Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-03-14
Colonel PIummers Force Within
Forty Miles Of the Be
Iea9ured City
CRONLJE TO GO TO ST. HELENA
The Lion of South Africa to Be
Sent to the Great Napo-
Icons Prison
BOERs MAKE SPLENDID STAND

Lobatsi, March S-Colonel Plumer's
rorse reached here Tuesday, March
9Th. 1t is believed that only single
bridge southwark has been destroyed
and otherwise the railroad is intact
within five miles of Mafeking. Plum
er has already dispersed several Boer
police posts in the neighborhood and
is actively pushing the advance south.
ward.
Pretoria, March 14-A dispatch
from Bloemfontein says that in view
Of the military situation the seat OF.
government may be removed to
Kroonstaadt. Col. Plumer is now
within forty miles of Mafeking.
London, March A. 2 p. ma few
hours should bring important dis
patches from Lord Roberts. Sharp
fighting is believed to have occurred
since the commander in chief was
last heard Of. London confidently
expects the occupation of the Orange
Free State capital to occur today
Mafeking can scarcely hold out much
longer. The news of Col Plumer's
approach has given substance to the
rumors of its relief but the best in
formed are inclined to think that re
lief will more likely be accomplished
by Col Peakman's column from Kim
berley. Private advices set forth
Col. Plumer had almost given up hope
of accomplishing anything more than
harassing the Beers.
Judging from lack of news every
thing is quiet in Natal, while from
Herschel comes the statement that
= total collapse of the insurgent col
onists is imminent
General Cronje, according to a |
Cape Town special, sails for st.
Helena, March 18th, accompanied by |
all Paardeberg prisoners. Cecil
Rhodes Is suffering from catarrh sof |
the stomach and is unable to sail for
England. Natal dispatches recount
that the greatest satisfaction Is felt
there at Lord Salisbury's reply to the
Boer presidents peace overtures. A
private dispatch from johannesburg
has been received at London, contra
dieting the REPORTS that the mines
are flooded and machinery broken.
Pretoria, March 14-Commander
De Larey's report of the fight at
Abraham's kraal Saturday, says:
.The British were estimated to num-
ber 10000. Their first assault was
repulsed Only two Beers were
wounded. The second assault was
made on the hills to the left of our
position. These hills were of great
strategic Importance. Appreciating
this, l, and three hundred men, de-
Tended the position from in the
morning until sundown. The burghers
fought like heroes, and three times
repulsed the masses of British who
kept relieving their tired 8 men.
Every attempt to storm was defeated.
At sundown there were not fifty yards
between us. The British lost heavily.
No accurate returns of our loss are
available"
Washington, March 14-The an
swer of Lord Salisbury to the message
of Presidents Kruger and Steyn,
transmitted through our government,
was received last night by Secretary
Hay. through Mr.. White. our charge
at London. It was a declination of
the appeal 1t had been transmitted
to AdeIbert Hay. United States con-
sui at Pretoria, who will submit it to
the two presidents. This makes an
end of the first overture towards
peace. It is believed here, however,
an effort will soon be made by the
Beers to attain peace, though re
course may be had to some other
agency than the United States.
London, p. MT is officially an