The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-27
BULLER IN
COMMAND.
General In Chief of the British
Forces In Africa
Arrives at the Front to Take
Charge of Campaign
BOERS ARE RETIRING
In the Direction of Ladysmith
Before Enemy's Advance.
Hildyard Wins a Costly Victory
at Beacon Hill.

London, Nov. 27-The colonial Office
| has received the following dispatch
| from the governor of Natal dated Pie
| termaritzburg, Sunday, Nov. 20:
''The Beers are retiring on Weenen,
| Our troops are occupying a ridge three
| miles northward of the Mooi river. It
| appears that the Beers have found our
| position too strong and are retiring
| towards Ladysmith with the loot they
have collected. The river is in food
Butler has arrived.
*TeIegraphfc communication with
| EstcOurt was restored early this morn
ing"
The war office has received the fol-
| lowing dispatch from Gen. Butler dated
Pietermaritzburg, Sunday, November
| 26th:
'Hildyard from Estcourt, made a
| successful attack Nov. %, with three
| battalions, one field battery a naval
| gun and 700 mounted troops on the en-
! emy occupying Beacon Hill which
| dominates William Grange and had in
| terrupted his communication. As a re-
| suit of the operations the enemy is re-
| firing and the railway and telegraph
| lines have been restored between Est
| court and Weston.
| Our loss was about IA killed and so
| wounded.
'Hidyard has advanced to a position
| near Frere as he hopes to cut off the
| enemy, who is believed to be retiring
| on COlensO via, Weenen.
| to Estcourt
As soon as communication is re-
| stored viii telegraph particulars. So far
| as can make out the operation is one
| for which Hi1dyard and the troops de-
serve much credit The railway is now
open to F'rere''
| BRITISH SUFFERED SEVERELY.
| Durham, Natal Nov. 26.-The latest
| reports of Gen. HiIdyards losses at the
/ Beacon Hill engagement show that Is
/ men were killed and y wounded The
| West Yorkshire regiment suffered
| heavily. Major Hobbs was captured
| and several men are missing.
| Dispatches from President Kruger
! and Gen. JOubert found on a BOer pris-
| oner said the Boer losses at Belmont
| We're ten men killed and 40 wounded. It
added, in order to reaSSure the burg
| hers, that it had been deemed neces-
| sary to fall back on Warrenton.
/ A pigeon message from COlOne1s
| Hamilton and Duff at Ladysmith un-
| dated reports all we'll.
! Another naval contingent from the
! British frst-class cruiser Terrible with
/ two At inch guns, started for the front
J tonight.
METHEUN MAKES A CAPTURE.
| Cape Town, 27-Afternoon-It is
| reported that Gen. Metheun has cap
| tured Honey Nest Klof. ten miles north
Of Cras Pan, and two million rounds of
! ammunition.
1 L L E[LA T.
London, Nov. 27.-NOne too soon for
| the British has come the news of the
| improved outlook for them on both the
| eastern and western sides of the South
African republics, as the constant
| small reverses We're arousing keen re-
| sentiment against the authorities This
| was evidenced by the result of the
| WandsWOrth election to the London
county council on Saturday when the
| previous conservative plurality of 91O
| was converted into a liberal plurality
/ of 2sf2 the "a 1,
issue and their candidate being a mill
| tary officer.
To Gen. Metheun it appears belongs
the hOnOr of the first real British vic
| tory of the present war as Belmont
| was the first battle after which the
| British advanced instead of retreating
| The fact that Gen. AIethuen was forced
| to fight a second pitched battle near
the scene of the first shows the Beers
| were not demOraliZed at Belmont but
quickly rallied and with nabated
| courage met the splendid assault of the
| British naval brigade at Gras Pan The
| excellent military qualities displayed
| by the Beers in these two fights were
| no doubt partially derived from the
| training of COmmandant AIbrecht, a
| former officer of the Austrian army,
Presumably Gen. Metheun has al
| ready resumed his march nOrthwar7
| He was when last heard from still
| nearly so miles from Kimberley and
| doubtIess an action will have to be
| fought at Moeder river before ''Dia-
/ mOndOpolis" is relieved. There is some
| doubt as to what is meant in the state
| ment that the Beers are falling back
| on Warrenton, which is so miles north
| of Kimberley unless the dispatch was
| intended to fall into British hands in
the hope of misleading Gen. Metheun
The latter. however. is said to be far
| too cautious to be caught bv s11cb a
| trick. and it is added. it can be con
| fdently anticipated that his column
| will sweep steadily forward in spite of
| the determined resistance he will meet
| with.
The conclusion must be accepted
/ however, reluctantly that the Beers a re-
| deliberate in their misuse of white
1 flags On top of Gen. Netheun's warn
| ing and other evidences comes the
| statement of CORRESPONDENT Knieht
| who has arrived at Cape Town. wound
/ ed. He says he accompanied a detach-
| ment of the Northampton regiment
| when a. force of Beers 500 Yards dis
tant and surrounded, displayed a white
flag. The officer commanding the
| Northamptons then ordered his men
to rise. when the Beers delibera reIyr
volleyed, wounding knight and 9th
ers.
Wise Bond Reduced
Judge Hazen has reduced the amount
| of he bOu6 of II Wise oI7ave-o,7 ----+l-