The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-05-18
in NORTHERN NATAL.
Gen. Buffers Force Meets With Sue
cess Near Biggarsberg.
A Proclamation VIII he Published
This Week Anncxing the Free
stste-News FROM Mafe-
King Expected.


Accommodating. Natal, timed 1905
p. m, Monday. brings the first intis
nation of a success attained by Gen.
Buller in northern Natal. The sender
OF this dispatch evidently assumes
that news of the affair has been re-
ceiyed direct from the scene of hos
tilities, for he merely says: Gen.
Buller's official telegram notifying his
success at the Biggarsberg, received
here an hour ago. has given keen sat
isfaction. IL is confidently antici-
rated that Dundee will be occupied
10y the British Monday. The residents
of the north country are delighted,
as forcing the Biggarsberg means
that they will be speedily enabled TO
return 10 their homes"
At the same time dispatch from
Cape Town, dated Monday, says a
proclamation viii be published this
week anneNing the Free State. 1t is
also said that Gen. Botha (the com
mander-in-chief Of the BOer forces)
threatens TO resign il any prepare
tions are made for the wanton de-
struction of property.
London. May i5.-Gen. Buffers
turning of the Biggarsburg position
wA effected by bold movement.
The Beers had evacuated lielpmakaar,
but were maKing a stand Monday
evening az Bleskoplaagte. seven miles
from Dundee. The corps on the spot
regarded this as rear guard action
tr4 IAI 4 10
army At the same time Gen. Hid
yard took lndoba. and IL is reported
that the Beers withdrew in disorder.
Gen. Butler. who seems to be employ
ing his full strength, is expected 40
push ON. His first marches were 40
miles in three days. He is thus break
ing into British territory which lad
been administered for six months by
the Transvaalers as though il were
part OF the republic, they holding
courts and ievying taxes. His success,
therefore, has political as well as nnl.
itary consequences.
While Lord Roberts infantry are
concentrating at Kroonstad, where
they will rest for a day or two. g.
northward. In the squadron which
cut the railway IS miles beyond
Kroonstad was the American scout,
Frederick Durham. Two hundred
Beers who had hidden i'm the river
jungles near Kroonstad TO escape SER
vice have surrendered 10 the British
and taken the oath of allegiance.
According 10 a dispatch kram b.
nett Burleigh 20 the Dali 20
dated Thursday, May 10. "a
and Macdonald. members of h
State volksraad. demanded us
chairman should call mectsn9M
for peace, as further resistance W.
suicidal, and proposed TO make Presi-
dent Steyn a prisoner.
Nothing definite has been heard
about the expected relief of Mafeking.
The Cape Town correspondents con-
tinue 10 wire that relief Is imminent.
Inqujrers az the war Office are told
that the news of the relief will be
made public Immediately on its re-
ceipt.
The latest superstition concerning
Gen. Hunter is that possibly he is
marching mp the north hank of the
Naal with a force sufficient, in coop
Grafton with Lord Roberts. 10 render
Roer defense of the yssi frontier inn
practicable.
East of Bloemfontein Gen. Rumble /
10 advancing toward Ladybrand. His
troops and those of Gen. Brahant are
stretched over distance of 80 miles. |
The Beers are described as quite dis |
organized and as retreating north
ward. President Steyn's leutenants
are trying 10 rally them.
The same stories OF disintegration /
come from nearly every point where
tho English correspondents are. Mr.. |
Hollawell. formerly a correspondent |
at Mafeking. who will put over the /
1ransvaal border, telegraphing from
Lorenzo Marques, says: Judging
from talks | have had with the Beers, /
the end of the war will come in
month or six weeks. Mr.. Steinkamp, /
chairman of the second raad, who |
travelled with me. said that il the /
hurghers were pressed from Pretoria /
they would retire TO the district Of /
the Lydenburg mountains. which had |
already been provisional. He re-
marked that he hoped the burghers /
would stand firm, but he feared they /