Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-22
NEWS IS
CONFIRMED
Official Dispatches Say Mafe-
king Was Relieved May
II by Colonel Mahon.
SUPPLIES FOR GARRISON.
Hunter is Pushing Up tho Railroad
With>supplies for Mafek1ng-Re.
Heving Column Composed
at $500 Men.

at 1890 Men.
Cape Town, May 21.-(By Associated
| Press.)-lt is officially announced that
Mafeking was relieved Ma II. General
Barton telegraphed the news from
Taungs to Sir Alfred Miner, the Brit
ish high commissioner.
London. May 21.-(By Associated
Press.)-The following from Sir Al
fred Miner, British Chamberlain, was
received at $50 O'clock today:
Barton telegraphs from Taung's
that Mafeking was relieved May IL.
the relieving column composing force
under Colonel AIahon of about $500
men,
London, May s1.-(By Associated
Press. )-There is no truth in the re-
poEt that Kruger has sued for peace
ana no communication from him on
the subject is expected in the immedi-
ate future.
.asazazas
London, May s1.-(By Associated )
Press. 1.-The war office has received
the following from Roberts: ssKroon,s
stad-Buller reports his advance to-
/ be delayed few days on account Of
the way in which the railroad was de-
stroyed. Rundle reports Ladybrand
occupied. Hunter is pushing up the;
railway with supplies for the Matching
garrison, and is arranging his pack
train for the conveyance of the sick
aud wounded to Kimberley" Methu-
en- has left Hoopstad to Cooperate
with this force"
"Details Of tina ISesRef.
London, May 21.-By Associated
Press. 1.-THE war office has received
the following from Roberts:
.'Kroonstad--Colon Mahon reports
having Joined Plumer at Jamaisdah on
the 18th. He was followed by Boer
commando from Maritzani siding, and
turned westward to avoid it, On the
18th he was attacked in the thick
brush losing five men killed, two miss
ing and twenty-four wounded, includ-
ing the Daily Mail correspondent,
Hands, who was dangerously hurt,
The Beers lost more than Mahon in
killed and wounded"
Another report was received from
Baden-Powell dated the 18th, stating
that before dawn a storlning party: $50
strong, personally led by Eloff, rushed
the pickets and reached the street and
prorectorate camp from the westward
along the Malappo valley. a strong
muskstry demonstration was being
made at the same time along the east
ern front of our position. Our west-
ern post closed in, and stopped the
Beers supports following, thus cutting
off Eloff's retreat, while the town de-
fenses stopped his further. advance. His
force got divided in the darknesssand a
strong party was placed between them,
completely surrounding them. The +
fighting continued all day. Soon after
nlghtfall two parties surrendered and
the others were driven outfof the stadt
under heavy fire. Tenj dead, and
nineteen wounded of thief nemy were !
left behind. One hundr{ / and eight
prisoners were taken, ind udinc Eloff.
and nine officers. Seven cen french
men and many Germans were among
the prisoners. Our losses were six
| killed and two officers and nine men
wounded.
| Says Beers Arc Captured.
| London, May 21.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Lorenzo MARQUES,
dated Sunday, says:
On Thursday the entire Boer force
around Mafeking, including the guns,
was captured by the British
! A Rumor of Peace.
| London, May 21.-The first rulnor Of
| peace has come from kroonstad, where
Commandant De Wet is reported by a
news agency to have offered to sur.
render with his entire Free State force.
There are similar reports from Lo,
renzo Marques, where President Krll
ger is alleged to have asked General
Roberts to grant an armistice
De Vets proposal is described as
conditional, and kruger's offer is said
to be accompanied by threats against
Johannesburg and the mines.
| 1t is not likely that Lord Roberts
Will consider any terms short Of un-
conditional surrender, nor can Presi-
dent Kruger expect to dictate peace
with club in his hand and cases of
| dynamite and blasting gelatin behind
him.
| The Dutch have made too gallant a \
hight against the resources of mighty
empire to accept the only terms on
| which Lord Salisbury can offer psssae.
Defenses at Johannesburg.
| Lourenzo Marques, May 21.-(By AS q
sociated Pressl-The defense works At; \
Johannesburg are progressing rapidly.
Six guns brought from the front are
emplaced in fort, while schanzes
and trenches intersect Katzerand, near
Kip Riyersberg, behind the race
course. s.., : ~ " sss