The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-18
Butler Advancing Without Any
Opposition.

Lonooni May $50 oV .. AnbA~Au
still waits With intense and almost
hrsathIess interest for news OF the relief
Of AAfekipg. A crowd fingered around
the war offioe, even after midnight, hog
ing for some announoemsnt Only re-
luotantly did the people disperss when
the iobbies az the war otiios were finally
cleared with the word that nothing had
been received. One thing seems clear.
The town still holds out. Were 1t other
wise, the Bosr wires laid to the camp Of
the belsagrerers would have flashtd the
news. Skeleson messages from Louren-
20 Marques, based upon Information
that leaked out at the Prstoria war
offics, show that the Bosr stormers Sat-
urday fell into trap. Col. Baden Powell
permitted them to seizs one fort; and he
then surrounded and overbore them be-
fore the large forces near at hand per-
ceived the stratagem. 1t was thus that
Sarei Eloff, President Kruger's grandson
and part Of his commando were taken
and 80 Bosrs killed.
Ihe Canadian artillery contingent Of
the Rhodesian fcros is now reported to
have reached Bulawayo, May y. The dis
tanos from Bulawayo to Mafeking Is 4so
miles. As the railway is open all the
way to Pitsani, 2S miles from Mafsking.
where Col. Piumer is, the Canadians
may yet taks part in the relief.
Gen. French, scouting northward, found
the Beers In strong for,s at Rhenoster
Spruit, 20 miles from kroonstad.
Generals Botha, Delarey and Oliver.
With artillery. we're holding the position.
President Steyn, according to one de-
spatch, mas gone to Pretoria. Another
says he 10 q fugitive ut Lindley. The
Free Staters are surrounding oneall
sides. A despAt,h from Cape Town says
that prociamations are being printed
there, to be published on the Qusen's
birthday. May "a, annexins the Free
State.
One Of President Steyn's brothers. who
Is a prisoner OF Gen. Brabaut, says that
the Free Staters accept annexation.
Ynose who took up arms the seound time,
hs. explains, had to do 40 under threats
Of instant death II they refused.
Five hundred tIities have been surren-
dersd at kronstad In excess of the mum.
ber OF Beers who have taken the oath
of allegiance. Lord Roberts has directed
the British commanders to receive all
c,mers in o good spirit and to issue to
them passes TO 20 to their farms. Gen.
Butler is pushing straight ahead without
opposition. He. has only lost five wound
ed during the movement. He Is apparent
Iy aiming ct Lsings Mex. which is the
direct road to the Iransvsal, although
he may diverge to Botha's Pass,
Gen. Hunters movements In the west
srn Transveal are rather puzzling. He
mas returned to Fourteen Streams with
one brigade. leaving Gen. Rarton's
at Christiana. Lord Msthuen Is said to
be advancing along ths south bank OF
the Vaal. Col. Kekewioh Is with b IN.
The loop railway across the Vaai is fast
nearing completion. The probability Is
that Gen. Hunter took the brigade to
fourteen Streams. owing to the scarcity
of transport.
Gen. Rundls has captured ten thousand
bags OF corn. He is marching slowly
through q district which is described
as ''iiterally teening With sheep, cattle
and horses
Mr.. Michael Davitt. according to q
despatch from Lourenco Marquee, is said
to have advised the Beers while he was
in Pretoria that, II they could hold out
until the Presidential election In the
United States they might feel ''prstty
cure OF Intervention.
At johannesburg the women are form
ing police osrps. so as to release every
man for fighting purposes ut the frort.
DR.. Archer, who was at Dundee during
the Boer occupation asserts that there are
several hundred Englishmen serving In
the Boer forces who would desert II as.
sured OF pardon from the British. The
Pretoria official list Of foreigners show
100 Epglishmsn who ere not fighting,
nut hold their residence in the Trans
vaal, By special permission. They ars
bank clerks. engineers and ahop keepers.
Durham reports the xeceips Of teie-
gram from Lourenco Marques saying
that . Boers. plot TO blew up the British