The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-03-08
BRITONS NEXT TASK.
The Relief Of Starving Mafeking
Is Now In Order.
B0ER RAIDERS VERY ACTIVE

In Northwestern Cape Colony, and
Martial Law Has Been Declared.
Beers Preparing For Guerrilla
Warfare in ZOutpansberg District.
London, March 6.-Mafeking is to be
relieved as soon as the British force
already on the way to Kimberley can
raise the siege. This force is de-
scribed vaguely as strong" The Kim
berley Light Horse is mentioned as a
component In view Of the fact that
the Kimberley Light Horse is under
the control of the De Beers company.
Lord Roberts visit to Kimberley prob
ably had to do with an arrangement
with Cecil Rhodes to use this COM
pany of troops.
Mr.. Rhodes and Colonel Kekewich
have had differences Of policy, it ap-
pears, which did not end with the re-
lief of Kimberley What shall | do
with him?" Colonel Kekewich Is said
to have wired to Lord Roberts, who
half humorously replied. according to
a story circulated at the clubs, Put
him in chains"
Lady Sarah Wilson wires The Daily
Mail from Mafeking, under date OF
Feb. 10, as follows: "The food Ques-
ton is becoming difficult. A sour
Kitchen has been organized and horses,
stray dogs and heads and feet of oxen
are utilized The town is on strict
rations."
Fresh intelligence as to what Lord
Roberts is doing has ceased again.
This silence is taken to mean that
something has happened or is about
TO happen.
Boer raiders are uncommonly active
in the northwestern section of Cape
Colony, where they are stirring up the
Dutch. Martial law has consequently
been declared.
Mr.. Chamberlain'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 irrecOncilable Beers
who, according to the intelligence de-
| partment, have been quietly collect
ing great quantities of ammunition and
stores in the mountain Businesses Of
the Zoutpansberg district, in the north
| of the Transvaal, where they are pre-
pairing to carry on guerrilla warfare.
A dispatch to The Standard from
Osfontein, dated Sunday, says:
Lord Roberts army now occupies a
most advantageous position. The
Sixth division, under General Kelly
Kenny, is posted on the right and
holds all the kopjes for distance Of
five miles south Of the Modder. The
Seventh division, under General
Trucker, is in the center, Immediately
south Of the river, and General Col
willie, with the Ninth division, is on the
north bank. The cavalry brigade, un-
Ter General French, is posted on the
EFT front, and the mounted infantry,
yunder Colonel Ridley Martyr, on the
right front.
The country around consists Of wide,
rassy plains, broken only by ridges
nd isolated kopjes. A body of the
nemy has taken up a position on one
the latter, fiat topped hill to the
horth of the river, five miles beyond
General French, who today took out
horse artillery and shelled them. An
other force, 1000 strong, holds an
isolated group Of kopjes south Of the
Modder and in front of the British
mounted infantry. Their position Is
furrounded on all sides by level plains,
pver which the Beers must make their
Way in order to reach the river. AS a
consequence their situation appears
brecarious in the extreme.
The veldt is now in beautiful con-
ition. Water is plentiful, supplies be-
ing obtainable notsOnly from the river,
ut also from numerous small springs.
he health and spirits of the troops
re excellent. The British cavalry and
pounted infantry have been recon-
oitering the enemy's positions. There