New-York tribune., 1900-05-24
BADEN-POWELL REPORTS.
HAS BEEN RELIEVED AND EX-
PRESSES THANKS

London May 23.-The War Office issues dis
patch from Lord Roberts. under date of Honing
Spruit. May %. announcing the receipt by him
of the following message from Major General
Baden-Powel:
''Mafekng. May III am happy inform you
that Mafeking was successfully relieved to-day.
The northern and southern columns Joined hands
on May 10 and attacked the enemy yesterday,
and after a small engagement entirely defeated
them. with loss The British casualties were
three killed and twenty-five wounded.
THE relieving force marched into Mafeking at
9 o'clock this morning, and the relief and de-
fence forces combined and moved out and at
tackled the enemys head laager. We shelled
them out and nearly captured Snyman, and
took one gun, flag and a large amount of am
munition, stores, etc. Five dead and fifteen
wounded Beers were found The enemy appear
TO be retreating in all directions, except one COM
mando which is lying low possibly to cover the
retreat of the remainder
s Captain MacLaren and Corporal Murray
found in the Boer hospital. They are deing well.
The townspeople and the garrison of Mafeking
are heartily grateful for their relief"
The first word received from Colonel Baden
Powell at Mafeking heightens rather than d.
minishes the reports heretofore cabled of the
gallantry exhibited by the garrison during the
closing days Of the siege. In interview with
the correspondent of the Reuter- Telegram Com
| pany on May II Colonel Baden-Powell said:
My great endeavor is to prevent the relief
force from trying to rush into the place before
they strong enough to do so. 1t would be
better to make certain of relief in two months
than to be beaten in an attempted relief in
month. You remember it was said in the old days
in Zululand that the natives called me "Umhala
Panzi," the man who doesn't rush things The
knowledge that the whole Empire was watching
with appreciation the good fight of the garrison
has been worth an extra pound of ratons day
to the garrison. 1t difficult TO persuade the
civilians of the necessity of submitting to mar
tial law. We had little difficulties but later
there was loyal acceptance of the military ad-
minlstration and there was no trouble at all.
The devotion of the nurses and women generally
was most marked.
Referring to the requests of newspapers for
messages. Baden Powell looked embarrassed and
said:
These chaps have got exaggerated idea Of
the Importance Of my personality 1 look upon
myself the figurehead of the good ship Mafek-
ing. 1t has been her stout canvas and shape
and her brave hull that really showed the ship
along and brought her safely through the stormy
cruise. So whenever I read nice things people
say Of me I take it that they are said inasnuch
as am the head representative of the garrison.
A dispatch from Mafeiing dated May II. the
first message, except Colonel Baden PowelPs
dispatch. forwarded since the relief Of the town
tersely says the place was wild with joy, that
many people wept as they greeted their deliv-
erers. and that the scene as the troops traversed
the streets baffied description.
Mafeking dispatches continue to pour into Lon
don, relating the events Immediately preceding
the relief and the entry of the troops The cor
respondents agree that the Canadian artillery.
Major Endons seven guns. did splendid work
Some of them assert that the Canadians did
absolutely essential work in the fighting"
About in the evening of the day before the
relief after Colonel Mahon and Colonel Plumer
had defeated the Beers nine miles from Mafek-
ing Major Karr Davies and nine scouts entered
the town. The Beers were then retreating. At 4
the following morning thousand men, in
cluding the Canadians, arrived. With them
were twenty wagon loads of food, which were
received with wild demonstrations The arm
ored train and a detachment then pushed for
ward to Gametree Fort. the scene of the unsuc-
cessful sortie IN December The Beers had evac-
uated IT on the east They We're pursued and
the correspondent, telegraphing these facts on
Thursday afternoon closed his dispatch thus:
We caught up with the retreating Beers and
have them now surrounded.
Lady Sarah Wilson has managed to get
through message from Mafeking dated Thurs
day. and announcing the entry of the relief
column. She says:
The hghting before the relief was very hard.
A severe struggle proceeded yesterday tMay lol
from p. m until dusk The Beers were forced
slowly to retreat, contesting every inch AT sun
set they still held the last position
Colonel Mahon entered the town in the brill
liant moonlight. The Beers were as tired out as
we were and they never guessed that an at
temnt would be made to force entry before
morning Therefore their surprise was complete
They deserted their laagers leaving a lot OF
food which was divided up among the people OF
Mafekng
A DAILY Telegraph" correspondent. descrfb-
ing the march of the relief column. says:
On the morning before the little force started
from Kimberley General Hunter wrote TO Colo
mel Mahon
This is the most dashing exploit of the war
Every man in the column has been specially
selected / wish you godspeed'
The action opened at p. m on wednesday