The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-17

LONDON, May IT, $40 n. m.-The Brit
ish relief column fought the Beers at
Kraai Pan, thirty-two miles south OF
Mafeking. on Tuesday. according 20 a tel
egram received Wednesday at Lourenzo
MARQUEE from Molopo, 100 miles north OF
Mafeking
This intelligence is accepted here with
some reserve. because IL Is difficult TO un-
derstand how the news could have been SO
quickly put on the wire from place iS2
miles north from the scene of the engage
ment.
A correspondent OF the Morning Post.
presumably John Stuart. is reported cap
tured by the Beers at kraai Pan.
Anxiety over Mafckiug.
The British public Is keeping eSpectant
OF the announcement that Mafeking has
been relieved. In army circles the opinion
seems TO prevail that this has already been
accomplished, although two hours after
midnight the war office asserted that news
of the relief had not been received. The
steadfast courage of the hunger-bitten
garrison has produced a deep impression,
and the news Of succor is awaited with
more anxiety than has been felt regard
ing any other event of the war.
Roberts Net spreadins.
Douglass Story. the Mails correspondent
at Pretoria. wires;
"The Boer government Is holding back
some big news. Fever prevails here.
President Kruger is working day and
night. The latest Boer Official bulletin Ia
that the relief column has been defeated
with great loss"
Lord Roberts continues passive at
Kroonstad. His cavalry are stretching like
a semi-circular screen many miles In
length without tapping TANKS. The rail-
way will probably he completed today.
The Kroonstad censor permits the passage
Of long dispatches dealing with incidents
prior TO the occupation.
British Squadron stampeded.
II seems that Gen. Freneh's cavalry had
one Lively fight after crossing the Zand
river. A mixed squadron composed os
the Scots Greys the Inniskiliings. carbi-
neers and Australian horse took a kopje
and dismounted, The Beers suddenly fired
from concealed position. killing many
horses and stampeding the rest. The
Beers then advanced In Overwhelming
turing some. The Beers robbed the dead
and looted the saddles. A small brigade
Of cavalry drove them of.
Further north the hussars charged the
Beers. killing and woundinx many strag-
giers with rabers and pistols.
Lord Roberts infantry marched 10
miles in seven days Gen. French marched
thirty miles IN one day. The Boers. when
retiring dragged thirty-two guns through
kroonstad.
Halter. Advance Continues.
Gen. Butler r. moving toward Newcastle.
lie appears to be using .o"o men against
.co0 or 6.eoa His operations will almost
certainly result Ia bis forcing hia way into
the Transtaal. possibly IN time 90 cooper
ate with Lord Roberts advance. although
Con. Butler is ngw ~ miles from Johan-
neaburg OF twenty-five days march.
Dane. who was captured by the
South African horse. says that there
are go Freuchmen with the Boera who
are opposing Gen. Butler. together with
many Germans and other foreigners.
Tlae i.aaysmlth correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph says thar only one Boer
was shot in tbe movement which result
81 ~ she taking of Heipmaakar.
Gen RunGie is sweeping through the
mort haast Of The Free State.
Ths Bofrs are dIssoiving before him
and some are surTtn6erlngi
Beers Preparing 10 strike.
Their main force Is assembled between
FcksbafR and Winbufg. bat % ia with
oui close organization.
Todays inataIlnent or the 0ar story
from every part 81 the war field IT, there
fore. seemingly "A narrative of British
sgcceases. bat with the Beers preparing
for a last desperate aing farther ia the
interior and with BoeT guerrilla parties
Ioating houses and stores IN the north
west sectlou of Cape Colony. u is not all
roses far the Brithh.
The Tplngt0a district IS the locality
where the guerrilla tactics % the Beers
are 3lst now most 10 evidence
The pogtpore4 congress ~ tho Afrikan-
I dor band has been called 20 meet al Paasls
( June l5.
a Canadian battery of afteeu-poundsrs
arrived at Belra. Portuguese East Afri-
/ ca. May 10
English Eyes America.
The Daily Graphic. which refers 10 the
| B0er mission 70 the United States as
by-product Of the war. saEs