The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-16
MAFEKING
Is Not Yet RelieVtd-BOers Put
up Strong Resistance.

LONDON, MAY ia dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Lorenzo Marques, dated
Tuesday, says:
There is no doubt that there was des-
perate lighting at Mafeking Saturday,
but 1t is believed to have gone in favor
of the garrison. All that can be ascer-
tanned of reliable character follows:
The Beers, using artillery, attacked the
town Saturday Very soon the Kaffir To-
cation was in flames, some say as the re-
suit Of shell fire, others as the result of
treachery Fighting at close quarters be-
came general and in the midst of the
confusion the Beers gained possession of
the Kafir location, from which point of
vantage they brought guns to bear on
the town at close range.
BY an adroit move the garrison despite
it's attenuated numbers, succeeded in ac-
tually surrounding the party Of Beers
who had captured the Kafir location.
Severe fighting gollowed but according
to the latest reports the Beers still hold
the location in which they are probably
surrounded. The truth is, I believe, that
the Pretoria authorities, knowing of the
progress of the relief column, gave or
ders to General Synman to storm the
place. AS soon as the location was in
flames Boer bulletins of victory were fly
ing about everywhere to encourage
weakened Beers. Beers who came
down here yesterday from Pretoria pro-
duced for the edification of incredulous
Britishers two kilograms by officials, one
of which was signed by Synman and
said:
81 was lucky enough to capture Baden
Powell with nine hundred this morning"
There IS no doubt about the heavy
fighting. A telegram from the Portu-
guese consul to the governor general
here conrms this and there is little doubt
of the occupation of the Kaffir stadt. But
similar kilograms were published at Pre-
toria about Ladysmith and quite recently
about Wepener just before Col. Dalgety
was relieved.
LONDON, MAY 1850 A. M.-'Food
will last until about June TO-" is the lat
est official word from Col. Baden-Powe l.
the British commander at Mafeking, sent
to Lord Roberts under date of May T.
Five days later the Beers attempted to
storm the town and it is possible that
they succeeded, although nothing is
known of the attak or of its results ex-
cept through Pretoria sources, which
have no cOuntennace here.
The British relief column is due there
now. Ten days ago Gen. Snyman, was
having difficulty in keeping the burghers
together owing to the approach of the
British and when the last Associated Press
dispatch left Mafeking on May Z the
| hn a
of the horse guards and had captured
several OF Col. Baden-Powell's few re-
naming horses.
Maj. F. d. Bailie has sent to the Morn
ing Post from Mafeking, under date Of
May Z, this message:
! "This morning the Beers attacked us.
, Result as usual. There is an aching
void here. Pass the loaf"
The Transvaal army has taken a posi-
ton at Blaauwbaschdoort pass, near
| GIeildron road station, fifty miles north
of Kroonstad. It's rear guard is still hold
! ing the hills north of Valsch river, while
the Boer scouts are in touch with British
accommodating parties twenty miles north
of Kroonstad
The Beers have held a council Of war
at Lingley and British spies have learned
that the Beers decided to hold Har-
rsmith 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 russet winter
coat The nights are bitterly cold but
the days are hot
The Free Staters are surrendering in
! larger numbers than after the occupa-
tion of BloemfOntein. One officer of the
Transvaal artillery says: "There will be
no serious fighting this side Of Pretoria,
as Bereenigen, on the Vaa lis indefensi-