The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-24

ton at the magistrates explanations
and promised to remain quiescent. A
dispatch from Pretoria, dated Oct 20,
indicates that the Rhodesians, under
Col. Plumer, at Fort Tuli. on the
Transvaal border are taking the Of
fensive They have attacked a BOer
Patrol at Rhodes Drift, but apparently
not much damage was done on either
side. The Beers say that they lost
three horses.
Lieut. Barnes. who was wounded at
the Battle of Elandslaagte is a brother
of Violet Vanbrugh, the actress.
Germany has sent to follow the Brit
ish forces in South Africa her military
attache in London, Capt Baron Won
Luttwitz, who married Miss Mamie
Cary of Cleveland o. The British mill
tary authorities hope to have the wire
less telegraph in operation in South Af-
rica within three weeks when it is
hoped the difficulties experienced from
the cutting of wires will be ObViated as
ii viii only necessary to establish COM
municatiOn with a point at which the
ordinary wires are intact.
A dispatch received at Cape Town
from Herschel, dated October %, says
Is natives who have arrived there say
they were arrested after leaving JO-
hannesburg and ordered to fight the
British in Natal But they succeeded
in escaping.
1t is reported at Cape Town that
President Steyn of the Orange Free
State, is close to AIiwal North near
I1EISCAlei Oh the DOIQ6TS VI the orange
Free State. 1t is added that the Boer
camps on the Orange river are quiet,
that plOwing and shearing are proceed
ing and that there are large quantities
of stock on the river bank.
BRITISH IN A BAD FIX.
Chicago, Oct. PA special cable to
the Chicago Tribune from London says:
The position of General YuIe at
Glencoe is causing considerable anxiety,
which is not allayed by Lord WOlSeley' 8
summary of the situation read in the
house of commons to the effect that
large columns of Beers were Monday
morning advancing from the north
and west. Obliging General Yule to fall
back from Dundee and concentrate at
Glencoe Junction.
This operation appeared so vital that
it was necessary to leave the wounded
General YuIe's chances of reinforce
ment at present are exceedingly poor,
and he is already outnumbered-
General White is still at LadySmith,
and is looking for reinfOrcements from
Petermaritzburg for himself, while, to
make matters worse, a large BOer force
is reported at WaSchbank, about half
way between Dundee and Elandslaagte.
and near enough to greatly strengthen
General JOubert in case he needs it 1t
is possible, of course. that General Yule
has retired from Dundee as a strategic
move in order to secure a better posi-
ton, and it may be that only a part of
the British force is at Dundee while
others have been sent to other points to
assault the BOer hanks and draw JOu-
bert's attention away from Glencoe.
Again, the fact that veto has just
been put upon press messages from the
front may account for the lack of def
mite news of General Yule's movements
and the results of JOubert's second and
supposedly less vigorous assault upon
Glencoe.
Still. the war department is appar-
emily little better off than the newspa-
ie hnf IF n a n laf "
General Yule, who assumes General
Symons' place. is noted strategist and
much is expected from him in the pres
News from Glencoe and from all
| points at the front is of the meagerest
sort.
Late news from Ladysmith says:
AN Englishman named Piley says
| that when he was leaving Dundee camp
| on Saturday night the Beers were shell
| ing the town and camp with heavy
guns, and that the English guns were
unable to make effective return for the
/ reason that they could not reach the
| Boer batteries
This is the reason why General Yule
! shifted his camp mile away 50 as to
| be out of reach of the BOer suns, which
| were directing their fire against his
| magazine.
Kimberly is still panfc-strfcken, and
/ continues through Rhodes to call for
! help, but how it is to be secured is at
/ present a puzzle for the war depart
ment
! THE Indian transport Patiala arrived
! at Durham on Monday and disembarked
| a squadron of the Fifth Dragons
! These may go to Kimberly, but it is
| unlikely. in view of Yule's pTedicament
| at Glencoe.
More troops are expected at Cape
| Town daily.
| Captain Chichester has gone there
/ to arrange for the military balloons
| brought by the Patiala to be sent tc
| the 'front.'