Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-18
MAFEKINC STORMED.
Heavy Fighting Has Occurred at
the Beleaguered City.
RESULT is NOT DEFINITELY KNOWN.
Battle Is Thought to Have Resulted
Fnvorably to the Garrison
Gen. Butler Reports Cap
ture of Dundee.

Il W.
London, May 16.-A despatch to the
Daily Mail from Lorenzo Marques, dated
Tuesday, says:
There is now no doubt that there was
desperate fighting at Mafeking Saturday,
but 1t is believed to have gone in favor
OF the garrison. All that can be ascer-
tanned of reliable character follows:
Inc Boers, using artillery, attacked the
town Saturday. Very soon the Kaffir To-
cation was in flames, some say as the re-
| suit of shell fire, others as the result of
treachery. Fighting at close quarters be-
| came general, and, in the midst of the
confusion the Beers gained possession of
the kaffir location from which point of
vantage they brought guns to bear on
the town at close range. BY an adroit
move the garrison, despite its attenuated
NUMBERS, succeeded in actually surround
ing the party of Beers who had captured
the kaftir location. Severe fighting fol-
lowed, but, according to the latest re-
ports. the Beers still hold the location.
IN which they are probably surrounded
The truth is, I believe that the Pretoria
authorities, knowing of the progress of
the relief column, gave orders to Gen
Snyman to storm the place. There is no
doubt about the heavy fighting A tele-
gram from the Portuguese consul to the
governor general here confirms this, and
there is little doubt of the occupation of
the Kaffir stadt."
Fighting at Mafekins.
Lorenzo Marques, May 16. - Tele-
grams received here report very heavy
fighting at Mafeking. Pretoria re.
ports that Mafeking has fallen and
the Netherlands Railroad company has
issued a statement that Col Baden
Powell has captured large force of
Beers. A war bulletin posted at Pre-
toria May ~ announced that the Brit
ish were advancing to the relief of
Mafeking.
Ladybrand Occupied.
Maseru, Basutoland, May 16.-A por-
ton of Brabant's horse occupied La.
dybrand Tuesday and another portion
is pushing on to Clocolan.
Duller Mt Dundee.
London, May 16.--The war Office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. Butler:
Dundee, May 1--we have occupied
Dundee. About $500 of the enemy left
yesterday for Glencoe, where they en-
trained. Their wagons also left yester-
day by De Jagers drift and the Damn
hauser road. Their Kafiirs said thew
We're going to Laings mex. Almost every
house in Dundee is completely looted.
The navigation colliery is all right The
machinery OF the Dundee collieries is de-
stroyed. The houses of the town are
damaged, but are structurally intact"
Tardy Confirmation.
The war office Tuesday furnished
tardy confirmation of the press story
of Monday telling of Gen. Buffers
move on Biggarsberg, in a dispatch
from Gen. Butler, as follows:
kemp's Farm, May l5.-The following
kilograms sent to Roberts are now re-
peated to you. They begin under date of
May 49,: In accordance with instructions
to keep the enemy occupied at the Big
garsberg, on May IL 1 concentrated the
Third cavalry brigade of the Second divi-
sion and some corps of artillery at Sun
days river drift, on the Helpmakaar road.
and directed Col. Bethune to advance on
Greytown with the Bethune mounted in
fantry, the Umvoti mounted rifles and the
Imperial light infantry. On May IL we
moved to Waschbank and Bethune to
Pomeroy while Gen. Hildyard, from
Elandslaagte, occupied Indoda mountain.
On May 10 sent Gen. Hamilton with
1 tnree battalions up the steep slope of
Withock hill. The Third cavalry brigade
crowned hill on each side of the main
road, and Bethune attacked by the Pom
eroy road from three sides. The enemy
hurriedly abandoned the position, which
they had strongly entrenched, and retired
to the mex in front of Helpmakaar
whence we hope to dislodge them to-
morrow, as many of them have retired.
We have gained the summit of the berg
with the loss of only few men wounded
advance tomorrow on Reith and Hid
yard moves on Vessels mex. Our small
loss, l think, was certainly due to the
excellent troops leading of Gems. Hamil-
thune."
Leave in the Night.
A second dispatch, dated May IA,
says:
The enemy evacuated Helpmakaar mex
during the night, leaving rear guard of
about 1000 men in front of us. These we
have forced back throughout the day
under considerable difficulties, as they
fired all the grasses on top of the berg as
they retreated, and the wind being un-
favorable to us We were scarcely able to
see at all. 1 halted the infantry, who
marched very well through the hot smoke
at Beth. The cavalry have not yet re-
ported, but are some miles ahead We
have taken few prisoners. Our casual
ties are small.
Success of Dundonald.
A third dispatch dated from kemp's
Farm, May 15, says:
"Dundonald reported late last night
that he had driven the rear guard onto
the main body of the enemy, near Bura-
linden, where they occupied in force a
strong position with three powerful guns
Maj. Cough, with the composite regi-
ment, unanswered to the right round
their left flank, and they retired Dun
donald then halted. He was 25 miles, as
the crow flies. from his previous nights
bivouac and had covered nearly 40 miles
during the day in waterless country
most of the time riding through smoke
I think his pursuit very fine perform
ance. From prisoners 1 learn that the
enemy numbered over 1000 at Helpma-
kaar, and being now Joined by those who
left Van JonderS pass. they must total
nearly 5000 men.
I'VE move on Dundee to-day.
"Hildyard reports the occupation of
Vessels mex, and is repairing the line"
Not IL Toothsome Meal.
London, May 16.-Lady Sarah VIII
son has wired to her sister, Lady
Georgena Curzon, from Mafeking. IN
der date of May 8, saying: Our
breakfast consisted of horse sausages
and lunch of minced mule and CURED
locusts. All WELL"
Seventeen Drowned.
Windau, Russia, May 16.-The Nor
wegian bark Johannes, Captain Ander.
son, from Tonsberg, Norway. Nav 3.
fN, lp L 30.