The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-28


A German farmer named Stucke and
the Rev. Mr- Hartes, director of the
HanOverian missions in Natal, have
been arrested at EstcOurt on the charge
of aiding the Beers. They both claim
the protection of Germany.
BULLER IS AROUSED
London, Dec. 2S.-The Morning Post
has received the following from Win
ston Churchill under date of December
26, telegraphed from ChieVly Camp,
where he has arrived;
"Au ranks have complete confidence
in Sir RedVerS Butler and there is a
stern determination to succeed next
time at all costs. A painful impression
was caused by the announcement of the
change of cOmmander-in-chie and the
soldiers here are resolved to Vindicate
their trusted leader.
The situation, nevertheless, is diff
cult. the BOer position being one of ex-
lined tier on tier with trenches and gal
leries. rising from an almost unfOrd-
able river and with a smooth plain in
front
The enemy have all the ranges
marked and many powerful guns dOmi-
nate the various points of the river,
while the drifts are commanded by con-
verging musketry fire from probably
1900 Beers. There are sixteen miles of
wild, broken country before reaching
Ladysmith, which demands early re-
lief"
The Daily Chronicle publishes the fol-
lowing from Cape Town:
Herr SchIesinger, an agent of the
New York Equitable Assurance society,
who has arrived here from Pretoria,
says the Beers possess immense stores
of food imported by speculative capital
lists under a belief that mining would
be allowed during the war.
He says also that there were thOus-
ands of spectators at the Pretoria rail-
way station when the British who were
captured at NicholsOn's Mex detrained.
The people were ordered by the BOer
commandant to bare their heads and
they did so. The British, astonished,
returned the salute"
REPORT FROM NETHUEN.
London, Dec. 2S-The war office has
received the following from Cape Town,
dated Wednesday, December 27:
''Methuen reports as follows:
AT $3.50 yesterday evening the Beers
on the south side of Magersfontein
opened a very heavy fire for some time.
This morning the naval brigade fired at
the enemy al the west part of Magers-
fOntein The cavalry brigade is recon
noitering in northeasterly direction.
&" Lieutenant Masters has made an
extended reconnaissance westward and
northward of Enslein and reports all
we'll The farmers were glad to see
our men. They were suffering from
want of food.
&c I have established a market here,
where I can purchase fresh vegetables,
selling to the farmers tea and other ar
ticles which they can not otherwise
purchase.
'' Heavy rain fell last night
"Gatacre and French report no change
in the situation.
"Baden-PoweH reports all well De-
cember L"
BULLER TO COMMAND IN NATAL
Cape Town, Dec. 23.-Colonel Reesard,
commanding the Canadian contingent
of troops is to join the staff of General
Butler, all the members of which are
proceeding to Natal. indicating that
General Buffers sphere viii shortly be
confined to Natal.
A man named Green. a former SER
geant major, of the British balloon de-
partment, is among the Boer prisoners,
captured at MagerfOntein.
Green. who deserted from A1dershO OF
in 1898, admitted that he had been some
time in the service of the Beers, and
had instructed them in trenching. He
says there were $4,000 Beers at Magers-
fOntein, 21,00 of whom were engaged the
day of the battle. The Boer losses, he
asserts, were heavy, the trenches being
full of dead.
Green further declares that if the at
tack had been pressed the Beers would
have yielded. He says the Boer horses
have to be taken to the MOdder river,
as water is scarce at MagersfOntein.
BRITISH MAY GIVE UP TUGEIA.
London. Dec. 2S.-In view of the Gp-
parent supineneSS of the British COM
manders in preventing the daily
strengthening and extending of the
BOer positions along the Tugela and
cred to be practically impregnable,
many experts here are coming to the
conclusion that the British have given
up the idea of carrying these positions
by assault and win await the transport
with cavalry required to give their
forces the necessary mobility, when they
hope to be in a position to beSiege the
Beers in their respective plevnaS while
Gen. Roberts carries out the original
plan of campaign, that of advancing
straight north on BlOemfontein, the
other generals detaching sufficient
mobile troops to reach their goals by
circuitOUs routes
There is nothing in the official or best
independent reports to indicate that
the beleaguered garrisons are in any
special straits calling for immediate re-
lief. The latest adviceS from Kimber-
ley, where a shortage is most feared, re-
port plenty of food. An interesting fea-
ture of todays news is the patriotic
offers of service from Indian princes
The Nissan of Hyderabad, replying to
a toast proposed by Lord CurzOn, the
vicerOy, at a banquet in Calcutta last
evening, said the prOudest title he pos
sessed was that of being the queens
faithful ally. adding that his purse, his
army and his sword were ever at her
disposal.
The Mahurajah of GwaIior has asked
permission to serve on Gen. Roberts
staff and has offered to send troops,
horses and a transport to South Africa.
me government OF France has ap-
pointed Captain Demange military at
tache at the Boer headquarters.
Many Cretans in Athens are offer
ing their services to the British consul
for the war IN South Africa
GUESS WORK" IN BERLIN.
Berlin. Dec. 2S.-A German official
agency issued a statement last evening
to the effect that the assertions of the
Lokal Anzeiger We're arbitrary and er-
rOneOus guess work
'.INACCURATE'' IN LONDON
London, Dec. $50 many alleged dis
closures of DeIagOa bav agreements
have recently been submitted to the
British foreign office that the officials
have made it rule neither to deny or
affirm them and when questioned today