The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-16
STORIES CONFLICT
ABOUT AAFEK|NG.
Beers Claim to Have Cap
tured the Town.
OTHER STORIES DENY IT.

VI TEX y ORiES DENY u.
1t Is Certain, However, That
There Was Hard Fighting.
Baden-Powelf Reported to Have Sur
rounded Portion of the Doer
Attacking Force, and TO Have
Lost Heavily In Attempting Their
Relief Force Is Due at MafckInK
Now-Roberts' Army Not Advance
ing. and the Beers Reported rs
Intrenching on the Border.
LONDON, May 1s,-a;so a. m-"Food
VIII last until about June To-" Is the latest
official word from Col Baden Powell. the
British commander at Mafeking. sent to
Lord Roberts. under date of May Z. Five
days later the Beers attempted to storm
the town. and II is possible that they sue
ceeded. although nothing is known OF the
attack or OF its results except through
Pretoria sources. which have no counte-
nance here.
british Relief Column Due.
The British relief column is due there
now. Ten days ago Gen. snyman was
having difficulty in keeping the burghers
together owing to the approach of the
British, and when the late Associated
Press dispatch left Mafeking on May 7.
the Beers had killed. on the previous day
one of the horse guards and had cap
tured several OF Col Baden Powells few
remaining horses.
An Aching Void.
Maj. +. J. Baille has sent TO the Morn
ing Post from Mafeking, under date OF
May z this message;
This morning the Beers attacked us
Result as usual There Is an aching void
here. Pass the loaf"
where the Boers Are Hating.
The Transvaal army has taken a post
tion at Blaauwbaschdort pass near He'll
bron road station, fifty miles north of
kroonstad. Its rear guard is still hold
ing the hills north of Nalsch river while
the Boer scouts are In touch with British
accommodating parties twenty miles north
OF Kroonstad.
The Beers have held a council OF war Mt
Lindley. and British spies have learned
that the Beers decided to hold Harrismith
as long as possible
Lord Roberts infantry are still nj
kroonstad. The railway laborers are
hard AT work and the engineers hope to
have the line repaired within three DAYS.
The prairie has put on russet winter
coat. The nights are bitterly cold. but the
days are hot.
Free staters Sarrendering.
The Free Staters are surrendering In
larger numbers than after the occupation
Of Bloemfontein. One officer OF the Trans
vaal artillery says:
There will be no serious ighting this
side OF Pretoria. as Berenigcn, on tho
Vaal is indefenslble. Heavy guns are
being mounted at Pretoria.
Both Gems Botha and fimmer are
agreed that ultimate success is impossi-
Bile President Kruger Is obstinate and n
majority OF the Transyaalers hold firmly
with him"
II is estimated that the Transvaalers
can stil muster 30.0co men on the fghtlng
line.
Gen. BuiIer'. Advance.
Gen. Buffers advance, as his kilograms
indicate. was by the Instructions OF Lord
Roberts. and II will cease or 20 forward
as Lord Roberts directs. II Ia said that
Gen. Buffers orders 10 keep the Boers en-
ployed have been supplemented by an nr-
der to drive them completely out OF Natal
and then move on Harrismith
On the Southern Frontier.
Gen. Rumble and Gen. Brnbant are taxi
Ing possession OF the wide regions around
IAdyhrand almost without opposition.
They find the country pcntlfully sup
piled with cattle. horse feed and -four.
Gen. Rundle II reducing his transport and
feeding his men and animals largely IN
the country.
The Beers IN that quarter surrender
daily, and II ~ tho expectation of the cor
respondents on the spot that the eastern
section of the Free State viii soon be ne
tranquil as the Western. Gen. Randlea
front II thirty miles long. hut his forces
are disposed ~ thai II any point should
be attacked the troops thero could be
quickly reinforced.
when the War WIN End.
Lord Roberts contributes a lire 10 the
discussion g0ing On IN tho press az 20
when the war will end ~ the following
telegram. dated Monday. and sent through
a correspondent who had made the direct
inquiry,
'T regret that ! cannot give eng reply
20 your question as q ~ impossible "a
present 20 predict when the cafppai1n viii
END"
The view Of the other side ls reported
by correspondent 70 whom .sresidon.
steyn ssld.
"Seoner than leave this country 20 fan
int3 the hands ~ the British ! would
desuoy al our houses aDa leave Il a
desert"
Relations Becoming strained.
Tho relations between the Transsaal and
the Portuguese appear 70 be strained. The
Portuguese consul AT Pretoria. according
rsFsorsy FINN Z fesaost fzsT hen a-lea -,