The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-05-18
PROBABLY DEFEATED.
Pretoria Advices Say British Sus-
tanned Heavy Loss at Mafeking.
Lord Roberts, With His Infantrx
Il StiH at KrOOnstad, with His
Cavalry Stretched Out for
Many Miles.

London, May 1.-THE British relief
column fought the Beers at Krrai
Pan, > miles south of MafekinO on
Tuesday, according to a telegram re-
ceived Wednesday night at Lorenzo
Marques from Molopo, 100 miles north
of Mafeking. This intelligence Is nc.
cepted here with some reserve. be-
cause it is difficult to understand how
the news could have been so quickly
put on the wire from place 1872 miles
from the scene of the engagement.
a correspondent of the Morning
Post. presumably John Stuart. is re-
ported captured by the Beers at
kraai Pan.
The British public is keenly expect
ant Of the announcement that Mafe-
king has been relieved. in army cir
cles the opinion seems TO prevail that
this has already been accomplished.
although the war office asserted that
news of the relief had not been re-
ceived. The steadfast courage of the
huneer-bitten garrison has produced
a deep impression. and the news of
succOr is awaited with more anxiety
than had been felt regarding any 9TH
er event Of the war.
Douglas Story, the Daily Nails cor
respondent 1T Pretoria. wires: The
Boer government is holding back some
big news. Feverish activity prevails
here. President Kruger is working
day and night. The latest Boer Off
cial bulletin is that the relief column
has been defeated with great loss
Lord Roberts continues passive at
Krooastad. His cavalry are stretch
ing like a semi-circular screen many
miles in length, without tapping
tanks.
The krOOnstad censor permits the
passage Of long dispatches dealing
with incidents prior TO the occupa-
lion. 1t seems that Gen. French's cav
airy had one lively fight after cross
ing the Zand river A mixed squad
ron. composed of the Scots Grays. the
Inniskillings, Carbineers and Austria
Ian horse, took a kopje and dis
mounted. 1he Beers suddenly fired
from a concealed position. killing
many horses and stampeding the rest.
The Beers then advanced in over
whehning numbers and drove the
squadron. capturing some. The Beers
robbed the dead and looted the sad
dies. a small brigade of cavalry drove
them of.
Farther north the Hussars charged
the Beers. killing and wounding many
L.. !.
Gen. Butler is moving toward New
castle. He appears to be using $4,000
men against 5000 or 5000. His opera
tions viii almost certainly result in
his forcing his way into the Trans
raal possibly in time to cooperate
with Lord Roberts advance, although
Gen. Butler is now 252 miles from Jo-
hannesburg, or 25 days march,
Gen. Rumble is sweeping through
TIE northeast Of the Free State. The
Boers are dissolving before him and
some are surrendering. Their main
force Is assembled between Ficksburg
AMI Winburg, but it is without close
organization.
The war story from every part of
the field is therefore seemingly a mar
ratire Of British successes; but, with
the Beers preparing for last desper-
ate fling farther in the interior and
with BOer guerrilla parties looting
houses and stores in the northwest
section of Cape Colony, il is not all
roses for the British.
London, May 1.-THE most i'm
portant Development in Wednesdays
war news is the statement cabled
from Cape Town announcing that the
BOer delegates had advised the Trans
walters TO surrender if defeated at the
\ aal. This remarkable announcement
is vouched for on good authority,
and evidently obtains more credence
in Cape Town than would a mere
rumor.
The occupation of Glencoe was
merely a logical sequel of Gen. Bull
ler's advance and the Beers retiring
movement As usual the Beers are
reported TO be flying precipitately,
but. also. as usual. the accounts add
that their transport and guns were
removed in safety, which in itself is
a contradiction of any statement that
the Beers were panic-stricken.