THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 27

THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING.

BADEN - POWELL PROMOTED. Is T OW MAJOK-GENEKAL. THE LAST ASSAULT ON MAFEKING. > Over 100 Boers Captured DETAILS OF THE FINAL ASSAULT. QUEENSLAND BUSHMEN AS FIGHTERS. LONDON, May 21. General Barton wired from Taungs tt Sir Alfred Milner that Mafeking was relieved on Thursday. I The War Office has received a confirmation of General Barton's advice from Colonel Baden-Powell. • | Colonel Boden-Powell is receiving huni ' dreds of congratulatory cables from all : ' parts of the world. j Uolonel -\iahon joined Colonel Plumer at s j Jan Massibis, near Pitsau, on the 15th inst. \ General Hunter is pushirg up the rail-vsy, , line with supplies. - Ho is arranging to ' \ 'convey the wounded in Mafeking in a j 'hospital train lo Kimberley. General Metimen has left Hoopstad, and 1 is co-operoling Avith General HunlC. The Mafeking railway line is row 'n » working order as far north from Kim'jco ' 1 ley as Taungs. • " ' May ?.'.. I It is official]^ reported ttatthe Bor-^

attacked' Colonel! Mahon and the Mafeking relief column in a thick bush on Sunday, 13th inst., and killed five men and wounded 24, including Major Mulling, of the Imperial Light Horse,, and Mr C. T. Hands, the Daily Mail correspondent, both dangerously. Captain Maxwell, of the Kimberley "Mounted Rifles, was wounded severely. The Boers lost more heavily than the British. .Major-general Powell reports that Eioffs storming party, 250 strong, before dawn on Sunday, 13th inst., rushed the pickets and entered the Cape Protectorate Regiment's camp. A strong musketry ,demonstiation was made simultaneously on the eastern front of Mafeking. The western post, enclosing, intercepted Commandant Eloff, the British completely surrounding him. The fighting continued all day. Portion of the Boers were surrounded at night, ami another portion expelled under heavy fire. The enemy- left 10 dead and 19 wounded. One hundred and eight Boers, 'including Eloff, * nine officers, 17 Frenchmen, and 'inan'y^ Gfermans' ' were taken prisoners. The British loss was six killed .and 11 wounded".' 1 , 11 /" General ~ Hunter ,, reports that Colonel •Mahon entered Mafekhig on the 18th. The troops at Kroonstad greeted the relief of Mafeking with ringing cheers. The Marquis of Lansdowne, in the House of Lords, eulogised the splendid audacity of the relieving columns and the courage of the besieged. There was great enthusiasm in both Houses over the news. The Queen has promoted Colonel BadenPowell to be Major-general. Reuter"s correspondent with the Mafeking relief column reports that the Boer ' leader, Eloff, was captured by Colonel Hore and the police at the fort which has bee'i the headquarters of the Protectorate Regiment, after a desperate combat at short, range. Many of Eloff's men fled, Whereupon their leader in disgust fired upon them and then surrendered to Colonel Hore. Altogther 120 Beer prisoners were taken, including a French Count (De Biemont) and a German Count (Yon Weios). Colonel Mahon's relief column took 20 waggon loads of supplies with them. . The official report states that Colonel Mahon entered Mafekhig at 4 o'clock on Friday morning, the 18th inst. On the previous day (Thursday) he encountered 1500 Boers, posted hi a strong position, nine miles from Mafeking, There was a stubborn contest, lasting over five hour's. The Boers were eventually driven from their defences. A detachment of Canadian artillery by forced marches arrived in time to valuably assist in a British triumph. May 23. A portion of Sir Frederick Carrington's Colonial Busnmen, consisting of Canadians and Queenslanders, took part in the relief of Mafeking. The colonials were all dismounted, and inarched admirably, covering long distances through a heavy sand, and accompanying Colonel Plumer's column to Jan Mas&ibis Stad. On the 15th inst. Colonel Plumer entered the Stad from the north, while the Hon. Maurice GHfford, C.M.G.,' Colonel Frank Rhodes, the Duke of Teck, and Sir , John Willoughby entered from the south, having pushed forward in advance of the relief column from Kimberley. Colonel Mahon soon afterwards followed, and the united forces advanced eastward over .the 25 miles which then separated them from Mafeking. On the 17th the Boer forces were encountered, and an engagement was fought. The British troops sustained a loss from all causes of 30, whilst the enemy's loss was heavy. Mr Chamberlan has officially congratulated Canada upon the good work of the Canadian troops. Major Karri Davis, who fought with the Natal local force, accompanied Colonel Mahon's relief column. Major - general Baden - Powell, with Colonel Mahon's forces, captured the Boer's head laager at Mafeking, containing one gun, a Boer flag,_and much ammunition. General Snyman, the Boer commandant, ju&t managed to escape. There were three British killed and 22 wounded. In the encounter in the bush, in which Colonel Mahon's column took part, on the 13th inst. (Sunday), the enemy occupied some hills to the south-west of Maritzani. The relieving force had ju&t previously turned a position which had been occupied by 500 Beers and three guns, which the enemy had withdrawn from Koodoorank Nek and Kimberley. One of the British Maxims wos nearly lost through the native drivers, bolting when under fire, but the troopers gallantly effected its resexie. Several interesting ba,ttle incidents are jelated. A bullet smashed Major Baden-Powell's

