Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-17
tBy Telegraph to virginlan-rnot.,


ish relief column fought the Beers at
Kraalpan, SO miles south of Mafeking
on Tuesday. according to u telegram
received Wednesday night at Lorenzo
Marques from Moollo, 100 miles north OF
Mafeking.
This intelligence IS accepted here with
some reserve, because it is difficult to
understand how the news could have
been SO quickly put on the wire from 4
place 1872 miles from the scene OF the
engagement
The correspondent of the Morning
Post, presumably John Stuart. is report
ed captured by the Beers at Kraai Pan.
The British public is keenly expectant
of the announcement that Mafel<ing has
been relieved. News OF it's succor is
awaited with more anxiety than has
been felt regarding any other event OF
the war.
Douglas story the Daily Nails cor
respondent at Preoria, wires:
The Boer government is holding
back some big news. Feverish activity
prevails here. President Kruger is
working day and night The latest
Boer official bulletin is that the relief
column has been defeated with great
loss"
LORD ROBERTS AT KROONSTADT.
Lord Roberts continues passive at
Kroonstadt. His cavalry are stretch
Ing like 4 semi-circular screen many
miles in length. with overlapping
TANKS.
The railway viii probably be com
pleted today. The kroonstadt censor
permits the passage OF long dispatches
dealing with incidents prior to the oc-
cupatlon.
General French's cavalry had a live
~ light after crossing the Zand river.
a mixed squadron, composed of the
Scots Greys, the 1nniskillings. Carbi-
neers and Australian Horse, took a
kopje and dismounted. The Boers sud
denly fired from Il concealed position
killing many horses and stampeding
the rest. The Beers then advanced
In overwhelming numbers and drove
the squadron, capturing some. The
Beers robbed the dead and looted the
saddles. Finally a. brigade OF cavalry
drove thern off
Farther north the Sussex charged the
Beers. killing and woundng many
stragglcrs with sabres and pistols.
Lord Roberts infantry marched 100
miles in seven days. Genera! French
marched thirty miles in one day. The
Beers. when retiring. dragged thirty
two guns through Kroonstad.
General Butler is moving toward New
Castle. He appears to be using % 600
men, against 5000 or 6000 His opera
tions will almost certainly result in his
forcing the Beers back, and his way
into the Transvaa, possibly in time to
cooperate with Lord Roberts advance.
although General Butler is now 252
miles from Johannesburg, or twenty
five days march.
FOREIGNERS WITH THE BOERS.
a Dane. who was captured by the
South African Horse says that there
are 500 frenchmen with the Beers who
are opposing General Butler together
with many Germans and other foreign
The Lodysmith correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph says that only one Boer
was shot la the movement which re-
suited III the taking of Helpmakaar
General Itundle is sweeping through
the northeast of the Free State. The
Beers are dissolving before him and
some are surrendering. Their main
force is assembled between Ficksbure-
and Winburg, but it is without close
organization.
To-days instalment of the war story
in every part OF the field Is. therefore.
seemingly, a narrative of British sue
cesseS: but. with the Beers preparing
for last desperate fling farther in the
interior and with Boer guerilla parties
lOOInS houses anu stores IN the north
west section of Cane Colony II IS not
all roses for the British. The Upington
district is the locality where the guer-
lila tactics of the Beers are just now
most ian evidence.
The postponed Congress Of the Afri-
kander Bund has been called to meet
at Paarle June Is.
A Canadian battery of 15-pounders
arrived at Beira, Portuguese East
Africa. May 10.
Thus, for the first time in twenty
years, the Republicans of Missouri
broke away from "bosses." This fact
was emphasized by the delegates when
Dyer's selection was made known by
the most enthusiastic demonstration of
the convention. Delegates waved their
hats and stamped their feet and shout
ed for Dyer in Il manner that stopped
proceedings for several minutes
The convention voted to name negroes
for aiternates at large, and the quar-
tette were selected by reclamation.
The resolutions indorse Mr.. Kerens
for reelection as national committee
man.
Webster Davis. who was expected to
he factor in the convention, and was
yesterday made the occasion OF ON