The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-20
RUMOR THAT THE BOERS ARE
READY TO CEASE HOS
TTLITIES
NAFEKIEG RELlEF WAS PROMPT
SUCCOR CAME FORTY-EIGHT
HOURS BEFORE THE DATE
PROMISED
NEWS IS NOW MADE OFFICIAL
Queen COngratuIates Baden-P0weH
and the Men of His Command
Wild Scenes of JOY In
. London Unabated.

LONDON. May 2O.-It is reported that
the Pretoria government has decided to
sue to Lord Roberts for peace.
While no confirmation of this rumor is
at hand, it is generally credited.
TO DEFEND JOHANNESBURG.
PRETORIA, May 19.-It is officially an
nounced that Johannesburg will be de-
Tended. The consuls of the neutral pow
Crs have been advised to look after their
citizens, as the government will not hold
Itself responsible for injury to persons
or damage to property.
MAFEKING RELIEF PROMPT
LORENZO MARQUES, May 19-Mafe-
king was relieved Wednesday, May 16
BERLIN, May 2O.-A special dispatch
from Cape Town says that the relief
column as it approached Mafeking from
the south was attacked by a strong force
of Beers, who were repulsed. The col
umn then pushed on and the Beers re-
treated hurriedly. The rear guard con-
tinued in action for some time The Brit
ish casualties were slight
LONDON May 19.-Another Cape Town
account of the composition of the relief
column says it consisted of 1000 men
of the South African light horse, the
Imperial yeomanry and the Kimberley
horse. It left Kimberley May with
thirty-five wagons, containing stores and
ammunition, with four guns of the horse
artillery and two Maxims, and moved
west along tSe railway without meeting
opposition.
A special dispatch from Molopo, dated
May II, states that a large British force
= from the South succeeded in entering
Mafeking yesterday wednesday, and
that the siege was raised by the Beers,
their commanders Withdrawing eastward.
The Court Gazette contains the follow
ing:
THE queen has heard with the greatest
qualification and thankfulness the news
of the relief of Mafeking after a defense
Of over seven months by Col. Baden
Powell and troops under his command"
The significance of this, which refers
to the receipt by her majesty of a copy
of the Associated Press Pretoria dis
patch, is that it is the first official init
nation of the relief of Mafeking, and it
would not have been made if any doubt
had existed in the official mind as to the
correctness of the news.
SILENCE AT FRONT.
Meanwhile the usual Saturday nights
silence covers the seat of war. The
cables are mainly composed of reports
of enthusiastic publications over the re-
lief of Mafeking at various points in
South Africa A dispatch from Winburg
dated May 10, says:
Gen Rumble reached Troomel, twenty
eight miles from here, on Friday, trav-
ersing an exceeding mountainous coun-
try. Commandant Olivier's commando
is a few days ahead of him, but parties
of BoeIs are in the mountains. His men
are in excellent form, in spite of long
marches"
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg says:
'"rhe occupation of Newcastle by Gen
Butler has caused great jubiiation. The
magistrate and staff, the mayor and cor
pOralion have left for Newcastle Many
fleeing Beers have gone to the Free
State by Muller's Pass. Others have
gone to Wakkerstrom. Most of them,
lied mUb'
MRS. BADEN-POWELL'ST THANKS.
Col. Baden-PowelTs mother, in an in
terview which appeared in Lloyd's Week
ly, states that she IS overwhelmed with
congratulations. and finds it difficult to
convey her heartfelt thanks to all who
sent messages She says
will you be good enough to thank
NIL
my son and his men,"
QUEENS CONGRATULATIONS
The queen has telegraphed her con-
gratulations to Lord Roberts and Col.
Baden-Powell, eulOgizing the galantry of
the troops and making inquiries concern
ing the women and children of Mafekng
REPORTS FROM BULLER.
The war office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Gen. Butler dated New
Castle, May 8:
Gen. Clery moved to Ingogo today,
and Gen. Dundonald to Laings Mex AL
most caught up with the tail of the
enemy's column, and have captured a
few prisoners and wagons. The men
have marched very we'll indeed I left
Ladysmith May 10. Am now 13S miles
from there. The telegraph section has
been indefatgable and the army service
corps has kept us full of rationS all the
time The Fifth division also has 0ona
great service"
HAD A ROUGH EXPERIENCE.
DURBAN, May 19.-Rev. Adrian Hof-
meyer who was captured by the Beers
; at Lobatsi on Oct 1G last, arrived here
today. Mr.. Hofmeyer says that at the
time he was captured the feeling of the
Beers was so strong against him that
they wished to shoot him on the SPOT.
The kreigsraad decided by a majority of
one not to shoot him, but sent him to
Zerust, where he was placed in a cell
Is by 8, the door of which was opened
only for one quarter of an hour daily to
admit fresh air He fell i'll and whom
he recovered he was sent to Pretoria
Everything in his possession was taken,
and when he was released a friend gave
him a few pounds to bring him here
He says the burghers were beginning to
say that the war was not their war hnt
Kruger's, and he believes that if thew
are driven back at the Vaal fighting viii
cease. He does not believe the threat N
destroy the mines at Johannesburg viii
be carried out.
FINAL PLEA FOR PEACE.
BERNE, Switzerland. May 1s.-The