The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-03-22
MEIHUEN ALLOWED ANOTHER CHANCE
CDmmandant Olivier Retreating From
Northern Cape Colony Toward
the City Of KrOnstadt.
There IN No News of Mnfeking's Re-
lief-PubIic Interest Centcrs in
the Force of Col. Bn-
den-POweII.


leved there will be little or no fight
ing until Lord Roberts reaches the
Naal river. How soon he intends to
start out with this objective is not
yet limited at, but the pacfication Of
the Free Staters seems now engaging
all his intention. When the move
comes it would doubtless be accom-
piished with the secrecy and swift
ness which have characterized all the
British advances since Lord Roberts
assumed command.
The revolt of the Cape Dutch in
the northeast seems to have had it's
back broken, and it is likely Gen.
Kitchener will soon resume his place
beside his chief
London, March 19.-The news from
South Africa is entirely satisfactory
to the British public. The relief of
Mafeking is not yet announced, but il
is extremely probable that this is al
ready accomplished by Col. Plumer's
advance. Lady Charles Pentinck, at
Cape Town, has received a telegram
from her husband in Mafeking, dated
March ~, saying that he expected to
join her shortly. The actual relief
movements have not been publicly de-
veloped in detail, but it seems that
Lord Methuen only started very re-
Gently and is rather engaged in dis
persing the Beers of the district than
aiming at actual relief.
Col Peakman has dispersed 500
Beers at Fourteen Streams.
Lord Roberts probably ascertained
from Mr.. Frazer, the new mayor OF
Bloemfontein, before dispatching Gen.
POle-Carew southwark, that in all
likelihood the railway was clear. The
next move will be to collect at Bloem-
fontein by railway sufficient stores
for the immense army Lord Roberts
will have when the Orange river
forces joined him. This will probably
occupy from two to three weeks.
Therefore the next important opera
tions may be expected in Natal.
The cavalry brigade which Lord
Roberts has sent to Thaba Nchu, 35
miles east of Bloemfontein, is desired
to cut off some 1000 Beers who are
escaping from the southwark.
The Beers are reported to have de-
stroyed the railway in the neighbor-
hood of Kroonstadt
London, March 19.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Field Marshal Roberts, dated
Bloemfontein, Sunday, March IS:
The guards brigade returned yes
terday from Norvais Pont. Several
burghers have laid down their arms
TO Gen. Pole-Carew at Edinburg and
elsewhere.
The officer commanding at Bel
mont reports that SOME deserters
have come in with a Maxim, a nine
FOUNDER and another gun. Another
nine-pounder has been brought into
Colesberg. The cavalry brigade has
zone to Thaba Nchu in order to re-
assure the inhabitants of that district
and &c distribute copies of the proc
lamation to the people of the Free
State. these proclamations are be-
ing eagerly sought after.
Lord Methuen reached Narrenton
on March l6 He was in time to pre-
vent the Deviation bridge from being
completely destroyed and to secure
the pont on the Naal.
"The English mail was dispatched
from here by rail yesterday, and to-
morrow the regular railway mail SER
vice with Cape Town will be re-
opened. =,
on March g."
Iobatsi. March 17.-lt is reported
that Commandant Eloff, with com
mando. has left Zerust for MafeRing'
Commaudant Schwartz, with $50 men,
is threatening the railway near AS
wore, Kop. north of Lobatsi. a Brit-
isb patrol who reconpoitered WITHIN
a miles of Mafeking, found the rail-
wev uninjured and the telegraph wire
untouched north Of Pitsani.
London. March 2O.-Neither the adj
vance by way of Fourteen streams
nor Col. Plumers movement, mas YET
reeulted in bringing news OF Maze
kings relief; from Bloemfontein ana
Natal there are apparently no Sc
rious developments and public IN
terest remains centered in Col. Badeh-
powell's force, undistracted by events
IL greater military importance. How
over il appears likely that the, CON
veroine of the troops towards MAZE
,.;ng Indicates much more serious
.,,,rnose than merely its relief. Judg-
ina from Lord Methuen's presence
evarrentown and the character or
tho near by passage of the vaal at
Fourteen Streams, keen observers De
I;eye that Lord Roberts medita'es al
ndyance in force on Pretoria oy way
- Rustenburg. This might start
% - from Fourteen Streams or
U,arLsdorp. 1i. and would probably coin
M. .sa '.;th an advance via Bloemfonten
and Natal. .v hs g;vep
.sa ohonce 10 redeem his reputation,
a. as has been done with Gen. Gasacrs