The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-15

Pretoria. Saturday. May 12-via Louren-
CO MarQueZ--A war bulletin has been
issued here announcing that the burghers
this morning attacked Mafeking.
The telegraphist 1T Malopo says that
heavy rifle and cannon fire was heard
before o'clock to-day and that the
"katfir location was in flames within an
hour and was totally destroyed At %
o clock. he adds. everything was quieter.
Al meeting OF $50 Afrikander women
held yesterday It was resolved TO ask the
government for arms and ammunition,
and suggest that they do the work Of
the men officials in the town. who. they
declared, ought to be fighting at the
'front.' The resolution was carried unan-
imously.
The Nolistem asserts that the British
prisoners In the hands OF the Beers will
hrst feei the effects Of the embargo
placed OF timed meats and clothing des-
tined for the TransvaaI at Delagoa Bay.
The British are advancing against the
Federals at Helpmakan and TOrders Mex.
No News of the Relief Column.
London, May "a a. m.-Nothing def
mite has been heard about the expected
relief Of Matclliug The Cape Town CORE
I
imminent fixing Tuesday or "Wednesday
as probable dates. Inquirtrs at the war Of
tce are told that tn, news Of the relief
will be made public Immediately upon its
receipt
The latest supposition concerning Gen
Hunter is that possibly he Is marckln.
up the north bank OF the Vlal with "A
force sufficient. In cooperation with Lord
Roberts. to render Bocr defense Of the
Naal frontier Improbable
The parliamentary secretary of The war
Office, Mr.. George Wyndham, replying to
a question In the House Of Commons yes
terday, declined to divulge Lord Roberts
plans for the relief Of Mafeking but. he
added that he hoped they would shortly
be accomplished.
While Lord Roberts infantry are CON
centrating at KrOOnstaG. whore they will
rest for Gay or two, his horsemen have
penetrated eighteen miles northward In
the squadron Y hich cut :he railway fifteen
miles beyond I<TOonstad was the Ameri-
car scout, Frederick BUrnham Two hun
cred Beers who bad hidden in the river
Jungles near KrOcnstad 10 escape service.
have surrendered TO the British ana tuken
the oath Of allegiance.
According to dispatch from Bennett
Burleigh to the Daily Telegraph. dateI
Thursday, May 10, Paul Bctha and Mac
donald, members Of the Free state Voll,s-
raad, demanded that the chairman should
caIl meeting to sue for peace. as further
reSlstarce was suicidal. and proposed
to make President Steyn a prisoner
Buffers Turning Movement.
Gen. Buffers turning OF the Bggarsberg
position was effected by bold movement.
The Beers had evacuated HelpHakaar. but
were making stand Monday evening at
Bieskopladgate, seven miles from Dur
dee. The correspondents on the spot re-
garded this as a rear guard action. intend
ed TO cover the retreat Of the army. At
the same time Gen. Hildyard took In
doba. and IL is reported that the Beers
withdrew In disorder
Gen. Butler, who seems 10 be EMPLOYING
his full strength, is expected to push on.
His first marches We're fOrty-five miles In
three days. He is thus breaking into
British territory which had been admins
tered for six months by the Transyaalers
as though IL We're part Of the republic,
they holding courts and levying taxes.
His success, therefore. has political as
well as military consequences.
Gen. Buffers advance commenced
Thursday. when he left Ladysml;a IN
strength. When within two miles Of II, lp-
makadr the Beers opened a heavy artil-
leIy fire and the British guns replied,
while a portion OF Buffers troops worked
round the BOer hanKs. The British attdcl.
was pressed home Sunday. Bethune on
the right, Outfanked the Beers. whose
splendid defensive positions on the Big
gdrsberg Were practically taken