The removal of the siege guns
from Mafeking.
General French's activity in the
Orange Free State may we'll be a pre-
liminary to a forward movement by
Lord Roberts with the main army.
a dispatch from Bloemfontein, dated
Thursday. March 22nd says President
Kruger is reported to have issued a
proclamation declaring that Great
Britain is in dire straits and that the
Russians have occupied London
A Springfontein telegram published
in the second edition of The Times
says: THE apparent submissive atti-
tude of the Free StaterS hould be &C
cepted with caution. The large pro-
portion of obsolete inferior "a
being turned in by them to the British
is giving the impression that large
stores of modern Mausers are being
concealed.
BUTCHERS RETURNING TO
THEIR COLORS.
Beer Camp, KroOnstadt, March %
Affairs are being put in proper shape,
Il the Free Staters who had to leave
are returning in crowds. The presi-
dents proclamation has shown the
burghers that the government is stand
ing firm. The are mobiliz-
ing in great number and the men are
more determined han ever.
President Steyn has issued a procla-
nation in which he warns the burgh-
crS who lay down their arms and help
the English that they are liable to the
utmost punishment as traitors.
w AT MACON.