The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-19
Suffering at Mafeking.

NlAFEKING. Feb. 1s.-Horse meat
now compOses a considerable part Of
our rations. There is little grumbling.
Inc first pinch Of the siege is over. and
the town has settled grimly 10 stick IL
out
What may be typhoid malaria has
broken out in the women's lager, and
dysentery. due 70 the absence Of vege-
tables, is rife among the garrison.
Such luxuries as We had have been
Communicated for the hospitals. which
are filled 70 overlooking.
The children's graveyard. close TO the
wOmen's lager, grows weekly as the
young lives are cut short prematurely
by shell and fever.
We look, for hope deferred for re-
lief. The cheerfulness which was char
acteristic Of the early days OF the siege
has almost deserted us, the men prefer
ring TO remain at their posts rather
than move about and work up an ap-
petite which can't be satisfied.
The natives are in the worst plight
Those who are unable TO obtain work
are allowed a small handful OF meal
daily. Many Drawing the danger wan
der about the town with gaunt hungry
faces in search OF work which entities
them to an extra ration of meal. II
they find work they are generally too
weak TO perform IL.
In their advanced positions the Beers
rake the streets and the market squares
II is impossible to dodge their bullets.
We have taken remarkable precautions,
however, and the casualties, though
heavy. are not what they might have
been had less able men been at the
head OF affairs. Even the headquar-
ter's mess fares scantily.
Two hundred and ninety-two persons
have been killed, wounded or died Of
disease.
The garrison Is so small that IL would
be criminal to make its weakness pub
lie, but there is never so much as a
whisper. II no one has suggested the
possibility Of surrender IL is because
We do not mean to get beaten, and we
are cheeTfully enduring hardships of
today rather than make surrender in
any degree possible tomorrow.
Cronje Goes to st. Helena.
LONDON, March S.-The military au-
thorities have decided that Gen. Cronje
and the other prisoners shall be sent
Immediately TO the island Of st. Helena,
there TO remain until the end OF the
war. Lord Roberts has chosen LORD
Bathurst, colonel OF militia at the front.
to command the escort to St. Helena,
which was last month placed in cable
communication with CapetOwn and
London. II is also asserted that the
cabinet resolved neither to propose nor
to entertain a proposal at the present
juncture for an exchange Of prisoners.
A Critic and Prophet.
LONDON. March Spencer wilkin-
son in the Morning Post. says: Yester-
days events are not quite conclusive.
II cannot be the Boer game 10 be beaten
in detail. Their only chance is 70 col
lect the bulk of their forces for a de-
cisiye battle. If they have not men or
spirit to stand up to Lord Roberts, their
case is hopeless. IL begins to look in
deed as If my original estimate Of the
strength of the enemy's fOrces-abOut
5O,OO0-was not far wrong. In that
case the game is up. for they must have
lost 10000 or more OF the original So
600. The escape of the Boer force yes
terday. however. is most disappointing
a good general is not satisfied with the
retreat of his enemy He wishes to de-
stroy them.
London Comment.
LONDON, March S. a. m.-Lord