The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-23
TO SEEK RUSSIA'S HELP.
THE OBJECT OF THE FlSGHER-W
MARANS DEPUTATI0k
WILL BE A DESPERATE BAUTE.
Kruger's Prediction Of the Fight to
Occupy Position I'm the Hills at AL
owalnorth-D Desultory Fighting North
of Kimberley-Progre of the Col
umn for Relief of Mafekfng Ceased or
News of 1t Suppressed Negotiations
on Foot.

north of Kimberley, desultory fighting
occurred ali Sunday, resulting in the
retreat Of the Beers toward Christiana,
under shell fire. The progress of this
column towards Mafeking has either
almost ceased or is forbidden TO be
mentioned in the dispatches. Mafeking
apparently still awaits relief.
The Pretoria account Of the skir-
mishes at Fourteen Streams on March
18th says that a Boer command was
preparing to destroy railroad bridge
and that the engagement lasted half
an hour, with the result that one
bugler was slightly wounded. The same
dispatch announces the arrival at the
Transvaal capital of General Schalk-
burger. from Natal.
The second edition of The Times to-
day publishes A dispatch from Bloem-
fOntein dated Monday, March 18th
which says: The blowing up of
bridges by the Beers is an evident sign
| that the Transvaalers intend to aban-
| don the defence of the Free State
| A corps Of young Beers from the farms
| surrounding Bloemfontein, under an
| imperial officer, has been detailed for
police work and to prevent the further
| looting of abandoned farms by the
| KaffirS.
| 1t is said that when President Kru-
| ger left BlOemfOntein after his recent
! visit there, President Steyn's parting
| remark was: Mind the British do not
| catch you, or you will get better quar-
| ters at ST. Helena than T.
The Beers at Ahwalnorth are report
| ed to be still holding a position in the
| big hills on the Free State side. From
| a Pretoria dispatch it appears some
| misunderstanding regarding Lord Sal
| isbury'S reply to Americas offer Of me-
diation exists there. 1t had been quoted
| to the effect that Lord Salisbury said
he could accept the Intervention of no
! other power. which leads to the belief
| that the American representations
would be listened to in the final set
| tlement.
TO SEEK RUSSIA'S AID.
London. March 22.-The Cape Town
correspondent of The Morning Post
says: "On the best authority I learn
that the real objective of the Fischer
Wolmarans deputation is Russia.
also hear they have taken away all
| the secret discriminating documents
10 implicate Steyn and the bondites. "
TRANVAALERS TREKKING.
dispatch to The Standard from
| Bloemfontein, dated Tuesday, says:
-Four thousand Transvaalers from
| Colesburg trekked on Saturday and
Sunday to the northeast, going by way
| of the Basuteland border They will
probably be caught at one OF the
| passes.
| ga strikipp feature of tbe advance
on Bloemfontein was the abandonment
of our communications with Poplar
| Grove. Lord Roberts, confident in the
| ability of his transports to meet all
the immediate needs of the army de-
| liberately left the enemy at Abra-
hamskraal to do what they liked. The
result fully justified him. The enemy
| to the south were paralyZed by the
boldness and rapidity of the stroke and
| Generals Clements and Gatacre were
enabled to cross the Orange river al
Aost without opposition.
TO BE A DESPERATE BATTLE.
A dispatch from Pretoria dated
Monday, March 18th says:
| president Kruger returned from
Kroonstadt yesterday. He says the
fight in the Free State will be desper-
ate I am informed that the Trans
! vaal government has taken no resolu-
tion to destroy mines or property as a
last resort.
The Cape Town correspondent OF
March Goth, says:
IL have just arrived from Bloemfon
tein. where 1 learned that no further
movement is probable for three weeks
as negotiations are proceeding. I fail
ed to ascertain the nature of the ne
gotiations. or whether SIR Alfred Mil
ner'S departure from Cape Town is
| connected fhnn1 rIt r
be surprised if the war collapsed
quickly.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE
FREE STATE
Daily Chronicle correspondent al
Bloemfontein. telegraphing Tuesday
Marc. 20th, says:
THE civil government has been re-
organized. Mr.. ]. A. Collins, under
secretary OF the interior in Steyn's ex.
Steyn is regarded as guilty of faulty
but not Influenced by nepotism. He
| was always Krugers tool. 1t has
been rumored that he has reapet
financial benefit from this connection
but the report Is moi substantiated
Mr.. Fischer played the part Of Stey1'l
Aephistopheles-"
| Several kilograms have passed be
tween President Kruger and the Brit
ish government. in addition to the Sal
isbury- Kruger correspondence alread.
published. The foreign office received
dispatch from Pretoria yesterday
The contents of these communication
cannot yet be obtained. So far as tn
military position is concerned. there Il
no practical change. AS necessary Il
a beginning, Generals Gatacre anC
Brabant are swiftly moving from poin
to point in the southern districts Of th'
Free State. dispensing or accepting thu
surrender of any remaining Beers. thus
ensuring the safety of Lord Roberts
I communications before starting to
ward Pretoria
A correspondent of The Daily New!
at Springfoentein describing thes'
movements. says: General Gatacre 1: