The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-24

Inhabitants Went Wild
With Joy.
Loss To Bethune's Cavalry A
Serious One.

London, May "a, $40 a. m.-bord
Roberts is drawing near to the frontier
of the Transaval. His infantry masses
are SO miles north of Kronstad, at the
Rhono ster river. Some thousands Of cav
arly are already across the river.
The Beers are retiring toward the
Vaal with their heavy baggage. They
are reported from Pretoria as already
across that river. Twelve thousand men
and fourteen guns compose the retreating
army. Trains continue to run from
Verenniging to Pretoria. Foreign engi-
neers assert that Pretoria is able to stand
a years sGge.
According to advices from Lourenzo
Marques the Pretoria Notifications are
described as complete; but Johannesburg
has not yet been placed entirely in state
Of defense. The Transvaal government
papers and the war chest have been re-
moved to Lydenburg.
Foreigners continue to leave the repub-
lie. The Dutch cruiser Friesland is at
Delagoa Bay-so 1t is reported-to fur
nish an asylum to the fleeing Hollanders
and passage to Europe.
The Beers forces continue TO dwindle.
Some Of the correspondents assert that
probably only about "a 900 of the hardest
fighters yet remain although there
are detached parties In various parts of
the Transvaal.
One of the curious pieces Of gossip sent
from Lourenzo Marquee is that several
women tried to sjambok President Kru-
ger who was rescued by his body guard.
He rarely leaves the presidency now, but
works incessantly, holding councils at
daybreak and during the night. II was
announced at Pretoria Sunday that the
government purposed removing their
prisoners from Pretoria.
Mafeking dispatches continue to pour
into London relating to the events imme-
diately preceding the relief and the entry
of the troops. The correspondents agree
that the Canadian artillery, Major En-
don's seven guns did splendid work.
Some of them assert that the Canadians
did absolutely essential work in the
fighting. F"
About seven in the evening of the day
before the relief, after Col. Mahon and
Col. Plumer had defeated the Beers nine
miles from Mafeking, Major Davies and
nine scouts entered the town. The Beers
were then retreating. At four on the
following morning, 1000 men including
the Canadians, arrived.
With them We're twenty wagon loads of
food, which were received with wild dem
onstrations. The armored train and
detachment then pushed forward to
Gametree fort, the scene Of the unsuccess-
full sortie in December. The Beers had
evacuated it on the east. They were
pursued and the correspondent, telegraph
ing these facts Thursday afternoon, closed
his despatch thus:
"We caught up with the retreating
Beers and have them now surrounded"
Lady Sarah Wilson has managed to get
through message from Mafeking, dat
ed Thursday and announcing the entry
of the relief column. She says:
1.-THE fighting before the relief was very
hard. A severe struggle proceeded yes
terday, May 16, from p. m, until dusk.
The Beers were forced slowly to retreat
contesting every inch. At sunset they
still held the last position.
"Col. Mahon entered the town in the
brilliant moonlight. The Beers were as
tired out as we were; and they never
guessed that an attempt would be made
to force an entry before mo rning
Therefore their surprise was complete.
They deserted their laagers, leaving lot
of food which was divided up among the
people of Mafeklng."
A Daily Telegraph correspondent des-
cribing the march of the relief column,
says:
Ton the morning before the little force