Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-25
WATCHED THE BATTLE
Population of Mafeking Sees the
Final Struggle from the
Tops Of the Houses.
Has THE TOWN LOST ONE DAY7
Roberts invading Army Still
Pushing For
ward.

Vredefort, May 24.-The British
columns after an unopposed march
reached Vredefort road at noon today,
and are now two marches from the
Vaal river.
Warrenton. May 24.-Operations
were pushed forward so miles by
one of Hunters brigades having &C.
cupied Vryberg last night. Consider
ing the difficulties of the road. this is
a remarkable achievement for the
mixed force, short rations making
forced marches. and water is scarce
Some portions of the brigade covered
Is miles without q break. Hunter
personally goes to vryberg today by
| train.
London. May 2a.-The following dis
patch from Maeking is just published
| here:
"Mafeking. May Il, via Kimberley.
The British relieving force occupied
this town at . O'Clock. The garrison
Immediately moved out with twelve
Founders and pom-poms and attacked
AIcMullins laager. The Beers re
then fled in disorder. leaving their
tents. wagons and impedimenta. The
British then occupied all the Boer posi-
tons. Colonel Baden-Powell gave the
garrison an opportunity of revenging
themselves. using the relief force as
reserve and as supports.
Population Watches the Fight.
Men aud women swarmed TO the
hOuSe-topS. and Lady Sarah Wilson, on
bicycle. accompanied the troops As
far as the Boer lines. The town
guard formed UP in the market square
for the march past tie relief force.
There was immense enthusiasm over
the fact that the relief of the place
was accomplished by cOlOnials.
was accomplished by colonials."
GNote.-Mafeking dispatches make
the day OF the arrival of the relieving
force May Il. Colonel Mahon's dis
patches-he commanded the relieving
fOrce-make it May Is. The question
is mOoted-did AHfeking put twenty
nine days in last FEBRUARY, thinking it
was leap year?I
A dispatch dated Cape Town. May
"a. says: Bar gold to the value OF
500 900 has been sent by mail from
Pretoria to Lorenzo Marques. State
Secretary Reitz Travelled on the same
train"
Situation at the Front
London, May 2J.-Lord Roberts in
fantry advance is delayed at the Rhe
nOster river for a day or two by the
depth Of the stream, which is not ford
able. The banks, which are pre-
cipitous. are forty feet high. \ pontoon
and temporary bridge constructions
are under way. The British troops are
in the form of Il crescent. with horns
thirty miles apart, with General
French's cavalry on the left within
twenty miles of the Vaal and General
Ian Hamilton's mounted men on the
right within thirty miles of the Naal
The center OF the crescent is about
forty miles from the Naal. As to the
Beers IL seems that the movement
toward Lydenburg continues and that
referendum on the question of con-
tinuing the war is going on among the
BOer fighting men. 1t may be a fort
night before the results of this singu-
lar vote are fully before the TranSvaal
government.
Beers Had Meant to Fight.
Kroonstad. May 23.-Although the
Beers retreated without a shot, their
late positions showed that they meant
TO fight. Along the steep sides of the
south bank were cunningly con-
structed rifle pits. These pits extend
ed for ten miles. A number of gun
emplacements had been blasted in the
rocks and for seven miles the grass
had been burnt in patches, with a view
of marking the ranges.
Probably For British Consumption.
London. May 25.-The Lourenzo
Marques correspondent of The Times
telegraphing Wednesday says: "Ac-
cording TO a private letter Struggled