The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-24
ARE NEART THE FRONTIER
LORD ROBERTS FORCES PUSHING
ON TOWARD THE RHENOSTER
RIVER
CAVALRY HAS ALREADY CROSSED
TWELVE THOUSAND BOERs IN
FULL RETREAT FROM THE
ADVANCING BRITONs
PRAISE FOR THE CANADIANS
They Did Necessary Service in
Fighting Before Mafeking-De-
tails of How the Place
Was Relieved.

LONDON, May 23.-Lord Roberts is
drawing near to the frontier of the
Transvaal. His infantry masses are 80
miles north Of Kroonstad, at the Rhen-
oster river. Some thousands of cavalry
are already across the river. The Beers
are retiring toward the Vaal, with
their heavy baggage. They are reported
from Pretoria as already across that
river. Twelve thousand men and IA
guns compose the retreating army Trains
continue to run from Veronnigeing, at
the Vaal, to Pretoria.
The foreign engineers assert that Pre-
toria is able to stand a years seige. Ac-
cording to advices from Lourenzo Mar
ques the Pretoria Notifications are de-
scribed as complete, but Johannesburg
has not yet been placed entirely in a
state of defense. The Transvaal govern
ment's war chest has been removed to
Lydenburg.
Foreigners continue to leave the repub-
lie. The Dutch cruiser Friedland is at
Delagoa Bay, so it is reported, to furnish
an asylum to the fleeing Hollanders and
passage to Europe.
The Boer forces continue to dwindle
Some of the correspondents assert that
probably about 24OOO of the hardest
fighters yet remain, although there are
detached parties in various parts of the
Transvaal.
One of the curious pieces OF gossip
sent from Lourenzo Marques is that
several women tried to sjambok Presi-
dent Kruger, who was rescued by his
body guard. He rarely leaves the pres
idency now, but works incessantly. hold
ing councils at dayhreak and during the
night It was stated at Pretoria Sun
day that the British prisoners will be
moved from Pretoria.
CANADIANS PRAISED.
Mafeking dispatches continue to pour
the relief. It appears that the Canadian
artillery. Maj. Endon's seven guns, did
splendid work. Some of them assert
that the Canadians did absolutely es-
sential work in the fighting
About Z in the evening of the day be-
fore the relief after Col Mahon and Col.
Plumer had defeated the Beers nine
miles from Mafeking, Maj. Davis and
nine scouts entered the town. The Beers
were then retreating. At on the follow
ing morning LOCO men, including the
Canadians, arrived. With them were
twenty wagon loads of food, which was
received with wild demonstrations.
The anored train and detachment
then pushed forward to Gametree fort,
the scene of the unsuccessful sortie in
December. The Beers had evacuated it
on the east. They were pursued, and the
correspondent describing these facts
Thursday evening closes his dispatch
thus:
I'VE caught up with the retreadng
Beers, and have them now surrounded"
FIGHTING WAS FIERCE.
Lady Sarah Wilson has managed to get
through a message from Mafeking dated
Thursday, announcing the entry of the
relief column. She says:
THE fighting before the relief was very
hard. A severe struggle proceeded yes
terday (May 16) from 2 p. m. until dusk.
The Beers were forced slowly to retreat,
contesting every inch. At sunset they
still held the last position
Col Mahon entered the town IN the
brilliant moonlight. The Beers were as
tired out as we were, and they never
guessed that an attempt would be made
to force an entry before morning. There
fore their surprise was complete. They
deserted their laagers, leaving a lot OF
food, which was divided up among the
people of Mafeking."
A Daily Telegraph correspondent,
describing the marching Of the relief col
umn, says.
"On the morning before the little force
started from Kimberley, Gen Hunter
wrote to Col. Mahon This is the most
dashing exploit of the war. Every man
in the column has been specially selected.
1 wish you God-speed.'
MAXIM FIRE TOLD.
1.-The action opened at p m. Wednes-
day, with Maxim fire, and this soon told
upon the enemy who surrounded US, but
who had not hirdered the forward march.
The value of the Boer methods of war;
fare, when used in fat country, may be
estimated by this action. Little cover
was afforded the enemy, with the result
that they fled as soon as our guns were
turned upon them. The fight ragged most
fercely on the left, but our guns soon
seienced the enemy, who were seen flying
in all directions. Those on the left flank,
finding that their comrades in front had
abandoned their positions, ran helter- skel-
ter"
TROUBLE FOR DIR. LEYDS.
Dr. Leyds, according to the Brussels
quarreled with the Transvaal govern
ment A representative of President
Kruger is alleged to have demanded an
explanation regarding the e500000 S2,-
500,oOO, which has passed DR.. Leyds'
hands. DIR. Leyds is said to have replied
that the money had all been expended,
and expressed indignation when asked for
an itemized statement. President Kruger s
emissary is described as showing to DR..
Leyds certain ante-war letters in which
Germany and France said they would in
tervene, and DR.. Ledys, according to this
account, grabbed the documents and
threw them into the fire, having bodily
struggle with the emissary. These alleged
incidents are cited to explain the recent
reserve of DR.. Leyds.
WILD WITH JOY.
A dispatch from Mafeldng, dated May
II, the first message except Col. Baden
Powells dispatch forwarded since the re-
lief of the town, says the place was wild
with joy, that many people wept as they
greeted their dehyerers, and that the
scene as the troops traversed the streets
baftied description
LORD ROBERTS REPORT.
The war Office, late this evening, pub
lished the following from Lord Roberts:
South bank of the Rhenoster river,