New-York tribune., 1900-05-18
FINAL EFFORT FAILED.
BELIEF THAT MAFEKING RESISTED THE
LAST DESPERATE BoER ASSAULT.

Copyright. 1900: BY The New-York Tribunel
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
London. May Is. a. m.-The best news for
the English side from Mafeking is Of negative
kind No time would have been lost in Pretoria
in proclaiming the capture Of the town if there
had been a victory. The official Boer account
does not claim a victory as a result Of the fight
ing Saturday and Sunday, and this is clear evil
dence that the British forces held their ground.
The only detail added TO the previous report
that the Beers stormed and captured Of
Baden-PoweWs positions Saturday, and were
surrounded during the night and driven back
is that their losses We're twenty-four, and that
q number Of burghers were taken prisoners
Dispatches received at Cape Town from Lou
renco Marques state that the Beers were
pulsed in a determined attack upon the town.
and that they lost heavily, Commandant Eof
and ninety prisoners being taken. Similar dis
patches were in Fleet Street last night There
is an additional rumor from Pretoria that the
advance guard of the relief force from the
south was repulsed Tuesday. and that the gar
rison had not been attacked since Sunday.
These bulletins from Boer sources confirm the
theory that a final assault was ordered in con-
sequence of the approach Of the relief column
which started above Kimberley about April 10,
reached Taungs toward the end of the month
and was within thirty-five miles Of Mafeking
several days ago. This force is a picked body
Of rough riders recruited from the Imperial
Light Horse. Roberts's Horse. MarshalPs Horse
and the Imperial Volunteers Its start and
progress were masked by the movement of Car
rnston's force from Beira and Hunters ad-
vance upon Fourteen Streams. But while the
ton in ct
toward Taungs its approach through Vryburg
has been no secret TO the Beers. Public interest
In the final stage OF this relief column is intense
Mr. wyndham frankly told the House Of Com
mons yesterday that the War Office was with
information. and that news Of the relief Of
the garrison might not come for several days
Men in close touch with that office assert that
the plan of relief has been known for weeks to
the leading officials. and that news of the ar
rival Of the column at Mafeking is expected con-
idently by the end of this week.
A series OF dispatches from Lord Roberts
shows that while the central column still halts at
Kroonstad great activity prevails on the east
flank. General Butler has not halted at Dundee,
but is following the Beers toward the battle
fields Of the first for independence Clery's
division has reached Dannhauser and cavalry
patrols are near Newcastle. Hildyard's division
is further back the railway, and the Fourth
Division, made up from Whites army, is march
ing from Ladysnith to Newcastle by the north
ern road over the Bggarsberg. General Butler
evidently intends to make Newcastle the head
quarters for the shortest possible turning move
ment by which Laing's Mex and the railway
tunnel can be secured and the road opened for
direct advance toward Standerton.
Hunters division, in the west is advancing
from Christiana toward Klerksdorp and Meth
Uen is On the road from Boshof to Hoopstad.
Rundie is steadily clearing the eastern district
OF the Free State. his headquarters now being
between Winburg and Ficksburg. and Bethle-
hem being his goal General Roberts evidently
expects Rumble to overrun that section and hunt
down the wavering Free Staters
The campaign is most active in every quarter
except Kroonstad. and the advance Of General
Roberts cannot be deferred many hours
The American Embassy has no information re-
specting the sale of Philippine property belong
ing TO the Dominican Friars to English syn
dicate- No rumors in regard to any transaction
OF the kind have reached it. and ii attaches no
Importance 10 the story.
Arrangements have been made for presenta-
uon Of an American loving cup TO Sir Thomas
Upton on the Queens birthday at the Hotel
Cecil Sir Thomas Upton clearly regards this
as one of the greatest honors ever bestowed
upon him. and expresses with enthusiasm his
appreciation Of the compliment paid him by the
americans in subscribing for this gold loving
cup. American sympathy and good feeling will
MAKE him the happiest and proudest man in the
United Kingdom the Queens birthday
/. n. f.
HUMBLE TAKES PRISONERS DAILY
Thaba Nchu. Tuesday. May 15-The British
advanced