Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-06

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Piot.)
London. March CA a. m.-Mafeking
is TO ba relieved as soon as the British
force. already on the way to Kimber-
ley, can raise the siege. This force is
described vaguely as strong" Kim
berley Light Horse is mentioned as a
component. In view of the fact that
the Kimberley Light House is under
The control of De Beers Company, Lord
Roberts visit TO Kimberley probably
had to do with the arrangement with
Cecil Rhodes TO use this company of
troops.
Mr.. Rhodes and Colonel Ilekewicb
have had differences of policy, it APP
pears, which did not end with the relief
OF Kimberley. what shall do with
him?" Colonel liekewich Is said TO have
wired To Lord Roberts, who half
liumorously replied, according to a
story circulated at the clubs, put him
in chains"
Fresh intelligence as 10 what Lord
Roberts Is doing has ceased to come.
thing has happened or Is about TO hap
pen.
THE Beers ACTIVE.
Boer raiders are uncolnmonly active
In the northwestern section of Cape
Colony, where they are stirring up the
Dutch.
Martial law has consequently been
declared
Mr.. Chamoerlain's request for $500
additional Australian Bushmen is un-
derstood to be explained by the fact
that the War Office requires this force
for the pursuit of rreconclable Beers
who, according to the intelligence de-
partment. have been quietly collecting
great quantities OF ammunition and
stores In the mountain Businesses of the
IoupansDerg district in the north of
the Transvaal. where they are prcpar-
ing to carry on guerilla warfare.
FIGHT WITH TREKKING BOERS.
Osfonten. Saturday. March 3.-Gen-
eral French yesterday evening noticed
n body of Beers trekking northwest,
and sent n squadron last night to keep
In touch with them. This morning the
troops were followed by about
$50 Beers, who advanced around n hill
but who retired prccipitately when the
British shelled them. The Beers then
opened Il heavy fire with MnXins, and
also began firing from a kopje in the
centre of the position, with a long
range fftecn-pounder.
The Bocr trekking, I'm consequence OF
General French's movement, was tenn
porarily stopped
CASUALTIES.
London, March 5.--Gcneral Buffers re-
viscd list OF casualties from February
IA to February 81 gives % men killed,
6S4 wounded and % missing.
MEDIATION DISCUSSED.
Rome, March. SIN the Chamber of
Deputies to-day, replying to several
deputies who suggested that the time
had arrived for mediation in South At
,.n l,A lot of A Sol
Marquis Visconti Venosta. declared he
shared such statements, but thought
action In the desired sense could only
be exercised when circumstances rem
dered 1t opportune and likely to be sue
cessfui, and he thought that moment
had not yet arrived.
THE BRITISH ARMIES.
London, March 5.-Thcrc arc now
practically three British armies in the
field-one in the Free State. one in
Cape Colony and the other in Natal
All that is known about the first and
most important. is that it is in close
touch with a body OF Beers estimated
to number about 5000 men
In Cape Colony Generals Brabant and
Clements command the two horns of
the army, while General Gatacre holds
the main Boer force in check. General
Gatacre and Clements will probably
combine and advance on Bloemfontein,
with General Brabant guarding the
right flank with the Mobile Colonials.
This movement will be subsequent to
securing a line of communications
along the lines of the Free State rail-
roads, which. according to the latest
dispa tches. seems almost accomplished.
The third army, that in Natal, is com
paratively inactive. and, with the ex-
ception of sorties, serious movement
can hardly be expected from It this
week. When 1t will be ready to adj
vance ITS movements must greatly de-
pend upon how much distance the re-
treating Beers put between themselves
and General Butler. AS an incident Of
the British main objective. which at
last is clearly outlined as Pretoria, the
relief of Mafeking by force from the
south may be expected any day. Colonel
Plrmer's force, on the north, seeming
incapable of accomplishing it.
Another uptoward phase of the mill
tnry situation Is the enforced temporary
Inactivity OF the Natal army, an in
atnnce OF which Is contained In the dis