The Bowbells tribune., 1900-05-25
CLOSE TO THE vAAL
1RITIsH TROOPS WITHIN FORTY
HOURS OF JOHANNESBURG.
MfRration From Pretoria Has Begun
Women and Children Started
ON Their Way to LyndenberG-
Details of Col. Mahon's Mafe-
king Relief Expedition Are Com
ing In-Was One Long Rush to
Mafeking-Improba That There
Will Be Any Desperate Defense
South of Pretoria.

London, May 23-British horsemen,
according to a dispatch from Lourenzo
Marques, are now close to the Vaai
river. within forty miles of Johannes
burg. The migration from Pretoria
has begun. Women and children are
being sent in trains to Machadadorp,
on the way to Lydenburg. Trains are
arriving at Lourenzo Marques filled
with passengers, among whom are
many Germans who are bound for
Europe.
Some details of Col Mahon's Mafe-
king relief expedition are now coming
through from wayside points. 1t was
,one long rush to Mafeking. G. E.
Hands. the Daily Mail correspondent,
mentioned in Lord Roberts dispatches
to the war office as dangerously
wounded nthe fight with the Beers
May 13, sent his last message from
VrYburg May s, per runner to Kim
berley, May II. He says:
1.-The flying mounted column secretly
and safely organized by Gen. Hunter
started from Barkly and arrived here
tonight, covering 130 miles in five
days. 1t is
A Grand Force
of mounted men. Imperial light horse,
from Ladysmith; the Kimberley
mounted corps with Royal horse ar
rtihery and pom poms and a selected
body Of infantry from the fusileer
brigade. A special equipment of light
springed mule transport completes
this splendid force. The force so
equipped was enabled to move with
such rapidity that, although this is
difficult country requiring vigilant
scouting, the Beers were surprised.
The column moved parallel with the
enemy's positions on the Vaal. at RoOr-
dam and Fourteen Streams, actually
getting behind them without firing a
shot So close were we Sunday and
Monday that Gen. Hunters balloon
was visible and his bombardment
heard. The route taken was between
the Vaal and the Hart rivers. then
along the right bank of the Dry Hart
to a point abreast of Taungs and
thence to Pudimoe, Roedeport and
NHryburg.'
A Strange Race.
A correspondent with Gen. Hunter
telegraphs as follows from Fourteen
S3reams: "Col. Mahon's relieving col
r Gmn left Barkly West under secret
orders May 4, reaching Vryburg May
II. The Beers marched on the right
flank of the British and a strange race
followed. Mahon pressing toward
Mafeking with the utmost speed con-
sistent with keeping the force in con-
dition, and the Beers hurrying paral-
lei in an effort to pass him to throw
themselves across their path. The
Beers succeeded. He then turned west
during the night. The Beers followed,
overlook and attacked him in the buch,
but were beaten off,
Then. as Lord Roberts wired. Col.
Mahon and Col. Plumer united forces
at Jamasibi May Is, and Mafeking was
relieved three days later under condi-
tfons not vet known here. A cores
pOndent of the Daily Express says:
"Gen. Hunter devised and guided the
relief which
Was DaFingly Executed.
by Col. Mahon' The last message
from Col Mahon's column before the
\relief was dated at Majanamabili, May
IL. 1t says:
''The column left Vryburg yesterday,
did nineteen miles and outspanned at
2 a. m. No fires were allowed. We
started at dawn to-day and trekked
here"
Col. Baden-Powell's hardest blow to
the besiegers was the capture Of Com
mandant Sarel Eloff. President Kru-
Rers grandson, and his men. The
railway head is expected to be at
Kroonstad to-day. The congestion Of
traffic at Smaldeel delays Lord Rob-
orts' advance. but his cavalry continue
active through a wide radius east and
southeast of Kroonstad The infantry
advance steadily. Gen. Colville and
Gen. Rumble shift their headquarters
each second day. The
The Beers Are RetreatinE.
northward from Harrismith. Raiding
and sniping are decreasing. Lord
Roberts is adviced that little resis-
hnce need be expected south of Kip
Riversburg, near Johannesburg, where
the natives are digging trenches. but
the position. according to cores
pondent. can be turned. The same au-
thority thinks it improbable that there
will be any desperate defense south Of
Pretoria, and that even the capital of
the Transvaal is likely to be evacu-
ated. The order from the war office
directing six more siege guns to go out,
however. indicate preparations in ex-
pectation of siege. Twenty-one war
, correspondents have been killed or
have died of disease during the war.
In this respect the Daily Mail has been
particularly unfortunate. ten of it's
representatives having been put out of
service by death or illness.
~
FLAMES DESTROY 30 HOMES.