Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-22
THE SITUATION DARK
Speakers At Pretoria Meeting Ac-
knowledge That the Outlook for
the Beers Is Gloomy.
BRITISH PATROL AMBUSHED
Beers Must Remain With Their Oomman-
does-A British Flying Column Entered
Mafeking After Repulsing Beers
With Great Loss.


ports to the war office, in a dispatch
dated Kroonstadt, May q, as follows
"Mahon reports that a flying column
entered Mafelking at a. m. May 1S. He
was stubbornly opposed by 1900 men or
May II nine miles from Mafeking, but
the Beers were driven from their strong
position after five hours fighting
thanks, he says, to the magnificent
qualities of his troops. A detachment
Of Canadian artillery, by a series OF
forced marches, reached him on the
morning of the fighting and rendered
very valuable assistance. Mahons cas-
ualties We're about thirty. The Boer
losses were heavy"
BOERS LEFT NATAL.
London, May ga dispatch from
Pietermaritzburg says that the Beers
are reported to have entirely left Ma
tai, leaving Laing's Mex free. If this is
true, it leaves a way open for General
Butler to advance into the Transvaal
as soon as repairs to the railroads are
sufficient to insure good communica-
tions.
STILL AT KROONSTADT.
Lord Roberts is still at Kroonstadt,
reorganizing his forces. General Run
dies forces are encamped at Trommel,
recuperating.
BOERS ATTACK PATROL.
A patrol four miles from Trommel
was wounded and some horses We're
killed. The affair was unimportant, ex-
cept showing that the Beers are still in
the neighborhood, on the lookout for
any chance for sniping
THE CAPTURE OF ELOFF.
Further details of the fighting at
Mafeking say that Commandant Eloff's
followers deserted him, whereupon
Eloff fired on them himself, and then
surrendered with eighty followers. The
dispatch also says that one party of
Beers was driven out of the staat and
allowed to escape, as 1--WE had sufficient
prisoners" The capture of Eloff and his
followers cost Baden-Powell three men
Killed and seven wounded
A BIG HAUL.
Cape Town. May 22.-When the Brit
ish troops arrived at Veereeniging.
Transvaal, the bridge across the Vaal
was found intact. Twenty seven Free
State and Transvaal locomotives were
captured.
AN OPEN-AIR MEETING.
Pretoria, May 2.-An open-air meet
ing was held to-day by the Hollanders,
200 of whom were present, to consider
the situation in the event that Pretoria
should be beleaguered. A committee
was appointed to secure place of safe
ty for women and children. The consul
general of the Netherlands, Mr.. Nieuw-
enhuys, was asked to advise his govern,
ment to protect it's subjects. One speak
err said that the position was most dark.
The British would be masters, capital
lists would dominate, the poor would be
sufferers, and the Holanders would
have no chance.
Dr. Heyman said that the health of
. IColuCHI hIuSCI Is SOOu.
MEN MUST STAY.
In accordance with an understanding
with General Botha and President
Steyn, the government issued circular
stating that should the enemy succeed
in gaining position in the Transvaal
aid take possession of one or the other
district, the inhabitants will be free to
decide whether or not to leave their
families on the farms. But men must
remain with their commands.
BRITISH AMBUSHED.
London, May 22.-It is officially an
nounced that Colonel Bethune reported
that while marching in the direction of
New Castle, Natal, yesterday, he was
ambushed by the Beers six miles west
of Vryheid, in the Transvaal, and very
few of his force escaped. His casualties
numbered sixty-six.
VERY FEW ESCAPED.
London, May %, 4:46 p. m.-The war
office received the following from Cen
eral Butler:
New Castle, May 22.-I received the
following from Bethune: May 81, while
marching in the direction of New Cas-
tie, one of my squadrons of Bethune's
mounted infantry was ambushed by the
Beers six miles west of Vryheid, and
very few escaped. Lieutenants Lausum
and Capel are among the missing. Cap
tain The Earl de la War; is slightly
wounded in the leg. The total casual
ties are about sixty-six I returned to
N'Qutu for supplies. Will march to-
morrow to New Castle via Dundee
detached Colonel Bethune and about 500
men from Dundee May.17, with instruc-
tions to march by Vaults drift and show
his force at N'Qutu, which was report
ed to have been evacuated by the ene-
my, preparatory to return the, magis-
trates and civil establishments to the
district He was to Join me at New
Castle afterward."
Confidence In the Government
Paris, May 22.-The chamber of dep
uties, by three successive votes, de-
clared its confidence in the government.
Samuel A. Elliot Honorsd.
Boston, Mass, May 22.-Samuel A. FL
lott, of Cambridge. Mass. was elected
president of the American Unitarian
Association to-day.