The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-05-24
Steadily Pressing Northward
Toward Vaal River.
Positions Of Generals French
and Hamilton.
General Baden-Powell Gives Ad
ditional Details Of Siege and
Relief of Mafeking.


at kroonstadt is over and already the
main British army is about 20 miles
north of its former resting place. .Iudg-
ing from the dispatches of Lord Roberts
at Honing Spruit Station. while thanking
MN on either side of the railroad, Gen
eral French's cavalry and General Ian
Hamilton's mounted infantry are both
slightly in advance of Lord Roberts and
threatening TO envelop the Bocr position,
which extends for 20 miles due north.
General French probably crossed the
Khenoster river near the junction with
Horning Sprut, which runs thence to
Honlpg Spruit station. The main British
army viii probably advance along the
railroad, while General French converges
from the west and General Hamilton
from the east. Against this overwhelm-
ing force the Beers will probably follow
their usual tactics of retiring to positions
which doubtless have been prepared in
advance for their occupation.
General French and General Hamilton
are separated from each other by about
4O miles, while Lord Roberts is within ~
miles of General French and 30 miles of
General Hamilton.
Since the last dispatch left Honing
Spruit yesterday, Lord Roberts has doubt
less still farther advanced and by now is
either engaging or following the retreat
ing Beers. Definite dispatches received
this morning make it clear that the Vaal
river has not yet been crossed, as nearly
40 miles intervene between it and Lord
Roberts advance fankers.
The small number of casualties sus-
tanned by General Hamilton in his occu-
patton of Heilbron bears out the theory
that the Beers will make no strenuous
resistance until the Vaal is reached or
until even later.
Dispatches to the Associated Press
from Heilbron say that the Boer General
De Wet had 1000 men posted on an ad-
jacent hill, but that he retired when
General Hamilton approached Presi-
dent Steyn fled from Heibron May 20,
and his destination is not known.
BADEN-POWELL'S GALLANTRY.
The first word received from Colonel
Baden-Powell at Mafeking heightens
rather than diminishes the reports here
tofore cabled of the gallantry exhibited
BY the garrison during the closing days
of the siege. In an interview with the
correspondent of the Reuter- Telegram
company, May II, Colonel Baden Powell
said:
MY great endeavor is to prevent the
relief force from trying to rush into the
place before they are strong enough to
do so. 1t would be better to make GER
tain of relief in two months than to be
beaten in an attempted relief in one
month You remember it was said in the
old days in Iululand that the natives
called me Umhala Panzi (the man who
doesn't rush thingso. The knowledge
that the whole empire was watching with
appreciation the good fight of the garri-
son has been worth an extra pound of
rations a day to the garrison. 1t was
difficult to persuade the civilians of the
necessity of submitting to martial law.
We had our little difficulties, but later
there was loyal acceptance of the mil
itary administration, and there was no
trouble at ALL"
Referring to the requests of newspa-
pers for messages, Baden-Powell looked
embarrassed and said:
"These chaps have got an exaggerated
idea of the Importance of my personality.
/ look upon myself as the fgurehead of
the good ship Mafeking. 1t has been her
stout canvas and shape and her brave
hull that really showed the ship along
and brought her safely through the
stormy cruise. So whenever read nice
things people say of me I take it that
they are said inasmuch as am the head
representative of the garrison"
BADEN-POWELL TO ROBERTS.
The war Office issues dispatch from
Lord Roberts. under date of Honings
Spruit, May -, announcing the receipt
by him of the following message from
Major General Baden-Powel, dated
Mafeking, May II:
Il am happy TO inform you that Mafe-
king was successfully relieved today
The northern and southern columns join
ed hands on May II and attacked the en-
emy yesterday, and after small en-
gagement, entirely defeated them with
loss. The British casualties were 3 kill
ed and % wounded.
''The relieving force marched into Mafe-
king at this morning, and the relief and
defense forces combined and moved out
and attacked the enemys head laager.
We shelled them out and nearly captured
Snyman, and took one gun, Il flag and
large amount of ammunition, stores, etc.
Five dead and IL wounded Beers were
found. The enemy appears TO be re-
treating in all directions except one com
mando, which is lying low, possibly to
Captain Maclaren and Corporal Muir
ray were found in the Boer hospital.
They are doing we'll The townspeople
and the garrison of Mafeking are hearth
ly grateful for their relief"
WARREN'S FIGHT AT DOUGLAS.
A dispatch from Douglas, Cape Colony,
dated May %, says;
"A force under General Warren, con
sisting of mounted infantry, Imperial
yeomanry and two guns of the Canadian
artillery, left ROOF Pan, Cape Colony, on
the night of May 20 and marched in two
columns, under Colonels Hughes and
Spence. Nothing was seen of the Beers
until the British were within two miles
of Douglas when a few shells from the
Canadian artillery sent the burghers in
full retreat toward Douglas. Colonel
Hughes column advanced in skirmshing
order, and after II lengthy exchange of
shots the Beers fed, leaving their laager
and quantity Of stores and ammunition
again today 300 Beers opened hot
fire on "A detachment of yeomanry, and
the Canadian artillery repeated their ex-
celent practice and compelled the enemy