The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-22
BOERS SWARM
SOUTHWARK.
Large Bodies of Them in. All
Directions.
Estcourt is Shut Off From the
World.
PIETERMARITZBURG
Is Threatened by the Advanc-
ing Horde of Dutchmen.
Constantly Receiving Large
AccessiOns to Their Ranks.

AGGO0SAOAo ~ L 196nASe
London, Nov. 22.-There has appar-
emily been no communication with Est
court Natal, since noon Tuesday and
the Beers now control the railroad
thence to the Mooi river. Consequently
momentOus developments may be ex-
pected at any time. The Beers it seems
are swarming southwark Large bodies
of them are reported all around and
parties of Beers appear to be threaten
ing Pietermaritzburg. The Beers en-
camped at Highlands station are well
supplied with artillery and all evil
dences tend to show that the various
Boer forces are being largely increased
by accessions from the disaffected Cape
burghers. The serious deficiency in
cavalry is being felt by the British who
are unable to keep in touch with the
mobile BOer forces, whose presence IS
| hardly reported before they are lost
sight of, only to reappear at another
vital point along the line of communica-
ton Gen. HiIdyard's force, anchored
at Estcourt by the naval guns, can do
little but await an attack, until Gen.
Clery's column is capable of taking the
field.
According to a Cape Town dispatch
Gen. Metheun's division left Orange
River and reached Witteputs, half way
to Belmont, yesterday, and advices
from Orange River today show that the
Beers occupy Belmont in force and that
| the neighboring hills are crowned with
BOer cannon.
A patrol of Iancers which has return
ed to Orange River came Unexpectedly
on two BOer laagers. Three Shrapnell
shells burst close to the LancerS, who,
however, were unharmed.
The British transport kildOnan Castle,
said to be the largest transport in the
world, which left Southampton Nov. 4,
with 1000 men, their kits, weapons, ma
chine guns, ammunition, balloons, pom
toOns, wagons, etc, arrived at Cape
Town this morning. About $4,000 OF
Gen. Buffers army corps have now ar
rived. The transport Nubia with the
First battalion of the Scots Guards,
has sailed from Cape Town for Durham
The transport COrinthia arrived at
Cape Town yesterday.
Advices from Cape Town say Mr.. Col
let the correspondent of the LOndan
Daily Graphic, who was arrested by the
Beers while conveying a message from
Mr.. Schreiner, the premier of Cape
Colony, to President Steyn of the Orange
Free State and who was taken to
BlOemfOntein has been released and
sent back with President Steyn's reply.
It is reported that Mr.. Hofmeyer, the
Afrikander leader, has taken an i'm
portant step in the hope of fastening
the close of the war. He is said to have
charged Mr.. Sauer, the minister of pub
lie works, to get in touch with the Free
State forces in an endeavOr to arrange
that the Beers shall apply for an arm
istice. The ostensible object of Mr..
Sauer's trip is to induce his constituents
at AliwaI North to remain passive.
The Boer requisitioning of men and
supplies proceeds br1Skly on the north
ern border of Cape Colony, but General
CIatacre hopes soon to be in a position
to push the Free Staters back within
! their own borders. The reoccupation
of NaauwpoOrt by the British is the
first step in this direction, but strong
forces of Beers are laagered at Coles
burg, and threaten further immediate
advance from there.
Various officials of the British admir-
atty have been interviewed by repre-
sentatives of the Associated Press re
garding the London Chronicles bad beef
assertions and they say that they have
not received a single complaint as to
the quality of food furnished on the
transports. The chief of the victual
ing department said:
The first we heard of the matter was
through the press and though doubtful
of its accuracy, we have set on foot in
quiries on the subject. The only spe-
cffic instance mentioned is that of the
Nubia. We bought large quantities of
provisions in New York, but we have
there responsible agents, who are not
likely to accept rotten meat, or meat
which has been already refused by
other governments. 1t is understood
that the term 'embalmed beef is ap-
piled in the United States to canned
meats. We have not bought any of
these. Our supplies are confined to salt
beef and pork, packed in casks. COM
monty known at sea as salt horse the
same as served in all the navies of the
world for years past We have not so
far, heard a word against this form of
food and judging from the health of
the men in the United States navy dur
ing the war with Spain, it must have
agreed pretty well with them. 1t is
barely possible that our soldiers who
are not accustomed to salt food, are
not altogether satisfied with this diet
and are perhaps. inclined unofficially
to declare it unfit for consumption We
have vet to learn that the provisions
purchased in the United States are not
the allegations, We have no reason to
show we will discontinue purchasing in
the United States when circumstances
demand outside resources"
MACRUM WANTS TO QUIT.
Washington Nov. 22.-United States
Consul NIacrum at Pretoria, has asked
the state department for leave of alb
sence with permission to take advant-
age of it at once. He pleads domestic
to place in the consulate as the repre-
sentative of the United States, Vice
Consul Attlebury, who is now on the
ground. The department, however, re
fused to accede to the request and Mr.
Macrum will stay where he is unless he
sees fit to quit his post without per
mission It is learned that so far Mr.
Macrum has not been prohibited by the
BOer government from caring for the
welfare of the British subjects now in
the Transvaal and the Free State or
at least he has not so notified the state
department. There has been some fric-
ton encountered in the effort Of the