Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-08
MAFEk|NG PROBABLY FREE.
Report from Brussels That the
Siege Has Been Raised.
Beers MASSlNG THEIR FORCES
Said to he Gathering in the Vicinity of
Osfontein Where Roberts Has Estab-
lished His ueadquarters-Pubii In
terest In the War waning.

London, March 5.-A Boer report Il
published from Brussels that the sieg,
Of Mafeking has been raised. The
news is unconfirmed, but is probably
true.
Gen. Butler, In a dispatch from
Ladysmith last evening, makes II
clear that the Beers decided TO raiss
the siege of the town Immediately
they learned Gen. Cronje was at the
mercy of Gen. Roberts at Paardeberg.
The British advance in Natal then
was only opposed in order to allow
time for the big guns and ammunition
and stores to be safely removed north
and west.
That the Beers were not completely
successful in carrying out this plan
was owing to the fact that they were
more or less demoralized by Gen. Bull
ler's victorious attack on Tuesday.
After the battle orders were evidently
given for hasty retreat to the passes.
with the result that large quantities Of
ammunition and two guns were left
behind.
clear of the republican forces.
Osfontein, where Gen. Roberts has
now fixed his headquarters, is nine
miles northeast of Paardeberg drift.
About four miles to the east the Beers
are in force to the number OF 5000.
but it is believed their object IS mere
ly to delay the British advance on the
capital until a concentration near
Winburg Of the Boer forces from
Natal has been effected.
Lord Roberts during his short visit
to Kimberley said much remained still
to be done before peace, with liberty
and prosperity, could be restored to
been almost without hope that Lady
smith could be relieved.
Public interest in the war Is already
declining, since the end is considered
a foregone conclusion, tedious as may
be the process by which 1t will be
cached. The relief of two garrisons
and the complete collapse Of the Dutch
plan Of campaign leaves Gen. Roberts
at liberty to concentrate his forces,
with the transport as his chief diff
Guilty to be overcome.
The war now centers upon the sec
ond stage, in which heroic garrisons
under siege no longer appeal to the
imagination.
Gen. Buffers first work after open
ing communication with Ladysmith
was the arrangement of a transport
for the immediate relief of the garri-
son. This was promptly done, for sew
enty-three wagons trundled into the
town yesterday with medicine, hos
pital comforts and general supplies.
The Times, Standard, Mail and other
journals will publish dispatches this
morning revealing the truth about the
pltiable condition of the garrison. Be-
tween the casualties and typhoid fever
5000 out of 10000 men passed through
the hospital. Medical supplies of all
kinds were exhausted in the middle OF
January, and the men who entered the
hospital had little chance Of getting
out.
The total losses during the siege
were COS, of whom 346 died of disease
and 259 were either killed or died from
wounds. There were $50 men wounded.
There were 1000 civilians and, dur
ing the early part of the siege, several
thousand natives in the city The Sc
we're privations Of the garrison began
during January, when the rations were
reduced, and thirty horses and mules
we're killed daily for sausages and
Joup.