Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-03
MAFEK|MG SAFE
The Siege Has Been Raised
by the BOerS.
ROBERTS POSITION

He is Now Facing a Large Force Near
Paaderberg-The Beers Take Adj
vantage Of British Delay in the
Transport Service.
- ga
New York, March "a Boer report 10
published from Brussels that the siege
Of Mafeking has been raised. The news
is unconfirmed but is probably true.
London, March 3, 4:15 a. m.-Lord
Roberts at O~sfontein, six or eight
miles east OF Paardeberg, faces the re-
formed Boer army. from 5000 to 5000
strong. This may be merely a corps
of observation ready to retire on pre-
pared positions. Doubtless it is receiv-
ing accretons from the late besiegers
of Ladysmith and from other points.
Whatever the force may be. Lord Rob-
erts has ample troops to cope with It.
AS a heavy rain is falling on the veldt
and the grass is improving. this will
be a good thing temporarily for the
Beers.
Lord Roberts has surprised observers
by the excellence of his transport dur
ing the first advance n his is likely
to do so again. although military men
here think he must wait for some days
before going much farther.
The Beers presumably will use this
delay for all it is worth, pulling their
resources together. DR.. Leyds gives out
the opinion hat the British entry OF
Bloemfontein is daily expected, as
Commandments Dewet and Delarey had
been instructed to retard the advance
of Lord Roberts only until the con-
centration under General Joubert had
been accomplished.
No adequate explanation is yet made
Of the $4,000 achievements that are
preparing for Lord Roberts. Such ex-
plantations as are advanced tentatively
suggest either that the Cape Dutch
have become more FESTIVE or that the
imperial government has a him Of TOR
eign suggestions as to the future
status of the allied republics.
London, March 3.-The Standard pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Ladysmith, dated Thursday, March /:
''The once dashing cavalry brigade has
practically ceased to exist. At the be.
ginning OF the year we Iidu DOW HoiSSS
and 4,5O0 mules. Before the end OF
January We could only feed LOO horses,
the other had either been converted
into joints, soups and sausages or had
been left to forage for themselves.
These poor, emaciated animals-mere
painful sights Of the siege.
Had we possessed an unlimited
amount of heavy guns and ammunt-
lion we might have made the position
n- - shot ryn
fired except in dire necessity. There
were on February l only 40 rounds left
for each naval gum, while the supply
for the field artillery would have been
exhausted in a, couple of minor engage
ments. Fortunately the Beers were liz
Norant of THE true state of affairs. Had
they known u real they
might have displayed greater daring
with results which-now that we are
safe-we can venture to contemplate.
We were victorious solely because OF
mastery inactivity.
THE bombardment was heavy. but
OH the Who'll ineffective. 1t is estimat-
ed that during the investment about
II, coo Shells were thrown into the
town, an average Of three o Of ex-
killed and 1sS wounded. Our largest
losses were from disease"
London, March 3. 2:3O a. m.-Lord
Roberts wires to the war office from
Osfontein, under date Of March 2, 4:1s
p. M, as follows:
II have just returned from paying
Kimberley a hurried visit. / was much
gratified at finding the enthusiasm
among the Kimberley people regarding
the care of the sick and wounded. Al
the houses have been converted into
hospitals, and the men had been made
most comfortable.
II was struck with the friendly man.
ner in which the wounded Beers anG
our men chatted together upon the ex'
periences of the campaign. 1t delighted
me to see our soldiers sharing their ra'
tons and biscuits with the Boer pris
oners before they commenced theil
march for Modder river. Some of thu
poor fellows were very hungry aftel
having. been half starved in tn
. laager." Ell
London, March 8, 2:3O a. m.-The wa
office has received the following dis
pa tch from General Butler: &
"Ladysmith, Friday, March 2, $3.50 y
MI find the defeat of the Beers NOR
complete than I dared to anticipate
This whole district is completely clea
OF them and except at the top OF Val
Reenan's pass, where several g
, are visible, I can find no trace of them
Their last train left Modderspruit sta
ton about / o'clock yesterday n the
blew up the bridge. They packed thei
: wagons six days ago, moving them r
the north of Ladysnnith, SO that we ha'
t no chance of intercepting them. bu
they have left vast quantities of ammu
milton Of all sort, herds, grass, cam
: and individual necessaries. They hav
; got away with all their guns excep
} two"