The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-17
RELIEF
Column of the British Army In
tercepted by Beers.

British reltef column touBnt tne DUETS
at Kraai Pam, 80 miles south of Mafe-
king on Tuesday according to tele-
gram received Wednesday night az
Lorenzo Marques from Molopo, 100
miles north of Mafeking.
The intelligence is accepted here with
some reserve, because 1t is difficult to
understand how the news could have
so quickly been put on the wire from
a place 1872 miles from the scene of the
engagement A correspondent of the
morning post presumably John Stew
art, is reported captured by the Beers
at Kraai Pan.
The British public is keenely expect
ant of the announcement that Mafe
king has been relieved. In army circles
the opinion seems to prevail that this
has been accomplished, although, two
hours after midnight, the war office as
serted that news of the relief had not
been received. The steadfast courage of
the hunger bitten garrison has produc-
a deep oppression, and the news of
succor is awaited with more anexiety
than has con felt regarding any other
event of the war.
Douglass story, the Daily Mails cor
respondent at Pretoria, wires
THE Boer government is holding
back some big news. Feverish activity
prevails here. President Kruger is
working day and night. The latest
Boer official bulletin is that the re-
lief column has been defeated with
loss"
Lord Roberts continues passive at
Kroonstead. His cavalry are stretch
ing like a semi-circle many miles in
length, without tapping flanks. The
railway probably be completed today.
The Kroonstad censor permits the pas
sage of long dispatches dealing with
incidents prior to the occupation.
1t seems that Gean. French's cavalry
had one lively fight after crossing the
Zand river. A mixed squadron compos-
ed of the Scots Greys, the Inniskillngs,
carbiners, and Australian horse took
kopje and dismounted. The Beers sud
denly fired from concealed position
killing many horses and stampeding tn
rest. The Beers then advanced in over
whelming numbers and drove the squad
ron, capturing some, The Beers robbed
the dead and looted the saddles. A
small brigade of cavalry drove them off
Farther north the hussars charged the
Beers, killing and woundlng many strag-
glers with sabres and pistols.
Lord Roberts infantry marched 12t
miles in days. Gen. French marched
80 miles in one day. The Beers, when re-
firing, dragged 80 guns through Kroons-
tad.
Gen. Butler Is moving toward Newcas
tie. He apears to be using $4,000 mer
against 5000 or 5000 His operations will
almost certainly result in his forcing hi:
way into the Transvaal, possibly in Tins
to cooperate with Lord Roberts ad
vance although Gen. Butler is now 25
miles from johannesburg or 25 days
march
A Dane who was captured by the
South African horse says there are so
Frenchmen with the Beers who are op
posing Gen. Butler, together with many
ermans and other foreigners.
The Ladysmith correspondent of TIT
Daily Telegraph says that only one Boe
was shot in the movement which resulted
in the taking of Helpmaaker.
Gen. Rundle is sweeping through tn
northeast part Of the Free State
The Beers are dissolving before him
and some are surrendering. Their mall
force is assembled between Ficksburl
and Winburg; but it is without close or
ganization
Todav's installment of the war stor'
from every part Of the war field is, there
fore. seemingly a narrative or Brllls
successes but with the Beers preparln
for a last desperate filing farther in TN
interior and with Boer guerilla parue
looting houses and stores in the north
west section of Cape Colony, 1t is not
roses for the British.
The Upington district Is the locahl'
wherethe guerilla tactics OF the 6oer
are lust now most in evidence.
The postponed congress of the AIT:
kander bund has been called to meet
Paarle, June Is.
A Canadian battery of is Founders ar
rived at Beira, Portuguese, East Africa
May TO-
.SThere is no name of importance anon
the orators who saluted the delegates
We fear they have fallen into a sort Q
Anglo-Saxon ambush and are being vic
timized for purely party purposes
The Times considers the run'ors cable
here as to President McHinIey's allege
pro-Boer sympathies utterly bsseless.
1t says:
Mr. Mckinley is convinced that tn
country does not wish rim 70 interfeI
and that interference would be in b
respects inexpedient, as we'll as imposs
ble" .....E
The Times also refers 10 the admissC
by the American state department,