The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13
END Is NOT FAR OFF.
British Practically In Control OF the
Orange Free State.

Orange Free State.
LONDON, May II, a. m.-The situation
at the seat Of war In South Africa is as
satisfactory, from the British viewpoint,
as the most sanguine friend could have
hoped a week ago. The occupation of
Kroonstad practically places the whole
Orange Free State In British possession.
It Is evident from Lord Roberts's last
dispatch that the disintegration has COM
menced. The Free Staters are scattering
to their homes, while the Transvaalers
longer in the Orange Free State. What lit
tie resistance the former still are likely to
make. seems to be centering at Lindley
whittier President Steyn has transferred his
government.
1t is evident that the strategy of Lord
Roberts and the rapidity of his advance
have bewildered and disheartened the
Beers. as their resistance since the Brit
ish reached Zand river has been slight
The only point where they seriously at
tempted to check the advance seems to
have been on the British right, where they
defended with some vigor two kopjes.
which, eventually, were carried by the
East Lancashires and Sussexes, the Beers
finally retreating. leaving a group of gun
ners dead on the top of one of the hills.
The only point In the Free State where
the Beers seem in any force, except at
Lord Roberts's front, is on the southeast,
where Generals Rumble. Campbell and Bra
bant are holding them In check west of
Ficksburg and Ladybrand, and are eradu-
ally pushing them back. as well as effectu-
ally defeating all their efforts to break
through and threaten Lord Roberts's COM
munications.
There is no further news regarding the
advance Of the relief column to Mafe-
king. but 1t is possible that Lord Roberts's
successes viii result in forcing the Beers
to raise the siege.
Urgent appeal for help for Mafeking. She
says: Nothing but absolute knowledge of
the sufferings of the people of nrafekinr
prompts me to inaugurate another fund:
the heart-rending accounts received from
my sister, Lady Sarah Wilson, must be INV
excuse She writes with authority, having
shared equally with them the anxieties and
privations Of the long siege. She describes
the destitution of the inhabitants and the
absolute ruin of all the small trades peo-
pie. whose homes, in many cases, have been
demolished. The nuns convent has been
rendered roofless by Boer guns, yet the
sisters are unremitting in cheerful attend
ance on the wounded and sick. For months
the inhabitants have not slept In their beds.
They have given lives and property and
stood by the gallant Baden-Powen until
their courage and endurance have thrilled
the whole world" The appeal concludes
with hoping the day the relief of Mafeking
is announced the writer will be able to wire
congratulations accompanied by a substan-
tial sum OF money.
Pretoria sdvices. via Lourenzo MARQUES.
state that the Beers supply of smokeless
powder is exhausted. and that all attempts
"a manufacture fresh supply have been
unsuccessful.
dispatch from Cape Town. dated May
u. says that Lord strathcona's Horse have
gone to the front. and that Lord Castle
town has been appointed commissioner of
the wepener district
Among the prisoners of the foreign Iega-
ton captured during the fighting at Zand
river was German named Trickman. from
Erfurt. He claimed to be Journalist, but