watch, although he himself escaped unhurt. A Oape corporal, when under a heavy fire, disengaged a dead mule and reharnessed his ammunition cart, thus enabling the team to be rescued. May 24. The -Queensland Bushmen in the fight before Mafeking behaved with magnificent recklessness, and came through scathless. When Eloff took the fort at Mafeking Major-general Baden-Powell swiftly improvised a fresh line of defence. A stone cattle shed and also a stone kopje sheltered parties of the enemy. The British, in wellscreened positions, gradually drew the cordon tighter, subdividing the enemy into sections. Eighty Boers in front de&eried from Eloff owing to the deadly accuracy of the rifle fire. i Major Karri Da^is, with eight other members of the Natal Imperial Light Infantry, entered Mafeking eight hours ahead of Colonel Mahon's column. \ It is now asserted that the main attack, which Snymati L was to have made upon Mafeking immSdialtely after Eloff had siicceeded in capturing the fort, was abandoned at-a cril>ic*sl'moment. Eloff alleges' treachery, owing to the illfeeling of Snyman towards himself. It is expected that the Mafeking-Kim-berley line of railway will be repaired and in full working order within a fortnight. May 25. Major-general Baden-Powell, allowing the garrison to have a last parting shot at the retreating enemy, utilised the relief column and reserves as a support. | The Morning Pos^s Mafeking correspondent remarks that the Queensland Bushmen are fine soldiers, tough in marching and strjong fighters. They treated shells as jokes. When they learn to take better cover they will become as good a corps as ' any. MELBOURNE, May 23. Mafeking Day \ras celebrated with great rejoicings. The city was illuminated tonight. SYDNEY, May 23. A ceaseless downpour of rain caused all celebrations to be. postponed till Saturday, j The low-lying portion of the suburbs is ( Headed, and there is a heavy flood on the ' Kcpean River. ADELAIDE, May 22. Yesterday was observed as a holiday" in honour of Mafeking's relief. During the afternoon the crowd found a grocer's shop open, and, despite the efforts of ths police, I smashed the windows. Only reinforcements of mounted police prevented the whole pre- ' mises from being wrecked. t " " | THE QUEEN'S REPLY. ' I AUCKLAND, May 23. The Governor has received the following communication from the Colonial Secretary:—"Her Majesty commands me to convey- to you her thanks to the people of New Zealand for their congratulations on the relief of Mafeking. Her Majesty's Government rejoices that the feeling at Home is so fully shared by the colony." ■ (FnoM Oite Own Correspondent.) ; NASEBY, May 22. \ Upon receipt of the news confirming the relief of Mafeking on Saturday, the residents ' of Naseby turned out to the last person. The ' firebell, church bells, hand-bells," bells of all descriptions, and ever}- conceivable article capable of lrpking sound were called into requisition. A procession was formed and paraded the principal street, headed by a very poor horsa and a rider labelled '" Victim of Mafeking," followed by a charger carrying one representing the hero of Mafekiug. Then came the 'band, his Worship the Mayor (Mr A. L. Herdman), ond all citizens. The joyous antics of some grave and reverend seigneurs were highly appreciated. In the evening a was held in the Tov\-n Hall, which yon packed. The Mayor presided, and a firstclaps programme was provided. Speeches were made by the Mayor, the clergymen of the three denominations represented here. A collection of voluntary subscriptions taken up in aid of cur starving brethren in India resulted in over £13 being obtained. The audience was most enthusiastic and patriotic, and everything was a great success. The town lias not yet f-stiled down. It is intended to have a fireworks display, a procession, a costume football match, and a concert on the Queen's Birthday.