The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-24
THEY NEVER
CAME BACK.
Squadron of Hussars and Body
of Mounted Infantry
Which Pursued the Retreating
Beers From Glencoe
HAVE DISAPPEARED.
British Now Realize That They
Have a Hard Fight.
Have Lost Nearly 500 Men,
Killed and Wounded.

hILlo0 ana w OuuUeUS
New York. oct. PA special to the
World from London says:
The ministers and their supporters
are now realizing that they plunged m
TO the war with reckless haste and the
queens messages in which she speaks
Of dearly bought victories and dread
full loss of life indicate with plain
ness which she has never before per
rnitted herself to indulge under like
circumstances, her disapprOval of the
war.
The British forces in Natal have al
ready lost in killed or wounded nearly
$50 men in three days fighting.
The squadron of hussars and the sec
ton of mounted infantry which pur-
sued the Beers after the first fight at
Glencoe are still missing. Prolongation
Of the war beyond British expectation
is now regarded as certain
TRYING TO EXPLAIN.
London. Oct 24.-The war office here
this morning has been attempting to
explain the summary of the situation
in Natal furnished by the commander
ir-chief of the forces, Field Marshal
I ord WOlseleV. to the house of COM
mons Yesterday. His statement is now
said to have created unnecessary alarm
and it is asserted that what the ON
Pidl note called General i ule re-
tirement" would be more accurately de-
Scribed as "a change of position Tor tac-
tical reasons" and that the alarm for
the safety of the wounded is not jusu-
fed.
1t is further explained that the
wounded could not be moved; but the
fact that they had to be left to their
fate while the British forces made a
strategic movement to the rear shows
the suspense of the house at the alb
sence of subsequent news is amply jus
titled and that the heavy fshtf11g on
Friday and perhaps saturday IS OnIy
a prelude to still sterner work. In
some quarters the view is taken that
the second attack of the Beers has ac-
tually occurred and was so successful
that General Yule's withdrawal was
imperative and urgent to the extent OF
cOmpelling him to leave his hospitals
in the hands of the Beers, While the
more sanguine express the opinion that
General Yule, far from retreaung, has
in reality advanced to meet the attack
threatening Glencoe, leaving Dundee
behind, safely sheltered from BOer as
Sault.
CONTRADICTORY RUMORS.
In the absence of authentic news
there are a number of contradictory
rumors afioat but the most reasonable
Interpretation of the various reports
seems to Indicate that there was some
artillery practice at Glencoe Saturday
and Sunday but no fighting at close
quarters. AS. however, communication
between Glencoe and LadySmith, which
was thought to have been restored by
the British victory at Elandslaagte, has
again been broken by the destruction
of the railroad bridge at Waschbank,
north of Ladysmitn. and between
Elandslaagte and Glencoe. the difficult
ties of the British commander in Natal.
General Sir George Stewart White in
reinforcing Glencoe have been enOr-
mOusly Increased and until the British
forces at Ladysmith and Glencoe are
united and the main body Ofsthe Beers
is broken, the situation must remain
disquieting for the British.
The afternoon papers here sharply
Criticise Lord WOlseley's summary of
the Natal situation, They say it has a
distinct resemblance to the statements
of the Spanish ministry when preparing
their cOuntTymeu for news of the dis
probably an Overstrained view. There
is no denying. however, the great sus-
pense and anxiety existing which has
been increased by the report in CirCu-
1ation purpOrting to emanate from Of
fetal quarters to the effect that the
Beers have secured the services OF
thirteen thousand natives. The vague
and varied estimates of the Boer losses
and the absence of anything official on
the subject are also arOuSing miSgiv-
ings as to whether the beaten enemy
suffered prOportiOnately to the disast-
rOus losses of the victOrs.
one of the most disquieting stories
comes from Ladysmith. 1t is to the
erect that an Englishman who arrived
there from Dundee on Sunday evening
after escaping through the Boer lines on
the previous night said that the enemy
was then sheiling the camp and town
with heavy guns, while the shells OF
the British were unable to reach the
enemy's batteries. consequently, the
man is said to have added. the camr
was shifted in order to be out of the
reach of the Beers. who were firing or
the magazine in the town
BADEN POWELL HEARD FROM.
London. Oct. 24-News has at Iength
ssoeen received from Col. Baden-PoweH
dated Mafeking, Oct Is. 1t confirms
the statement that in the armored trair
fight the British had two men killed
ana htteen wounded. including Lieut.
Lord Charles BenGck of the Ninth
Lancers, slightly wounded. The Boel
loss was estimated So killed and MANY
wounded
The latest advices from Kimberley
under date of Oct 21, said the Boer a
tack was still pending and that large
Boer forces in the neighborhoOd haf
destroyed big sections of the railroad
Ine north and south of the town ManI
fugitives from neighboring I-iiiaeas
nave been imprisoned by the ROers
several ladies hearing their husband,
nad been captured visited the R0al
camp and were cOurteouslv received
Ihelr 1ntercession for their husband.
was successful and the reunited far1
Ines nave arrived at Kimberley TTb.
prisoners report that thew were 1--eI
treated according to rumors vhicl
nave arrived at Kimberley frOn7 T-1Ir77
man, British Becuanaiand the e. $500 ~ =
magistrate there, has recenfIv T7rasil7l.
at council OF the native chiefs n
advised them not to participafa in -,
war. 4ne natives expressed satfsfac