The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-08
THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING
LONDON EXPECTING TO RECEIVE NEWS
OF ITlAST NIGHT.
NO NEWS FROM THE COLUMN
Which. In Opinion of the Public Has
Been Sent to the Relief of that Town.
fort-Boers Out-Generaled by the
Brltfsh-They Retreat without Offer
ing Much Resistance-Attempt As
sassination.
sassina alton

has been confidently expecting to have
news of the relief of Mafeking before
midnight, but at that hour the war
office stated that no further intelli-
gence had been received of Hunters
column, to which the public believed
had been assigned the work of reliev-
ing the town.
Beyond further details of the occu-
patton of Brandfort, little or no news
has come during the night.
A dispatch from Thabanchu, dated
May 4th, says that the situation is
practically unchanged. The Beers hold
their position and send occasional
shells into the British camp. From
the top of Thabanchu hill. one can
see over the Boer camp. The country,
through which number of Beers are
trekking, is exceedingly difficult. 1t is
learned that the Beers are trying TO
draw supplies from the Ladybrand dis
trict.
A dispatch from Cape Town says:
"The general feeling here, in which
official circles participate, is that
Lord Roberts advance towards Pre-
toria will be rapid. The Boer prisoners
don't anticipate that any effective re-
sistance will be encountered
Anxiety is felt regarding the fate of
Mr.. Begbie, who has been arrested in
Wi ha of ha
shell factory at Pretoria. Counsel Hay
is watching the accused mans inter-
ests.
Warrenton, May 5.-The Beers to-
day vainly attempted to reach the Brit
ish new gun with their artillery, but
some of the shells from the big gun
silenced them.
HOW BRANDFORT WAS CAP
TURED.
Brandfort, May 5.-The capture of
the town was the result of an admira-
bly, conceived and we'll executed COM
bined movement. The night before the
here, taking up a strong line of
defense with the avowed object of op-
posing the British to the bitter end.
AS a result of the strategy of Lord
Roberts they were forced to retreat
hastily, nearly losing a convoy Of
guns and abandoning the defense Of
the town.
operations were in progress on kopje
north of Karee, in which position he
was in heliograph communication with
each column.
On the right Bruce Hamilton's bri-
gade moved eastwardly along the line
of kopjes, near a road with the rail-
way. In close touch followed Max
oil hric +;
left, all under command of Lieutenant
General Tucker. General Pole-Carew s
division formed the centre advance,
composed of Jones and Stevensons s
brigades, while Hutton's mounted in
fantry, made up mainly of Canadians,
Australians and New Zealanders, made
wide detour and arrived at the east
of the town.
The night before the occupation Of
Brandfort, the British seized two small
kopjes, commanding a deep and ugly
spruit, which it was known the Beers
daily occupied. General Pole-Carew
ordered two battalions of guards to
move silently after nightfall and oc-
cupy the kopjes, which was done with
out opposition. This greatly facili-
tated the advance, as the Beers relin-
Quished the the spruit, allowing the
passage of the whole force unopposed.
About three hours after the advance
commenced, heavy artillery firing was
heard to the right Maxwell, finding
that the Beers had two guns posted in
a good position, engaged them with his
artillery at I500 yards range. Both
sides fired furiously, but the Beers
guns were soon completely silenced.
Then gun fire was heard to the left
where General Hutton had come into
touch with the Beers, who were hold
ing strong position. Owing however,
to the unexpected arrival of the Brit
iSh the Beers left several small kopjes
unoccupied, and, seizing these, General
Hutton opened fire with his battery,
sending Colonel Anderson to outflank
the Beers on the left.
The Beers, unable to Withstand the
shrapnel, evacuated their kopje imme-
diately above and commanding the
town. AS they retreSted the battery
placed several shells, with great accu-
racy, in their midst and they immedi-
ately retreated from their second Do
sition, move that was perceived by
Hutton, who sent a portion of his
troops in pursuit. Remington seized
the kopje seized by the Beers There
upon the Beers retired, leaving the
town at the mercy of the British In
the meantime Colonel Anderson, trying
to outfiank, found the Beers position.
His galloping Maxim received a heavy
pom-pom fire and was obliged to re-
tire.
On the other side Maxwell forced
the Boer position.
By 2 O'clock the whole force was
seen four miles of, trekking north
Several prisoners were taken, includ-
ing eommandant, who had returned
in order to destroy the telegraph in
struments.
Cape Town, May 5.!The South Afri-
can News says that a policeman who
was guarding Premier Schreiner's s
house has been shot, adding that the
policeman was smoking a cigar at the
time. upon which fact Is based an as
sertion tnat the bullet was evidently
intended for the premier. who Is an
inveterate smoker. The African Bund
is making sensation out of the af-
fair. declaring an antf-Dutch plot is
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