The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-23
RELIEF oF MAFEK1NG

1ntnct.|
RELIEF OF MAFEKING.
LONDON, March 2S-Again there is
persistent rumor that Mafeking has been
relieved. 1t is even asserted that the war
office has received a dispatch positively
announcing the relief, but the publica-
ton Of 1t is withheld until there is no
possibility of mistake. The war Office
declares there is no confirmation of the
rumor, and that no fresh news on the
subject is at hand.
No attention is paid in any quarter to
the wild Boer rumors of Boer victory
over Gen. Gatacre, which is only de-
signed to revive the dropping spirits of
the burghers
1t seems certain that Mafekings only
chance lies in relief from the column
supposed to be advancing from the south,
or that Col. Baden-Powell is strong
enough to make a sortie and capture
the Boer guns when Commandant Sny-
man shall have withdrawn a great por-
ton Of his force to oppose Col. Plumer
The general trend of news to the Brit
ish continues satisfactory. No news is
received of Gen. Buffers movements, but
it is believed he is again advancing on
the enemy.
There is a report from Lourenzo Mar
ques that Pretoria Is prepared to stand
women, frantic at the losses to Boer
arms, are entreating to be allowed to
shoot the British officers imprisoned at
Pretoria.
1t is also announced from the TransvaaI
capital that the Italian government has
declined to intervene.
BOERs ARE SURPRISED.
A dispatch to the Daily News from
Springfontein, dated Wednesday morn
ing, March q, says;
Gen, Gatacre and his staff are still
here. He is most strict regarding the pri-
vate property Of the Beers Some Kaffirs
tried and severely punished, to the great
astonishment and qualification Of the
Boer residents
The Daily News has the following from
Bloemfontein, dated Wednesday:
"It is reported that Mr.. Kruger and
Mr.. Steyn will meet at KrOonstadt, in
the Orange Free State, on April 4, to
ing between the Transvaal and Free
State is very bitter"
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle, telegraphing Thursday,
says:
"sir Charles warren's division is en-
barking at Durham for East London, Cape
Colony"
MEIdOEN CHAR(I IES.
Replying in the house Of commons today
to answer a question on the subject of
Gen. Lord Methuen and his alleged dis
agreements with the officers of his col
umn, which have caused considerable
scandal, the parliamentary secretary for
the war office, George Wyndham, declar-
ed no charge had been brought against
Gen. Methuen by Col. Cough or any 9TH
er officer. Col. Cough, he added. has
been informed that an inquiry would be
held into his case Col. Cough is alleged
to have been ordered hcme by Gen. Me-
thuen, after declining to obey a command
issued by the latter, and the colonel de-
manded a trial by court-martial.
RUMORs AND OPINIONS.
A dispatch to the Morning Post from
Bloemfontein, dated March %, says:
"a dispatch runner says the enemy, after
repeated dissensions, has withdrawn from
Brantford southwark. He thinks it un-
likely the Beers will make a stand any
where south of the Vaal. / cannot per-
sonally confirm this"
Spencer Wilkinson, reviewing the gen
eral field Of operations in the Morning
Post, says:
1.-THE rumors Of Boer victories are not
worth much, but they may serve to re-
mind us that for day or two there has
been so specific account of Gen. Gatacre's
movement. 1t Is probable his force is
moving on the east side of the railway.
Interest in Mafeking increases in
acuteness. Commandant Snyman evil
IDENTIFY writes highly colored dispatches,
which seems a pity, for his tactics are
sound.
Lord Roberts is not likely to let the
Boer army escape him, and he is paus-
ing so as to insure, when he next moves,
the mobility and hardness of all his col
umns BY this time he has taken the
measure of all his generals and troops.
and there is not likely to be any such
failure of execution as occurred during
the march on BloemfonteIn. He will be
directing the movements of two, If not
three armies, and the result will probably
greatly astonish the Beers"
Winston Churchill, telegraphing from
Ladysmith Thursday. pleads for mercy
in dealing with rebels He says:
1--WE must not try for our pound of
flesh. No real conqueror ever lost by
clemency, either in this world or in the
next We have by no means monopo-
ly of right in this quarrel, and our Afri-
can record does not entail on us to judge
harshly."
CANNOT INTERFERE.
THE HAGUE, March 22.-After mature
deliberation, the government has dis
patched reply to Presidents Steyn and
Kruger, regretting that it was unable to
comply with their request for interven-
tion In the South African war, after the
formal declaration of the British govern
ment that Intervention would not be ac-
cepted 1t was added however, that the
government Of the Netherlands would al
ways be ready to support steps tending
to the restoration of peace.
FREE SKATERS DECLINE.
ALIWAL NORTH, Cape Colony, March
22.-Commandant Olivier left Snithfield
two hours before the British scouts ar
rived. He succeeded in inducing only
about $50 men to accompany him, mostly
insurgent colonists. The Free S'aters
Cnntinned ON Fourth Page.