Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-05-18

The Boers Claims to be victorious
and General snymah Announces
the Capture OF Colonel Baden-
Powell and Nine Hundred Men-A

Powell and Sine Hundred Men-A
London, May 16-4:30 g. m.-'Food
will last until about June 10th" is the
latest official word from Colonel
Baden-Powell the British commander
at Mafeking. sent to Lord Roberts On
der date Of May 7th. Five days later
the Beers attempted to storm the town,
and it is inaccessible that they succeed
ed, although nothing fs known Of the
attack or Of its result except through
Pretoria sources, which have no coun-
tenance here.
The British relief column IS due there
now. Ten days ago General Snyman
was having difficulty in keeping the
burghers together, owing to the ap-
proach Of the British. and when the
aast Associated Press dispatches left
Mafeking, on May 7th, the Beers had
killed. on the previous day, one of the
Horse Guards and had captured several
OF Colonel Baden-Powedd's few remain
ing horses.
Major F. D. Baillie has sent to the
Morning Post from Mafeking, under
date Of May 7th. this message: This
morning the Beers attacked US. Re-,
suit as usual. There is an aching void
here. Pass the loaf
The Transvaal army has taken a 20
sition at Blaauwbaschdoort Pass. near
Hebron road station. fifty miles north
Of Kroonstad. It's rear guard is still
holding the hills north Of the valsch,
river. while the Boer scouts are in
touch with British accommodating par
ties twenty miles north Of Kroonstad.
The Beers held-a council Of war at
L1ngiey, and British spies have learned
that the Beers decided to hold Har-
rismith as long as possible.
Lord Roberts infantry are still at
kroonstad. The railway laborers are
hard at work. and the engineers hope
to have the line repaired within three
days.
The prairie has put on a russell Win
Ter coat. The nights are bitterly cold,
but the days are hot.
Inc Free Skaters are surrendering In
larger numbers than after the occupa-
ton of BloemfOntein.
One officer Of the Transvaal artillery
says: There will be no serious fight
ing this side of Pretoria, as Rerening-
ing, on the Vaal is indefensible. Heavy
guns are being mounted at Pretoria.
out Generals BOtha and Limmer are
agreed that ultimate success is irnpos-
sible. President Kruger is obstinate
and majority of the Transvaalers hold
firmly with him.
General Buffers advance, as his teIe-
grams indicate, was by the instructions
OF Lord Roberts, and 1t will cease or
go forward as Lord Roberts may direct.
certain commentators affiliated to the
War Office say that General Buffers
order to keep the Beers employed have
been supplemented by an order to drive
them completely out of Natal and then
to move on Harrismith
General Rumble and General Brabant
are taking possession of the wide re-
glOns around Ladybrand almost with
out opposition. They find the country
plentifully supplied with cattle, horse
feed and flour General Rumble is re-
duc1ng his transport and feeding, his
men and animals largely off the coun-
try. The Beers in that quarter surren-
DER daily, and it Is the expectation of
the correspondents on the spot that the
eastern section of the Free State will
soon be as tranquil as the western.
Lord Roberts In answer to a CORES
pondent telegraphed Monday: ut Is
impossible at present to predict when
the campaign may end"
The view of the other side Is re-
ported by correspondent, to whom
President Steyn said: Sooner than
leave this country to fall into the hands
OF the British would destroy all our
houses and leave it a desert"
! The relations between the Transvaa1
and the Portuguese appear to be
strained. The Portuguese consul at
pretoria, according to reports from LIS
bon, has been ordered by President
Kruger to leave the country. The Por-
tuguese declaration making food and
clothing cOntraband has nearly de-
81 No
to the Transvaal
Senior Joaquin Michado, Governor
General Of Portuguese East Africa. is
being entertained at Beira, and the
British officers who are passing through
are showing him cOurtesies. The LIS
bon Cabinet ts understood to count On
British protection in the event of Boer
aggression.
All the morning papers give long ac-
counts OF the reception of the Boer en-
voys in New York. The Chronicle edi-
tortally says the meanest English town
would not have cheered a Spanish del
egat1on during our war or given, 1t the
citys freedom.
London, May ia dispatch to the
Daily Mall from Lorenzo Marques,
dated Tuesday, says: There Is now no
doubt that there was desperate fighting
at Mafeking Saturday, but It is be-
aieVed to have gone in favor Of the
garrison. All that can be aScertained
of reliable character follows:
1.-THE Beers using artillery, attacked
the town Saturday. Very soon the
Kaffir location was In flames, some say
as the result of she'll fire. others as the
result Of treachery. Fighting at close
quarters became general and in the
midst Of the confusion the Beers gained
possession Of the Kaffir location, from
which point of vantage they brought
guns to bear on the town at close
range.
by an adroit move the garrison.
despite its attenuated numbers, sue
ceeded in actually surrounding the par
ty Of Beers who had captured the
Kaff1r location. Severe fighting follow
ed, but, according to the latest reports,
the Beers still hCi1 the location, in
which they are probably surrounded.
THE truth is, believe, that the Pre-
soria authorities, knowing the progress
of the relief column, gave orders to
General Snyman to storm the place
AS soon as the location was in flames
Boer bulletins Of victory were f1yins
about everywhere to encourage the .
weakened burghers. Beers who came
down here yesterday from Pretoria pro-
Iluced for the edification Of incredulous
Britishers two kilograms by officials
one Of which was signed by Snyman,
(which said:
II was lucky enough to capture
Baden-Powell with nine hundred this