Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-03-29
INTENSIFIES INTEREST IN THE
SIEGE OF MAFEKING.
His Force Compelled to Fall Back
to Where 1t Was Two Months
Ago Relief From the North
Seems Blocked ROberts' Army
Continues Waiting Mt BlOemfOn-
tein French Fighting Some
where East of BlOcmfOntein -
Butler Has Not Yet Moved in
Natal.


siege Of Mafeking has intensified With
Col. Plumer's forced retirement to
Crocodile Pools, where he was two
months ago. Relief from the north
seems blocked. Lord Methuen is
skirmishing with the Beers at Warren
ton, 167 miles away. Although seem
ingly in force sufficient to do pretty
much as he likes he has not advanced
these five days. 1t is hoped his mill
tary administration has pleasant sur
prise in prospect for the Britishers by
raising the siege by a strong force OF
cavalry and artillery detouring to
Mafeking while Commandant Snyman
is drawn off to engage Col. Plumer
Gen. French's cavalry and mounted in
fantry, according to rumor. are fight
ing somewhere east of Bloemfontein.
, This suggests more Boer bad news.
as Commandant divers commando,
with 1000 wagons, is reported on the
Basutoland frontier, toiling northward
toward IIroonstadt, via Ladybrand.
This enormous wagon train is sup
posed to be moving twenty-five miles
g. day. Gen. Frenchs cavalry posts
stretch from Bloemfontein eastward to
the mountains. Gen. Butler has not
vet moved in Natal
The Eighth division will go direct to
Bloemfontein. Lord Roberts effective
disposal at the front the next few days
will be 10000 men with the easy pos
sibility Of moving eastward, forcing
the Beers to evacuate the Biggarsberg
rand and joining hands with Gen.
Butler before continuing the prone
made to Pretoria.
The Delagoa Bay railway arbitration
award is editorially considered in the
morning papers. The approaching dec
laration Of the findings Of the arbltra-
tors is welcomed as coming at an ap-
propriate moment, and as bringing the
acquisition of Delagoa Bay apprecla-
bly, nearer.
British Compelled to Retire.
London, March 25.-The war office
has issued the following from the gen
eral at Cape Town. dated yesterday:
"The following telegram has arrived
from Nicholson, Bulowayo, March 81:
'This is from Plumer: 'Lobatsi,
March 21.-The Beers advanced from
the south in considerable force this
morning. They first advanced from
Goodies Siding After 4 sharp little
gagement Col. Bodies advanced
post was compelled to retreat. The re-
tirement was eXcellently carried out
to our main position. The casualties
included Lieut.. Chapman and a cor
poral. prisoners, and two missing
probably prisoners. Five troopers
were wounded. Chapman's horse fell
with him close to the enemy. who i'm.
mediately surrounded him. The exact
Boer casualties are unknown, but sew
eral were shot at short range. In the
afternoon the Beers advanced further
north and shelled our position from a
ledge on our left. Our u 1-2-poundel
replied, the artillery duel continuing
until sunset. Lieut.. A. J. Tyler has
since died Of wounds. One native
killed."
IsolntinE PIumer's Force.
London March %. - A dispatch t.
the Daily News from LourenZo Mar
ques. dated Friday, says: "1t is re
ported here from Pretoria that Com
mander Elof is isolating Col. Plumer''
forces near Gaberones.'
| Miners MISSION.
Cape Town, March 25.-It is under
stood that Sir Alfred Miners mission
northward is connected with the insti
tuition of martial law. He will use his
. personal influence toward the pacifca
ton of disaffected centers. The Cape
, ministry is Loyalty supporting him
Martial law, in response to request
from loyalists. has been proclaimed il
, the district of Gordona.
Gen. Joubert in Command.
: London, March 25-A Bloemfonteil
correspondent of the Daily News, tele
graphing Thursday, says: "a lette
from Mr.. Pulteney, an interpreter o
) the Free State court, has been re
ceived here by his wife in which tn
| writer states Gen. Joubert is com
handing the combined force at Kroon
J. stadt, where there is plenty of men
guns and food stuffs for a determined
: resistance"
: Free Staters Returning in Crowds
Boer Camp, Kroonstadt, March 25.-
> Affairs are being put in proper snap!
and the Free Skaters who had lef
are returning in crowds. The pres
dents proclamation has shown tn
DurSuefS tudI Tic SONC1 hLAChI 1
l standing firm. The commands are mo
: bilizing in great numbers and the NOR
5 determined than ever. President Steyl
e has issued proclamation in which h
$ warns the burghers who lay dow:
their arms and help the English tina
they are liable to the severest punish
ment as traitors.
Rebellion Suppressed.
Bloemfontein, March 25-The rebel
lion in the Prieska district has bee
suppressed and Lord Kitchener is II
turning here.
Priest Named as Correspondent.
Clinton, Ind, March 25.-City Coul
Gilman John l.. Horney has filed su
: for divorce on the charges of infidelit
and names the Rev. FIR. John r. Star
,, ton as correspondent. Father Stanto
has left Chiffon, another priest takin
up his duties.