The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-03-22
HELP DRAWING NEAR
Progress of the Force Which Is Try
ing to Relieve Mafeking.
Dispatch from Roberts.


London, March 19.-The war Office
has received the following dispatch
from Field Marshal Lord Roberts,
dated Bloemfontein, Sunday, March
10:
1.-THE Guards brigade returned yesterday
from Norvals Pont Several burghers have
laid down their arms to Gen. Pole-Carew at
Ederburg and elsewhere. The officer COM
handing at Belmont reports that some de-
serters have come In with a maxim, q
nine-pounder and another gun. Another
nine-pounder has been brought into Coles
berg. The cavalry brigade has gone to
Thaba Nchu in order to reassure the in
habitants Of that district and to distrib-
ute copies of the proclamation to the peo-
pie of the Free State. These proclama-
tons are being eagerly sought after. Lord
Methuen reached Warrenton on March Ie
He was in time to prevent the Deviation
bridge from being completely destroyed
and to secure the pont on the Wall The
English mail was dispatched from here
by rail yesterday and tomorrow the GU
lar mail service with Cape Town will be
reopened."
Garrison Holding It's own.
Lourenzo Marques, March ia
dispatch from Mafeking, dated Sat
urday, March 10, says:
1.-THE garrison is holding its own We
have heard numerous rumors that the
siege will be raised, but so far that is not
the case. We are pegging along patiently
on quarter rations, supplemented by the
occasional capture of cattle. Our home
made gun erratically bombards the Boer
trenches. Horrible stories are current that
the Beers are inflicting nameless fortunes
upon captured native runners. These may
not be true, but they are tending to infiame
native passions to such an extent that it
may soon be impossible to hold the ma
lives in check. Owing to the Beers having
deliberately bombarded the native stadt,
which Is full of women and children, Col.
Baden-Powen has armed the natives, but
he has only allowed them to act on the
defensive, although they have clamored to
be allowed TO go out and attack at the
point of the assegai. They will be pre-
vented as long as possible from inflicting
reprisals on the Beers"
Beers Driven on.
Cape Town, March 19-The MAIZE
king relief column, Coils. Drummond
and Peadman commanding, had
sharp engagement at Fourteen
Streams. The British succeeded in
driving the Beers off. They had only
a few casualties.
Pretoria, Friday, March 16.-The
chief of the intelligence department,
Nolengraaf, announces that the feder-
al losses, prior to the relief of Kimber-
ley and Ladysmith were: Killed, GIT;
wounded, 2,129. Accidents, sickness
and other disabling causes, he asserts,
bring the total to 1851.
Now the Queens Dominion.
London, March 19.-The Orange Free
State is the queens dominion. Gen.
Gatacre has occupied Springfontein.
and Gen. Pole-Carew, with the guards,
has joined Gen. Clements at Norval's
pont. The Free State commanders
have disappeared in the south, and
their guns have probably been buried
or concealed. No resistance has been
offered to the British columns in the
southern district, and the burghers are
everywhere returning to their homes.
There are many press dispatches from
Brabant's, Gatacre's and Clements col
umns, but there is only one story-the
Free State forces are disbanding and
the rebellion in the Dutch district of
Cape Colony is at an end. The British
troops have been welcomed as allies,
and not received sullenly as enemies.
The farmers are supplying the army
with meat, vegetables, milk and eggs,
and making good bargains.
Steyn's Plans Unknown.
There is no definite information re-
specting President Steyn's operation
at Kroonstad, but ii is doubtful if he
succeeds in rallying his followers there.
He will certainly fail to do this unless
the Beers cross the Vaal in force and
fortify the Ventersburg ridge. They
are rumored to be intrenching on the
northern bank of the Vaal river. The
last stage of the campaign promises
to be short and decisive. The military
experts do not now believe that Presi-
dent Kruger will be able to mass 1O,-
900 men against Lord Roberts, and this
will not leave more than 5000 men in
front of Gen. Butler.
Many Rifles Surrendered.
London, March ia dispatch to
the Daily Mail from Bloemfontein,
dated Friday, March Is, says: "We
are getting rifles surrendered faster
than factory could turn them out.
1t is quite certain that if a British Of
fetal can reach the northern laagers
with Lord Roberts proclamation, the
whole Boer population will declare
for peace"
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