The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-03-25
NO GOOD NEWS
FROM MAFEKTNG
-
Fears That The Relief Column
Has Been Defeated.
FOUR OFFICERS AMBUsHED
----sss.--a
ROrd Roberts Gives No lnklInE Of llIs Fuiare
PIsns...The Beers Seem 10 Have
Again Taken Heart.
FOUR OFFICERS AMBUsHED

LONDON. March A.--At late hour
the war oiilce posted The following dis.
patch from General Roberts:
'Bloemfontein. March "a Yesterday
Lieutenant Colonel crabbe. captain
Trotter and Lieutenant lion. Elygon
Of the Grenadier Guards and Lieutcn-
ant Colonel codrington OF the Cold.
stream Guards. rode eight or nine
miles beyond their camps ON Modder
river without an escort. except one
trooper They we're fred upon by
party Of Beers and Lieutenant Elygon
was killed and Lieutenant Crabbe.
Lieutenant Colonel codringlon and
Captain Trotter were seriously wound
cd. The trooper was also Wounded
"One Of the wounded officers held up
"a white handkerchief and tie Beers
came 90 their assistance and I'D all
they possibly could attending to their
wounds, The Beers then conveyed the
wounded to the nearest farmhouse
where they were taken care d."
In regard 20 the general situation
there is absolutely nothing new TO re-
port. Lord Roberts dispatch saying h.
has nothing special TO report. is gener-
ally interpreted to mean that he hopes
speedily TO announce some intelligence
gratifying 20 the British. The opti-
HdsIS even deduce from a number OF
minor items Of news received that Rob-
erts has satisfactory news from the
southwest by oetour toward Mafek-
Ing.
In the meanwhile Colonel Plumers
position is arousing anxiety. He has
with him three long trains of supplies
for Mafeking, The loss OF winch would
be serious, and further Information
about Commandant Eloft's movements
is awaited with some trepidation. In
View Of the report from Pretoria that
he was isolating Colonel rlumer's
forces near Ga5erones. Wcll-nformed
people In South Africa are, however.
more hopeful than tbs inhabitants OF
this city The former are preparing
all kinds OF celebrations to take place
on announcement OF the ralsias Of Ma.
feking's seige.
\ sword OF honor is In readiness for
presentation TO Colonel Baden Powell.
A dispatch from Maseru. Basutoland,
under yesterdays date. seems TO dis
POSE Of the story that General French
was aghiing yesterday but 1t indicated
that battle is imminent.
A dispatch from Bloerfontein says:
The boers are reported to be retiring
from Kroonstadt. after having blown
up the bridge.
Spencer Wilkinson. reviewing the sit
uation at the seat Of war Cor the AS
socia,ed Press, at midnight says; THE
two points OF acute interest are Just
now Mafeking and the Boer' column
trekking north To Smithhald and Roux-
vile, along the Basuto border. About
Mafeklng We are In the dark. Colo
mel Plumer has but handful Of men
and is not strong enough to attach |
Commandant Snyman uLd raise ibe |
seige. Conmandant snyman, thcre-
fore, has attacked him and Colonel |
Plumer has prudently retired, expect
ins no doubt to return after Com
mandant snyman wherever the latter |
goes back.
Lord Roberts never forgets small |
things while attending to great things.
II may be taken as certain that he
knows how and when he shall have !
Mafcking relieved, supposing the earri- |
son can hold out but he does not dis
close his plans OF advance. The design !
no doubt is that General Butler in his |
next advance viii move simultaneously |
with Lord Roberts General Butler per-
haps is not ready, Lord Roberts will |
then have in his own hands 20. 900 men |
and General Butler will have 10000. |
Lord Roberts may be looked for north |
Of the Naal at the end VI April and |
before Pretoria II the Beers iall back |
to that place, In the first half Of May" |