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London March 20th –

But little news of war has reached England yesterday or to-day. Indeed, for all the actual news of fighting Great Britain might almost be at peace.

Meanwhile it is reasonable to believe that the relief of Mafeking may be a heard of at any hour. General Roberts and Buller are still inactive, pending developments at the theater of war.

There is a disposition here to suspect intentional mystification in Gen. Roberts' reference to Gen. Methune having been at Warrenton. Some further details of Gen. Methune's operations have been received but they do not indicate that any attempt was made to cross the Vaal River, or that the operation was necessarily anything more that a reconnaissance. The people here hope yet to learn that Gen. Roberts detached part of his force and sent it to relieve Mafeking when the siege of Kimberly was raised.

The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at Cape Town, in a despatch dated March 19th records the belief there, based on private telegrams, that Mafeking has already been relieved by the Boers departing and thus raising the siege. The same corespondent says he learns that a strong force will be placed at Gen. Methune's disposal. He adds that this movement is a highly important one. Its objective is not necessarily Mafeking.

London March 20th –

Letters describing the surrender of Cronje at Paardeburg, February 26th, in which the Royal Canadians' regiment took such an active part, are arriving from the correspondents of the London papers.

The Times correspondent says that the Shropshires and Canadians advanced in a series of short rushes, in most gallant style, the Canadians especially showing magnificent almost reckless courage. Finding that they were unable to advance further, General Colville, who is in command of the Ninth Division, sent the Cornwalls forward to support the other two regiments and in passing through, picked up a certain number of Canadians and Shropshires, who had been occupying the trenches under a hot fire. The Cornwalls with the Canadians and Shropshires advanced to within 800 yards of the Boer position. Perhaps the most reckless bravery was shown by the Welsh, the Cornwalls and the Canadians.

Toronto, March 20th –

The Globe's correspondent at London, England, cables yesterday the summary of a letter received from John A. Ewan, the Globe's correspondent with the second Canadian contingent, and dated Cape Town. February 27th, Mr. Ewan says:

The Pomeranian arrived here yesterday. Nine horses died on the voyage, but the men are all well, in splendid spirits and delighted at the prospect of active service. At the sports held here today the Canadians entered a team in the tug-of-war contest being the only non-naval team in this event. They surprised all by reaching the semi-final, having had to contest against very strong teams. They were beaten in the final by a small margin. Their victories over the sailors in the qualifying tugs were vigorously applauded by the great multitude present. Williams, a Canadian won the half mile race.

“These contests indicated the fine physique of the Canadians especially in view of the fact that they had only just landed after a long voyage. Since Paardeburg the paise of the Canadians has been on every tongue.

The past week or so has been an important one in South Africa, and big with fate for the Boer Republics. It has been since the fall of Bloemfontein without a struggle, the partial collapse of the Free State resistance, and Great Britain's announcement that no intervention will be tolerated, which is held to mean incidentally the end of the South African Republics.

The first of these momentous events came when formal appeal to Great Britain for a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of peace in South Africa was made by the Transvaal and the Orange Free State through the inter-mediation of the United States.

Lord Salisbury made public his unequivocal rejection of the proposals for peace proffered by the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, clearly indicating their absorption by the British Empire is inevitable.

Lord Roberts entered Bloemfontein on March 13th. In a little over a month he has effected the relief of Kimberly and Ladysmith, the latter through Buller's co-operation; capture of General Croje's forces, and put the British flag over the capital of the Free State. All this being accomplished with comparatively trifling losses.

At Bloemfontein, Major General Prettyman has been appointed Military Governor. The British national anthem is enthusiastically sung by the population. The shops are gladly opening and there is general rejoicing.

Since the fall of Bloemfontein, the Free Staters have been demoralized apparently and have been surrendering left and right.

Mafeking, meanwhile, although still holding out, is in dire straits. The situation for the garrison now seems brighter, however, as Colonel Plummer's column is reported to be on the eve of relieving the beleaguered city