Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-24
lMAFEKINC RELIEVED.
The British Empire Beside Itself
with Emotion Over the News.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS OF The VAR
New Peace Proposals VIII Probably BE Put
Forward BY the Bo@rs, the Recent he.
verses Having Caused D-.pond-
ency In the TransyAxL

London, May l9.-L6ndon's millions
spent half the night in the streets
and even at four o'clock this morn
ing troops Of young men were prom
enading, singing and cheering and
there were crowds in front of the
Mansion house, Marlborough house,
the clubs on Pail Mall and the war
Office and in Parliament square, wav-
ing flags and joining in the national
airs. 1t was a curious thing for the
onlooker to see. solemn, grey-haired
men toss their opera hats into the air
and join the hurricane of cheers when
wreath-crowned banner, with the
portrait of Col. Baden-Powell on it,
was borne along Piccadilly. Smart
women in broughams waved union
Jacks out of the windows. Conven-
tional family parties stopped at street
corners to take part in singing "God
Save the Queen and SOLDIERS of the
Queen Everywhere were abandon,
good feeling and astonishing roar of
human voices
1t was all brought about by a 90
word telegram from Pretoria that
Mafeking had been relieved. AL
though the government has not
word and although nothing confirm
atory has been received from any
African source except Pretoria, no.
body apparently questions the news.
In unrestrained jubilations the
provinces were not behind the metrop-
oils. Although London had the start
by few minutes, the great industrial
and surrounding towns soon burst in
to patriotic demonstrations Bells
FLASHED in their steeples; village bands
turned out and people gathered in
the squares to chant fervidly God
Save the Queen" From all parts of
the empire comes the same story.
Bombay, Hong Kong, Colombia and
the Australian cities are rejoicing.
Continental cities, as the press tele-
grams abundantly testify, received the
news sadly.
The relief of Mafeking has had the
effect of suspending for a moment
interest in the operations elsewhere
in the field of war. Nevertheless yes
terday brought important official an
nouncements. Lord Methuen entered
Hoopstad Thursday. He is now 70
miles from Kroonstad and 50 from
Bothaville. Gen. Butler entered New
Castle Thursday evening. Lord Rob-
erts is not idle. While waiting for
stories at Kroonstad he is using his
mounted men to search wide tract
of country. Col Broadwood occu-
pied Lindley on Thursday and the
same day Col. Hunton captured one of
the lothas, 80 miles from Kroonstad
Gen. Rumble, on Thursday encamped
at Clocolan. British successes are
thus reported at every point from
which news came yesterday.
A Lorenzo Marques correspondent
telegraphing yesterday says: New
peace proposals will probably be put
forward by the Boer government. The
recent reverses are causing desponden-
cy. There was prolonged meeting of
the Transvaal executive at Pretoria
Thursday and the destruction of the
mines was again considered. II is
understood that the government does
not intend to destroy the mines"
President Steyn has arrived at Pre-
toria and is now in close conference
with the Transvaal government.
According to advices President
Kruger and the other high officials
purpose leaving almost Immediately
for lydenburg. The British prisoners
will be conveyed there and the for
eign consuls at Pretoria are leaving
for Lydenburg.
In kroonstad it is said that presi-
dent Kruger will surrender when
Lord Roberts crosses the Transvaal