The facts as to the raising of the siege of
Mafeking can be briefly told. The relief column under Brigadier-General Mahon left Vryburg on May 11th. They had on the 13th to fight a severe engagement in dense bush with a Boer com- mando which had been detached to oppose their march, but they succeeded in getting through. After that they were not interfered with by the Boers, and on the 15th they effected a junction with Colonel Plnmer's force at a point west of Male- king. On the 17th the advance of the combined force was stubbornly opposed nine miles from Mafeking by a force of fifteen hundred Boers, but after five hours' heavy fighting this opposition was brushed aside, and the town, to the intense joy of the inhabitants, was in touch with its deliverers. In this final action splendid service was done by a detach- ment of Canadian Artillery, which by a series of forced marches reached General Mahon just in time to join in the fight. The actual entry of the relief force, which took place in the early morning of the 18th, was not, however, the fina act of the drama, for an hour or two after—they got in at 4 o'clock and began again at 9 o'clock—relievers and re- lieved joined in a parting attack on the retreating Boers, nearly captured Commandant Snyman, and took a gun, a flag, and a large amount of stores and ammunition. Mafeking was thus relieved on May 17th, and Lord Roberts's promise was kept to the letter. He had promised relief before May 18th. The fact that Lord Roberts was so exactly up to time has made a profound impression in the country. If he were now no "name the day" for Pretoria, which, of course, he wit not dream of doing, the country would consider the mattes settled, and plan how they would spend the day just as if it were as fixed as Whit-Monday.
