The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-05-25

even DIT 4 clOck tulS ulOruluS IueIe
were numbers Of men parading, sing
ing and cheering and crowds in front
of the Mansion house. Marlborough
house. the clubs on Pail Mall and the
war office and in Parliament square
We're waving flags and Joining in the
national anthem.
This sustained believing and whoop-
ing Of thousands amazes the English
man who ceases to be an actor and be-
comes merely an observer. Sober
phlegmatc London is beside itself With
emotion. Gusts of patriotism have set
the town Quivering twice or thrice be-
fore during the war, but nothing has
quite eaualled last nights hundred
square miles of almost furious demon
strations. 1t was a curious thing for
the onlooker to see solemn, gray haired
men throwing hats into the air and
cheering when q wreath crowned ban
ner with a portrait Of Col. Baden
Powell on it was borne along Picadil-
ly. Smart women in broughams waved
union lacks out of the windows. Con-
ventional house parties stopped every
thing else to
Join in Singing
'"God Save the Queen" and Soldiers
of the Queen" Everything was aban-
doned except the astonishing chorus
Of human voices. 1t was all brought
about by a twenty-word telegram from
Pretoria that Mafeking had been re-
ljeved. Although the government has
not word. and although nothing con-
flrmatory has been received from any
African source except Pretoria, no.
body apparently questions the news
received. Mr.. Arthur j. Balfour, gov
eminent leader in the house, of COM
mons, speaking in the government
bench late last evening said:
| 1.-The only news have is through
the courtesy of the press. We have
no information at the war Office. Nor
would we have as soon as it would
arrive through other channels. There
fore. the fact that we have not re-
ceived it neither confirms nor dis
proves the accuracy of the telegram
will say, however. that we have good
reason to believe it is probably true"
Col. Baden-Powell's brother in Lon
don has received telegram from a
Dutch friend in Pretoria saying that
Mafeking Has Been Relieved.
The performers in the London music
halls and theaters had little opDor-
tunity for stage business or for the
lines Of their pieces. Fhe audience
which crowded the Alhambra, the
Opera, Covent Garden or the theaters
had no desire to attend to stage per-
formances. The first sight of a bio
graph scene in the Transvaal or the
first glance Of military or naval
uniform on the stage was sufficient to
create an uproar. A leading actor in
one of the Strand theaters said: Il did
not attempt to read my lines last night.
1t was of no use. The public had no
interest in me beyond the fact that I
wore a military uniform.
The prince Of Wales, the duke and
duchess Of York and the Portuguese
minister Senior Pinto do Several. oc-
cupied box at Covent Garden, whe:e
''Lchengrin" was being presented, and
when the relief of Mafeking was an
nounced they Joined heartily in the
applause. There was a lack Of pyro-
techEic glare. but every cabby and
every bus man in London
Had Union Jack
futtering from his whip and the Stars
and Stripes were by no means lacking.
Patrons of four-wheelers were not
content to ride inside the vehicles. and
+ tops were covered with f1ag-waving,
cheering. sprawling enthusiasts. Ten
thousand people stood in front of Mrs.
Baden Powell's house in st. Georges
Place. cheering and singing, and a
score of cabs brought congratulations.
In unrestrained jubilations the prov
inces We're not behind the metropolis.
Although London had the start by a
few minutes, the great industrial and
surrounding towns burst into patriotic
demonstrations. Bells changed in their
steeples. village bands turned out and
people gathered in the streets to sing
fervidly God Save the Queen" From
all parts Of the empire come the same
news. Bombay, Hongkong and the
Australian cities are rejoicing. CONT
mental cities. as the press abundantly
testifies. received the news sadly.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain called at the
war Office after midnight and received
A Tremendous Ovation.
The relief of Mafeking has had the
effect of suspending interest in the op-
crations elsewhere in the seat of war.
Nevertheless it is favorable. Lord
Methuen entered Hopstad Thursday.
He was then seventy miles from
Kroonstad and fifty from Bothaville.
Gen. Butler entered Newcastle Thurs
day evening. Lord Roberts is not idle.
While waiting for stores at Kroonstad
he is using his mounted men to search
wide tract Of country. Col. Broad
wood occupied Lindley on Thursday,
and the same day Gen. Hutton cap
trred one Of the Bothas thirty miles
from Krconstad. Gen. Rumble on
Thursday encamped at Clocolan.
British successes are thus reported
from every point where news Gang
yesterday. A Lourenzo Marques dish
patch yesterday Gays: Fl
New peace proposals will probably
be put forward by the Boer governh
ment. The recent reverses are causing,
dependency. There was a prolonged
meeting Of the Transvaal executive
council at Pretoria Thursday and the
YAH Destruction Of the Mines
was again considered. 1t is added
that the government does not intend
to destroy the mines.''
According to other advices from tho
same point President Kruger and 9th
er high officials intend leaving almost
.E r.