The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-27
OFF FOR THE CAPE.
Roberts and Kitchener Meet at
Gibraltar
And Start Promptly on the
Voyage to Cape Town.
SIEGE TRAIN ARRIVES
The Fighting Has DWindIed
Down to Skirmishes.
Winston Churchill Describes
His Escape From Pretoria.

Gibraltar. Dec. .27.-The British steam
er Dunattar Castle having on board
Gen. Lord Roberts of Kandahar. com
mander in chief OF the British forces in
South Africa arrived here yesterday ev-
ening. Gen. Sir H. Kitchener. who came
from Egypt to join Gen. Roberts as his
chief of staff, embarked on board the
Dunattar Castle and the vessel sailed
early this morning for Cape Town.
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
New York. Dec. pa dispatch to the
Tribune from London says.
a belated Christmas message from
Ladysmitn was posted in the war Office
Tuesday It was a three days casualty
list. with four deaths from fever and
dysentery, three men wounded, appar-
entity from shell fire and on separate
entry killed and wounded in what look
ed like a sOrtie OF reconnaissance last
Friday, in which were engaged the
Fifth LancerS. who fought so well at
E.landslaagte, and the remnants of the
Gloucester regiment and the Tenth
Mountain battery which were entrap-
ped at NicholsOns Mex.
The arrival of the siege train is re-
ported at Cape Town The military
authorities have at last supplied their
army in Africa with a dozen heavy
guns after the Beers have been drag
ging siege guns from the Pretoria forts
10 Magersfontein and Mafeking and
outclassing the British horse and field
artillery 1t is mot yet clear whether
Gen. Methuen. or Gen. Butler will make
use of these guns in attacking the
strongly fortified positions in front of
them.
An outpost affair is reported from
ChleVely, where a picket of HuSSarS
posted on a hill We're surprised by
party of hundred Beers. two troopers
being killed and five or six horses cap
tured-
CHURCHILL HEARD FROM.
LOurenzO Marquee, Dec 22-Mr. Win
stOn Churchill arrived here late last
night and left for Durham by train to-
day
STORY OF HIS ESCAPE.
London Dec 27--Mr- Winston Spen-
Ger Churchill has cabled and the Morn
ing Post publishes today an account of
his escape from captivity with the
Beers after having been made a prison
er IN the reconnaissance OF an armOred
train at EstcOurt. The dispatch which
is dated LourenzO Marquee, Dec. p,
SAYS:
In the evening concealed myself in
q railway truck under a great pile of
sacks I had a small store of good wa
ter I remained hidden SO, CHANGING
discovery The Beers searched the
train at Komatippot. but did not search
deep enough After some so hours of
misery 1 came safely here 1 am very
weak but am free, 1 have lost many
pounds IN weight, but am light in
heart I shall avail myself of every
opportunity henceforth to urge earnest
ly the unffnching and unCOmpromising
prosecution of the war
''On the afternoon of December u, the
IranSVaalS secretary of war informed
me that there was little chance of my
release i therefore resolved to eSCa pc
and the same night I left the state
schools prison in Pretoria by climbing
the wall when the sentries backs We're
turned mOmetarily. I walked through
the streets of the town without dis
guise, meeting many bUrghers but was
not challenged in the crowd. I got
through the pickets of the town guards
and struck the DelagOa Bay railroad
I walked along it. evading the watchers
at the bridges and culverts and waited
for a train beyond the first station. The
11:10 Goods train from Pretoria had
arrived before L reached the place and
was moving at fun speed. I boarded it
with great difficulty and hid under coal
sacks. I jumped from the train before
dawn and was sheltered during the day
IN a small wood, in company with a
interest in me.
Il walked on at dusk. There were no
more trains that night The danger of
meeting the guards of the line cOntin-
ued. but 1 was obliged to follow it. as
had no compass. or map. I had to
make wide detOurs to avoid bridges. sta
tlons and huts, and so my progress was
very slow.
Chocolate is not a satisfying food
The outlook was gloomy but I persever-
ed with Gods help. For five days my
lying up by daylight and walking by
night Meanwhile my escape had been
discovered and my description tele-
graphed everywhere. All trains were
searched and every one was on the
watch for me. -Four times the wrong
people were arrested.
The sixth day I managed to board a
train beyond AIiddleburg from whence
there was direct service to DelagOa. 9"
kRUGER'S RESERVES.
London, Dec. 27.-The Cape Town
CORRESPONDENT of the Daily News fa1a-
graphing Wednesday, December 20,
says
Lord Methuen. understand. intends
to remain at MOdder river about three
weeks longer.
From BOer sources hitherto singu-
laFly well informed, 1 learn that there
are 5000 European officers and men
skilled IN modern military tactics. par
ticularly in artillery now in Pretoria as
a reserve
our administrative officials in the
Nape service who have just returned
Irom official relieving duty in the
Dulcn district, say the news of the
great JOY even in localities where there
Is no open revolt
BOERS NASSING IN METHUEN' S
FRONT.
LONDON. Dec 1.-THE war office here
mas received the following dispatch
from Cape Town, dated Tuesday. Dec.
70:
There is no change in the situation.
Methuen reports that the enemv's force
has increased and has engaged in en-
his outlying pickets.
Methuen recOnnOitered with two
Squaorons OF mounted infantry for two
miles along the line and drew the fire
guns. -Four horses were hit.