Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-03-29

London. March 23-Again there is a
persistent rumor that Mafeklng has
been relieved. 1t Is even asserted The
war Office has received a dispatch pest
lively announcing the relief put that
the publication of 1t Is withheld be-
cause the form OF message admits a
possibility Of mistake. The war office,
however, declares there Is no confrma-
ton OF the rumor and that no further
news Is at hand. No attention Is paid
In any quarter to the wild boer rumors
OF Commandment Ollvter's victory over
General Gatacre, which was only de-
signed to revive the dropping spirits Of
the burghers. 1t seems certain Mafe-
kings only chances lie in relief by the
column reported to be advancing from
the south or in the possibility that Col.
Baden Powell Is still strong enough TO
attempt sorte with a view to captur-
Ing the boer guns, at the time when
Commandant Snyman has withdrawn
his men to oppose Col. Plumer's ad-
vance. All reports regarding British
operations In the Free State continue
most satisfactory. Nothing has de-
veloped regarding Gen. Buffers inton-
tons. II IL reported from Lourenzo
Marques that Pretoria Is prepared to
stand siege Of two years, and that
The b0er women, frantic at the reversed
to boer arms, are entreatlng to be al
lowed to shoot the British officers i'm
prsoned ut Pretoria II Is also an
nounced from the Transvaal capitol
that the Italian government has de-
clined to interfere.
Winston Churchill, telcgraphing from
l.adysmlth, pleads for mercy In dealing
with the rebels, He says: I'VE must
not try for the pound of flesh. No
real conqueror ever lost by clemency,
either in this world or the next. We
have by no means Il monopoly OF right
In this quarrel, and our African record
does not cnttle us to judge too
harshly"
Kruger Annexes Free State.
London, March GA special cores.
pondent Of the Times at Bloemfonteln
says: Yesterday President Kruger Is
sued proclamation annexing the
Free State to the rransvaal and Pres
dent Stoyn Immediately issued a coun-
ter proclamation declaring the Free
State intact
No Charge Against Mothucn
London. March % Replying in the
house OF commons yesterday to a series
OF questions on the subject of General
Lord Methuen and bis alleged dis
agreements with the officers of his
column, which have caused consider
able scandal. the parliamentary sccrc-
tary for the war office, George Wynd-
ham, declared that NO charge had been
brought against Mcthuen by COL
Cough or any other officers Col
Cough, he added, had been Informed OF
an inquiry to be held into hs' case
Cough Is alleged to have been ordered
home by Gen Mothucn, after declining
to obey n command Issued by the latter,
and the colonel demanded trial by
court martial
,sners Abandon Stormborg.
Maseru, Basutoland March %. Sew
cral thousand beers, with huge con
voy of wagons, have been passing
from Smlthheld toward Ladybrand
during tho last two days. 1t Is sup
posed the boer forces have retired from
Noryal's point, Bcthulic and Stormberg,
on their way north. Government Of
iiccrs are taking observations ut the
present moment The paramount Ba-
suto chief, Lerothndi has arrived here
with large following and Is comforting
with ;he British agent, ST. Godfrey Lag
den