The Topeka state journal., 1900-05-24
Buller's Advance Receives q
Check at Laing's Mex.
Beers Are Entrenching Them
selves For Resistance.
DUE TO A BLUNDER.
Boer Explanation of the Relief
Of Mafeking.
Defense of johannesburg Has
Been Determined Upon.

London. May 24.-2:05 P. M.-GeneraI
French has reached Prospect Station.
about five miles north Of Rhenoster riv-
er. The Beers are retreating straight
on the Vaal.
A dispatch from Rhenoster dated
Wednesday, May %. 7:45 p m, says:
''The general opinion is that we will ar
rive at Pretoria, as fast as we can
march, though the Beers announced to
all the countryside that they intended
to fight to the death"
Gen. Ian Hamilton is cooperating in
the advance on the right. Thus Lord
Roberts, who presumably is few miles
behind Gen. French viii reach the Naal
before the end of the week. Natives re-
port that the Beers have buried two
guns in the Rhenoster river.
In Natal Gen. Buffers forces have
crossed into the Transvaal near In
gogo, but are still held at bay at I4aings
Mex where the ROerS are entrenching
themselves With the exception of this
pass, Natal is clear of Beers. They. have
a big gun posted. but il is doubtful If
they will be able to hold the position
when threatened by a fanking move
ment from the force that crossed the In
gogo river.
A dispatch from Pretoria announces
that the first train north entered Mafe-
king, May p, and that the first train
south is expected next week 1t is said
that the relief of Mafeking was due to
a blunder of one of the federal officers.
by which Gen. De Barey was foiIed in
his plan to cut off the relief force after
driving them away from the Molopo
river.
It is added that the federaIs have re-
solved to make a determined defense OF
the city of Johannesburg. Klimke, the
state mining engineer, has been given
six months leave of absence, presuma-
bly, for protesting against the PROPOSE
tion to blow up the mines.
A special dispatch from Newcastle.
Natal, says the Russian ambulance
corps with the Beers. is disgusted with
their conduct and has requested the
czar to recall it.
SMALL FIGHTS.
Pretoria, May 24.=An official bulle-
tin issued here today says: Sixty Brie-
tsh cavalry came frzfo colifsf54.- on May
20 with so of the Swaziland commando
at SchOepers Mex. The fighting lasted,
an hour. The British lost q killed, .
wounded and II were taken prisoners
Twenty-Five horses, two AIaxims and
quantity of ammunition were also cap
tured. The federals lost one killed and
one wounded. They assisted to remove
the wounded and bury the dead.
The advance guard at HeilbrOn retir-
ed on the main body at the northern
border.
According to Free State advices. the
British yesterday were at Greylings
drift, on the Vaal river. 25 miles from
| Wolmaranstad with a large force.
On Sunday Kalbe engaged the British
between Heilbron and Lindley The
! federals had to retire before an over
whelming force losing one killed and
seven wounded.
/ BRITISH CROSS THE BUFFALO.
! Boer Camp Volksrust, Tuesday, May
| 22.-The British crossed the Buffalo riv-
er and were within sight of our position
| yesterday They are busy emplacing
! heavy cannon at Schuinshovjete, near
! the scene of the battle on the Ingugo
river in 1881. 1t is reported that there
| was fighting at Bothas Mex yesterday
/ Chris Botha, brother of the commander
/ in chief has been appointed assistant 10
! the commander in chief and has given
/ great satisfaction. He has revived the
! fighting spirit in many of the federaIs
In an ambush between N'Qutu ard
! Mount Prospect eight British were kill
/ ed and 13 wounded.
KRUGER PROCLAIMS
Cape Town May 24.-President Kruger
it is announced here, has Used a procla-
nation saying he viii defend Johannes
burg and calling upon all the Beers TO
fight to the bitter end