The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-18
Part of General Hunters Force at
Christiana and Lord Methuen
Advancing Along the yaai.
BuLLER GOING TO LAING's MEX
PART OF HIS FORCE SUPPOSED TO
BE AT NEW CASTLE NOW.
Rundle Capturing Boer Supplies
TransvaaIers to Make Last
stand Near johannesburg.

LONDON. May 1s $3.50 a. m.-England
still waits with intense and almost breath
less interest for news of the relief OF Ma
feking A crowd remarkable for the num-
ber of men in evening dress and including
many ladies fingered around the War
Office even after midnight. hoping for some
announcement. Only reluctantly did the
people dispense when the Hobbies OF the
War Office were finally cleared with the
word that nothing had been received. One
thing seems clear. The town still holds out
Were it otherwise, the Boer wires laid to
the camps of the beleaguers would have
flashed the news.
Skeleton messages from Lourenzo Mar
ques, based on information that leaked out
at the Pretoria War Once. show that the
Boer stormers. on Saturday. fell into a
trap. Colonel Baden-Powell permitted
them to sieze one fort and he then sur-
rounded and overbore them before the
large forces near at hand perceived the
stratagem. 1t was thus that Sarel Elon,
President Kruger's grandson, and part Of
his commando were taken and fifty Beers
killed.
Advices from Cape Town say: "A dis
patch from Lourenzo Marques, dated
Thursday, says that Commandant Elon.
grandson of President Kruger. with a
patrol entered Mafeking, whereupon Colo
mel Baden Powell opened fire on the burgh-
ers, killing seventeen of them and taking
Eloff and many of his men prisoners"
An official bulletin, issued at Pretoria,
announces that 1.-The federal troops stormed
and occupied the forts around Mafekins
on Saturday morning. The same night
the federals were surrounded, losing. so
far as known, seven killed, seventeen
wounded and a number taken prisoners
The British casualties said to have
been fifty killed or wounded 1t Is re-
ported that the advance guard Of the force
proceeding to the relief of Mafeking from
the south was repulsed on Thursday
CANADIANS EN- ROUTE.
The Canadian artillery contingent of the
Rhodesian force is now reported 20 have
reached Buluwayo on May 2. The distance
| from Buluwayo to Mafeking is 4so miles.
AS the railway is open all the way to
Pitsani. twenty-eight miles from Mafeking.
where Colonel Plumer is. the Canadians
General French, scouting northward.
| found the Beers in strong force at Rhe-
| noster spruit. thirty miles from Kroon-
stad. Generals Botha. DeIarey and Olivier.
| with artillery, were holding the position.
President Steyn, according to one dis
patch, has gone to Pretoria. Another says
he is a fugitive at Lindley. The Free
Staters are surrcndering on all sides.
A dispatch from Cape Town says that
proclamations are being printed there.
to be published on the Queens birthday.
| May "a. annexing the Free State.
One OF President Steyn's brothers. who
| Is a prisoner Of General Brabant, says that
the Free Staters will accept annexation.
Those who took up arms the second time.
he explains. had 10 do under the threats
of instant death.
Five hundred rifles have been surrendered
| at Kroonstad in excess of the number OF
Beers who have taken the oath of allegi-
ance. Lord Roberts has directed the Brit
ish commanders to receive all corners In
| good spirit and TO issue to them passes
| TO go TO their farms.
| General Butler is pushing straight ahead
without opposition. He has only lost five
wounded during the movement. Apparent
ly he is aiming at Laing's mex. which is
the direct road to the Transvaal. although
he may diverge TO Botha's pass.
HUNTERS MOVEMENTS.
General Hunters movements I'm western
Transvaal are rather puzzIing. He has re-
turned 10 Fourteen Streams with one bri-
gade, leaving another. General Barton's.
az Christiana. Lord Methuen Is said 20 be
advancing along the south bank OF the
yaal Colonel Kekewich is with him. The
loop railway line across the Vaal Is fast
nearing completion. The probability As thar
General Hunter took back brigade 20
Fourteen Streams owing 10 scarcity OF
transport.
General Rumble has captured ten thou
sand bags OF corn He Is marching slowly
through a district which is described as
"literally teeming with cattle. sheep and
horses"
Michael Davitt. according 10 a dispatch
from Lourenzo MARQUES. Is said 10 have
advised the Beers. while he was In Pre-
toria. that II they could hold out until the