Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-16
SITUATION REVIEWED.

LONDON, May 16, A.: 80 a. m.-"Food
will last until about June TO-" is the
latest official word from Baden-Powell,
the British commander at Mafeking,
sent to Lord Roberts under date of
May7. Five days later the Beers at
tempted to storm the town, and it is
possible that they succeeded, although
nothing is known of the attack or OF
its results except through Pretoria
sources, which have no countenance
here.
The British relief column is due
there now. Ten days ago Gen. Sny-
man was having difficulty in keeping
the Burghers together, owing to the
approach of the British and when the
last Associated Press dispatch left
Mafeking, on May Z, the Beers had
killed, on the previous day, one OF
the horse guards and had captured
several of Col. Baden PowelPs few re-
naming horses
Major F. d. Baillie has sent to the
Morning Post from Mafeking, under
date of May 7, this message:
This morning the Beers attacked
us. Result as usual. There is an ach-
ing void here. Pass the loaf"
The Transvaal army has taken a po-
sition at Blaauwbaschdoort Pass, near
Hebron road station, fifty miles north
of Kroonstad. Its rear guard is still
holding the hills north of the Valsch
river, while the Beer scouts are in
touch with British accommodating par
ties twenty miles north of Kroonstad.
The Beers have held a council of war
at Lingly, and British spies have learn
ed that the Beers decided to hold
Harrismith as long as possible.
Lord Roberts infantry are still at
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 russell win
ter coat. The nights are bitterly cold,
but the days are hot
The Free Staters are surrendering
In larger numbers than after the occu-
patton of Bloemfontein. One officer
OF the Transvaal artillery says:
There Will be no serious fighting
this side of Pretoria, as Bereeniging,
on the Vaal, is indefencible. Heavy
guns are being mounted at Pretoria.
Nbut Generals Botna and Limmer are
agreed that ultimate success is impos-
sible. President Kruger is obstinate
and a majority of the Transvaalers
hold firmly with him."
1t is estimated that the Transvaalers
can still muster 10000 men on the
fighting line.
Gen. Buffers advance, as his tele-
grams indicate, was by the instruction
Of Lord Roberts, and 1t will cease or
go forward as Lord Roberts may d.
rect Certain commentators affiliated
to the war Office, say that Gen. Bull
ler's orders to keep the Beers employed
have been supplemented by an order
to drive them completely out of Natal
and then to move on Harrismith.
Gen. Rumble and Gen. Brabant are
taking possession of the wide regions
around Ladybrand almost without op-
position. They find the country plen-
tifully supplied with cattle. horse feed
and -four. Gen. Rumble is reducing his
transport and feeding his men and an
imNls largely off the country.
The Beers in that quarter surrender
daily and it is the expectation Of the
correspondents on the spot that the
eastern section of the Free State will
soon be as tranquil as the western
Gen. Rundle's front Is thirty miles
long; but his forces are disposed Sc
that that If any point should be at
tacted the troops there could be quiet
ly reinforced.
Lord Roberts contributes a line, to