Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-18
CLOSING IN.
Roberts Army Cannot Be Very
Far fIon Mafeking.
Beers Caught in Trap IN Last Attack
on the Town.
Expected that the Mex, Great Battle Will Be
Near johannesburg.
CLOSING IN.

London, May 1880 A. M.-England
still waits with intense and almost
brpathleSS interest for news of the re-
lief Of Mafcking. A crowd fingered
around the war, even after midnight.
hoping for some announcement. Only
reluctantly did the people dispense
when the lobbes Of the war office were
finally cleared with the word that
nothing had been received One thing
seems clear The town still holds out.
Were il otherwise, the BOer wires laid
to the camp Of the beleaguerers would
have flashed the news.
Skeleton messages from Lourenzo
Marques, based upon information that
leaked out a the Pretoria war office,
show that the Boer stormers. Saturday
fell into a trap. Col. Baden Powell
permitted them to seize one fort and
then he surrounded and overbore them
before the large forces near at hand
perceived the strategem. 1t was thus
that Sarel Eloff, President Krugers
grandson. and part of his commando
were taken and 50 Beers killed.
The Canadian artillery contingent Of
the Rhodesian force is now reported
to have reached Bulawayo. May 2
king is 400 miles. As the railway is
open all the way to Pitsani. % miles
from Mafpkng. whore Col Plumer is.
the Canadians may yet take part in
the relief
Gen. French. scouting northward
found the Beers in strong force at
Rhenoster Spruit, 80 miles from kroon-
stad. Gems Botha. Delarey and Oliver.
aytiIl hn1Iinrr he
ton. President Steyn according to one
dispatch has gone to Pretoria. An
ether says he is a fugitive at Lindley
The Free Staters are surrenderng on
all sides. \ dispatch from Cape Town
says that proclamations are being
printed there. to be published on the
Queens birthday. May "a. annexing
the Free State One Of President
Steyn's brothers. who is a prisoner of
Gen. Brabant. says that the Free
Staters will accept annexation. Those
who took up arms the second time, he
explains. had to 90 so under threats of
instant death if they refused.
Five hundred rifles have been sur
rendered at Kroonstad in excess of
the number Of Beers who have taken
the oath of ALLEGIANCE. Lord Roberts
mas IlEPCIpu IIt GIllISlI COlnDldIlUtlS
to receive all corners in a good spirit
end to issue to them passes to go to
their farms.
Gen. Butler is pushing straight ahead
without opposition. He has only lost
five wounded during the movement. He
Is apparently aiming at Laing's Mex.
which is the direct road to the Trans
vaal. although he may drive to Botha's
pass.
Gen. Hunters movement in the
western Transvaal are rather puzzling.
He has returned to Fourteen Streams
with one brigade. leaving another. Gen.
Rarton's. at Christiana. Lord Methuen
is said to be advancing along the south
bank of the Vaal. Col Kekewick is
with him. The loop railway line
across the Vaal is fast nearing COM
pletion. The probability is that Gen.
Hunter took the brigade to Fourteen
Streams owing to the scarcity of trans
port.
Gen. Rumble has captured 10000 bags
of corn. He is marching slowly
through a district which is described
as literally teeming with sheep. cat
tie and horses"
Michael Davitt. according to dis
patch from LourenZO Marquee is Sdlu
to have advised the Beers while he
was in Pretoria, that, if they could
hold out until the Presidential election
in the United States they might feel
pretty sure Of intervention"
At Johannesburg the women are
forming a police corps, 50 as to release
every man for fighting purposes at the
front.
Dr.. Archer, who was al Dundee dur
ing the Boer occupation. asserts That
there are several hundred Englishmen
serving in the Boer forces who would
desert if assured Of pardon from the
British. The Pretoria official list or
foreigners shows 100 Englishmen won
are not fighting. but hold their resi-
dcnce in the Transvaal by special per-
mission. They are bank clerks, engl-
ncers and shopkeepers.
Durham reports the receipt OF
a telegram from Lourenzo Marques
saying that a Boer plot to blow up the
British cruiser Forte was discovered
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