The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-28
MAFEK|NG STORM CENTRE
GREAT INTEREST IN THE SIEGE
AND RELIEF.
News AnXlously Awaited in England
Contradictory Reports-Relief Column
Advances to Within Fourteen Miles.

LONDON, March q, 2:SO p. m.-The
only news from South Africa showing
activity on either side comes from War
rentown, north of Kimberly, where
desutory fighting occurred all day Sun
day, resulting in the retreat of the
Beers toward Christiana, under shell
fire. The progress of this column to-
ward Mafeking has either almost ceased
or is forbidden to be mentioned in the
dispatches. Nothing new comes from
Colonel Plumer, and Mafeking appar-
entity still awaits relief.
LONDON, March 21.-Mafeking is
still holding out. while the relief col
umns are getting nearer every day. The
blowing up of bridges over the Mod
ders shows that the Beers intend to
hamper Lord Roberts advance as much
as possible.
LONDON. March 19.-rha relief Of
Mafcking is not yet announced, but
il is extremely probable that this is
already accomplished by Colonel Plum
er's advance. Lady Charles Bentinck,
at Cape Town, has received a dispatch
from her husband in Mafekng dated
March u, saying that he expected to
join her shortly. The actual relief move
nlents have not been publicly developed
IN detail but it seems that Lord Meth
uen started only very recently and
ers of the district than aiming at ac-
tual relief. Colonel Peakman has dis
Fersed 500 Beers at Fourteen Streams
LONDON, March 19-Spencer Will
kinson in the Morning Post says:
Probably Mafeking will be relieved
by the approach of Colonel Plumer be-
fore Lord Mcthuen, who seems engaged
in the work of clearing the country
north of Kimberley can arrive.
LONDON, March 1S-Lord Roberts
telegraphs from Bloemfontein under
cate of March Is as follows:
Lord Methuen reached Warrenton
on March 16. He was in time to pre-
vent the deviation bridge from being
completely destroyed and to secure the
pontoon on the Vaal.
"Mafeking reports that all was well
On March 16."
LOURENZO MARQUES, March IS
dispatch from Mafeking, dated Sat
urday, March 10, says: The garrison
is holding its own. We have heard
rumors that the siege will be raised,
but so far that is not the case. We are
pegging along on quarter rations, sup
plemented by the occasional capture OF
cattle. Our homemade gun erratically
bOmbards the Boer trenches
Horrible stories are current that the
Beers are inflicting nameless tortures
upon captive native runners. These
may llOl Dt rue Dul are IenulnR TO
inf1ame native passions to such an ex-
tent that it may soon be impossible to
hold the natives in check"
owing to the Beers having deliber-
ately bombarded the native stadt.
which is full of women and children.
Colonel Baden-PoweH has armed the
natives, but he has only allowed them
to act on the defensive, although they
have clamored to be allowed to go out
and attack at the point of assegai. They
Will be prevented as long as possible
from inflicting reprisals on the Beers"
LONDON, March 19.-Remarkable
quiet has fallen upon the whole field
OF war in South Africa, except in the
neiShborhood of Mafeking. News as to
that long besieged little town is some
what conflicting. 1t is reported by one
dispatch that Colonel Plumer has adj
Vanced, repairing the line as far as
Pitsani, and that a patrol has pushed
down within fourteen miles of Mafe-
king. The relief of the town seems
to be near at hand
LONDON, March 20.-With the ex-
ception of the account of a small Skin
mish at Fourteen Streams on Saturday
no news reached London yesterday of
any fighting in South Africa 1t APP
pears that strong force will be placed
at Lord Methuen's disposal. which it is
thought may not be used for the relief
of Mafeking since another column from
kimberley is already keeping the Ro-
ers employed to the south of the be-
sieged town while from the north Col
onel Plumer is moving down toward
Baden Powelrs stronghold It is
thought probable that Lord Methuen's
force may make an advance northward
simultaneously with that of Lord Rob
erts by way of Klerksdorn. Potchef-
stroom and Krugersdorp to Johannes
hurg, partially following the route Of
the jameson expedition.
Up to o'clock this morning no de-
mite news of MafeBing has been re-
CeiVed in London. The belief founded
upon private kilograms, prevails at
Cape Town that the Beers have raised
the siege