NEWS BY MAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 106, 25 June 1900, Page 2

NEWS BY MAIL.

THE RELIEF OH' MAFEKING. (Received 23, 10 a m.) Sydney, June 23, Details of tho relief of Mafeking show Colonels Mahcn and I'lumcrV advance on Mafyking co'im.uiiued c:i the morning of the ltith of May. Au noon they halfcd to feed ami w.-.u-.v their horses. An hour later they v ei., in the thick of the lighting. 'LVBritish position was on a great wave t,; rolling downs, excellent in itself, but having others around it equally good at the enemy's disposal. To the east was the JJoer main 'position, tho battlefield somewhat resembling that of Waterloo. By a quarter past two the action became general, all arms being hotly engaged. Shells from a Greusot gun, posted under a tree near the Boer centre, were falling thickly among our convoy, but without doing any damage. Meanwhile thg enemy endeavoured to e ' -elop both 11 inks, making a specially determined attack against the right rear, wh,ei'e Major feakman, with, a

portion of the Kimberley Mounted Corps, made a gallant effectual resistance in spite of being heavily enfiladed by artillery fire and poin poms. At half-past three a timely change of position on the part of Major Jackson's Horse Artillery compelled the withdrawal of the Oreusot, whose situation was at last detected. The relieving force now begun to gain ground steadily, and there was no longer any anxiety for the security of the flmks. Dismounted, the Khodeeiane and Fusiliers were advancing across the bottom valley and mounted the opposite elope, and at a quarter past four a general advance of Colonel Mahon's column was ordered, Oolonel Plunder's force, which formed the right wing, bad already gone somewhat to the front, but was checked on the extreme right by some Boers who were holding Israel Malama's farm. Major Jackson's gun was then turned on the farm, from which, however, thtenemy had already begun to retreat. At half-past h>e tne British had pushed back the enemy about three miles. At'rer a further advance for a short distance under great difficulties tho column halted for much-needed rest. The march was continued at one in the morning, reaching the outskirts of Mafeking at daylight. It was discovered that the enemy were in full retreat from all positions, but the exhaustion of the horses prevented a vigorous pursuit for more than a few miles. The relief column, headed by Major Baden-Powell and Colonels Mahon and Plumer, entered Mafeking about noon, and the garrison lined the streets to the Market Square to receive them. An address of welcome was presented in Market Square, when enthusiastic cheers for the Queen and Commanders were given. The effects of the bombardment of the town were everywhere visible. Many houses were completely wrecked. Major Karri Davis, with a patrol of men, preceded the column to Mafeking, the previous night, and captured one gun.

ELOFF'S DESPERATE FIGHT. (Received 23, 10.15 a.m.) Sydney, June 23. j Details of Eloffg desperate fight show that Colonel Hare was instructed to retire to the town, but the order came too late. The Boers telephoned: " You can't touch us; we have Hare prisoner." The Times's correspondent says: "Shortly after sunrise we found ourselves face to face with an extraordinary military position; all our outlying works were intact and we had lo»t hardly any men, yet three bodies' of the enemy were right inside our lines and surrounded. The) were cut off and given an opportunity to surrender, which they declined. Elofl" did not realise the fact that his supparts were driven back. Ho informed the messenger that the town was practically at his mercy. Meanwhile a detachment of Cape Police with a troop from C squadroa of the Protectorate Ilegiinont ;<ot between the IJritisli South Afr.'cin Police Fort and the sad:, thus effectually preventing commutiicition betivei-u Eloil' and tb< romaiiidor of the men. Eveotualh heavy descrliouß compelled Eloif t<. sui render aft or firing heavily at OLe of his o'.vn men who desurtod,"