Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
NO PLEA FOR PEACE
British Government Denies Rumor
Regarding Boer Overtures.
RELIEF OF MAFEKING CONFIRMED
Beers Facing Main British Army
Alert and Aggressive.
BULLER'S ADVANCE DELAYED

LONDON. May 21.-The Associated Press
is able to say that no message from Presi-
dent Kruger, direct or indirect, has re-
Gently been received by Lord Salisbury or
by any department of the British govern
ment. nor. it may be added is any COM
muncation from him dealing with the
question of the cessation of hostilities eX-
pected by them in the immediate future.
The proximity of peace. according to the
government point of view, will remain a
matter of military progress. How soon the
latter may bring about the former is still
too supposititious for serious forecast on
the part of any government official. The
consensus of opinion. as CLEANED b the
Associated Press at the government office.
is that the Boer delegates will exhaust
every effort in the United States before
President Kruger directly, though
Lord Salisbury himself does not believe
that the delegates will accomplish much in
Am. rICa-
Tlc official confirmation of the relief of
Mafeking does away with the lingering
doubts which existed in the minds of few
people who have got into the habit of be-
lieving nothing but war office dispatches.
With helatcd enthusiasm that department
hoistcd its flag the receival of the tele-
gram ana the crowd cheered
Promotion for Baden-PoweiI.
1t is announced that Col. BadenPowell
will be made major general.
Mafekng was actually relieved by Col
r. T. Mahon. who served IN the Dongola
and Nile expeditions with General Kitch-
ener.
Lord Roberts latest dispatch merely con-
tinues his description of the organization
of the transport of supplies and the rest
for the men that the British forces in the
Free State and Natal found necessary after
their long, quick marches. This delay
seems likely to continue for a few days.
\ dispatch from kToOnstad, dated Sun
day May 20 says a British convoy its
way To Lindley was attacked by the Beers
and obliged to halt The result of the at
tack is not known. bat it IS evident that
the Beers facing the main British army are
on the alert and aggressive.
The war office has received the following
dispa ch from Lord Roberts:
'kfatpNSTAD. May 21.-Mahon Colonel
B. T. Mahon) reports having joined Plumer
a, Jamaisia. May II. He was followed by
a Boer commando from MartZani Siding,
and turned westward To avoid il. May II
he was attacked in the thick bush, losing
men killed. missing and II wounded. in
Guiding Daily Mail correspondent. The
R"ers lost more than Mahon in killed and
wounded.
EoerS Captured at Nafeling.
Another report has been received from
BaIen-Powell dated May Il. giving i'm
u
stormng party 30 strong. personally led
by Eloff. rushed the p:ckcts and reached
the Staat and rrotectorate camp from the
westward along the Maloppo valley.
strong musketry demonstration being made
at the same time along the eastern front
Of position. Our western posts closed
II, and stopped the Boer supports follow
ing. thus cutting off Eloff's retreat. while
the town defenSes STONED mis- further ad-
in he larL II
E.ss. and a strong party was placed be-
tween them. completely surrounding them.
Fighting continued all day long
soon after nightfau TWO parties sur
II ndered and the other was driven out of
the Staat under heavy fire. Ten dead and
mneteeH wounded Of the enemy were left
b. mind, and los prisoners were taken, IN
cludiag EieT and nine officers. Seventeen
Trenchmsn and many Germans We're among
the prisoners. our losses Were six
killed and tw" officers and nine men
wounded
buiier's Advance Delayed.
Butler reports that his advance will be
d,iayed for a few days on account of the
way in which the railroad has been de-
ttroyed.
'Rundle reports that L.adybrand has been
occupied.
Hunter is pushing up the railway with
supplies for the Mafeking garrison. and is
arranging a hospital tTajn for the con-
veyance of the sick and wounded 10 Kim
bcrlcy.
"Methuen has left Hoopstad to cooperate
With this force
Dispatch From Nilner.
The following dispatch from Sir Alfred
Miner. the British high commissioner in
s. nth Africa, To the secretary of state for
the colonies. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, was
received at ] 30 pm. today:
Barton telegraEhs from Taungs that
MafekiuE was relieved May IL
The ?, tleving column was a composite
force "f about 900 men, under Col. Ma
hon. ,Sgned) MILNER"
The Defense of Johannesburg.
Lo1-RENZO MARQUES, May 21-The
defense works of Johannesburg are pro-
crossing rapidly.
Six guns brought from the front have
been emplaced in fort, while schanZes
Rnd trenches intersect katzrand, near X lip