The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-15
Free staters Dfsorganized and Unwill-
ing TO Listen TO President
steyn and His Officers.
NO WORD FROM MAFEKING
RELIEF OF THE BELEkGUERED
TOWN THOUGHT TO BE IMMINENT.
Gen. Hunter Probably Marching ID
the Left Bank OF the vaaI-steyn's
New Capital at Heiibron.


Buffers turning Of the Biggarsberg position
was effected by bold movement. The
Beers had evacuated Hempmakaar, but
were making a stand on Monday evening
at Bleskoplaagte, seven miles from Dundee
The corps on the spot regarded this as
rear guard action intended to cover the
retreat OF the army. AT the same time
General Hildyard took Indoba. and IL is re-
ported that the Beers withdrew I'm disorder.
A special dispatch from Stone Hill Farm.
Natal. dated yesterday. says: General Bull
lers advance commenced last Thursday.
when he left Ladysmith in strength. When
within two miles of Helpmakaar the Beers
opened heavy fire and the British guns
replied. while portion OF Buffers troops
worked round the Boer fianks. The British
attack was pressed home Sunday Bethuen
on the right, outfianked the Beers whose
splendid defensive positions in the BIggars-
berg were practically taleu.> General BuI-
ler's march subsequent to the attack was
carried out without hitch. The British
are still pushing on
A dispatch received by the Associated
Press from Pietermaritzburg, Natal, timed
1905 p. m. yesterday, says: General Bull
lers official telegram notifying his success
at the Biggarsberg received here an hour
ago, has given keen satisfaction. 1t Is
confidently anticipated that Dundee will
be occupied by the British to-day. The resi-
dents of the North country are delighted,
as forcing the Biggarsberg means that
they will speedily be enabled TO return TO
their homes"
Another dispatch to the Associated Press
dated Stone Hill Farm, $40 this morning,
says: After four days march eastward
at the foot of the Biggarsberg ridges, In
the direction OF Helpmakaar, which was
occupied by the federals. the Second Brig
ade, Sunday. led the attack. Dundonald's
cavalry broke the Beers center and
Methuen's horse advanced on their ex-
treme right. In the direction OF Pomoroy.
small party of burghers occupied ridge
overlooking Heipmakaar. but they did not
wait for the assault"
General Butler. who seems to be en-
ploying his full strength, is expected to
push His first marches were forty
miles in three days. He is thus breaking
into British territory which has been ad-
ministered for six months by the Trans
vaalers, as though IL were part OF the re-
public. they holding courts and levying
| taxes His success therefore has political
as well as military consequences.
While Lord Roberts's infantry are con-
centrating at Kroonstad, where they will
rest for day or two. his horsemen have
penetrated eighteen miles northward. In
the squadron which cut the railway fifteen
miles beyond Kroonstad was the American
scout Frederick Burnham. Two hundred
Beers who had hidden in the river jungics
near Kroonstad TO escape service have sur
rendered to the British and taken the oath
| of allegiance.
| According TO a dispatch from Bennett
| Burleigh to the Daily Telegraph. dated
| Thursday. May 10. Paul Botha and Mac
| Donald members of the Free State volks-
raad demanded that the chairman should
call meeting to sue for peace as further
resistance was suicidal and proposed TO
make President Steyn prisoner.
| Nothing definite has been heard about the
expected relief of Mafeixing. The Cape
Town correspondents continue to wire that
relief Is imminent. fixing Tuesday or
Wednesday as probable dates. Inquirers
| at the War Once are told that the news
of the relief Will be made public immedi-
ate on it's receipt. No word had come TO
hand at midnight.
The latest supposition concerning Gem
| eral Hunter is that possibly he is marching
| up the north bank OF the vaal with force
| sufficient in cooperation with Lord Rob-
| erts. TO render Boer defense OF the vaal
| frontier impracticable.
| East of Bioomfontein General Rundfe r.
| advancing toward Ladybran6 His troops
| and those of General Brabant are stretched
| over distance OF thirty miles The Beers
are described as quite disorganizec and az
retreating northward. President Steyn's
| lieutenants are trying 10 rally them.
| The same stories OF disintegration come
from nearly every point where the English
| correspondents are. Mr.. Holliwell. for
merly a correspondent at Mafeking. who
was put over the Transvaal border. tels-
| graphing from Lourenzo Marques. Sunday.
says: Judging from talks have had with
the Beers the end of the war will come In
| month or six weeks. Mr.. Steinekams.
| chairman OF the second raad. who trav-
eled with me. said that II the burghers
we're pressed from Pretoria they would
retire to the district OF the Lyndenburx