The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-20
through the British military attaohe

through the British military attache
in Berlin to the service.
The London press regards this as
well deserved compliment, the papers
pointing out that not only have the
reserViSts responded SplendIdly but the
large majority of those who have re-
ported are medically fit for service. In
several cases the outgoing regiments
contain a prepOnderance of reserves,
most of them in the prime of manhood
and the men who have fought in India
and in Egypt.
1t is the aim of the war office to send
no man to South Africa. unless he has
had at least a years service. The only
serious criticism, apparently, to be
made regarding these thousands des-
tined for the front is that the reserves
are for the most part ignorant of the
mechanism of the magazine rife.
Efforts have been made to overcome
this and to give them enough practice
with the Lee e-MetfOrd, but the time has
been too short to do much. What ef-
feet this lack of familiarity with their
own weapons will have upon the ac-
curacy of the fire OF the British can on
ly be judged when the. dead and wound
ed are gathered from the fields of bat
tie.
GLENCOE FIGHT IN DETAIL.
London, Oct. 2O.-The reported Boer
attack on the British position at Glen
coe was confirmed early today and
thanks to the prOmptitude of the war
office (whose messages naturally take
precedenee) in publishing the official
dispatches from Sir George Stewart
White, the public has been enabled to
follow the contest and to discriminate
between the actualities and the unre-
liable rumors that have flooded the pa
pers.
It appears that during the night the
Boer artillery occupied hill command
ing the British camp and began drop
ping shells at daybreak in the direction
of the British forces. The latter, under
Gen. Sir VIM. Penn Symons, promptly
accepted the challenge, and moved to
meet the invaders under cover of the
been worked with such advantage as
to quickly silence the enemy's batteries
enabling the infantry to carry the Boer
position with a rush, in which the Dub
lin Fusileers and the Kings Royal
| Rifles are said to have specially dis
t{nguished themselves, the Fusileers
capturing the first guns of the enemy
taken in the present campaign.
Fortunately for the British they are
apparently strong enough to Withstand
a BOer force double their own but in
| view of the fact that the railway was
! cut yesterday at Elanslagt, evidently in
anticipation Of tOdays attack, it would
| have been impossible to send reinforce
ments quickly from Ladysmith.
Gen. SymOns seems to have been in
| the thick of the fight as might have
| been expected. Confirmation of the re-
| port that ne was wounded, has been re-
| ceived, but just how seriously is not yet
| known here.
| FIGHT STILL ON.
Ladysmith, Oct. 2O.-11 a. ma dis
| patch from Glencoe says that a BOer
| gun has been captured and that the
/ DevOnshire and DOrsetshire regiments
| are now engaging the Beers.
| GEN. SYMONS' WOUND.
| London, Oct. 20--A dispatch from
! Glencoe Camp says that Sir VIM
| SymOnS was wounded in the stomach
/ and that Gen. Gate has assumed com
mand.
BOERS LIFTING CATTLE.
| Cape Town, Oct. 2O.-A private mes
! sage from Mafeking, undated, says:
| Fight Monday. All right" Messages
| from Kimberley dated Oct II, say that
! the Beers still occupied their position
| at Speytfontein- They were lifting cat
| tie and devastating everything An
| Englishman with a free state permit
/ who was temporarily detained near
/ Kimberley reports tina. the Beers have
| large f1OckS and herds.
| BRITISH DRIVEN BACK.
| Ladysmith, Oct. 19.-The Carbineers
| and border mounted rifles, who have
| been in action with the enemy nearly
/ all day returned this evening, falling
| back fighting in the face of some 1000
most cut off, but a Maxim gun held the
| Beers in check. It is reported that six
| teen Beers We're killed.
| Several times the Beers came within
! 400 yards range, but their shooting was
| bad and the MaXims rendered signal
| service in stopping the rushes. They
/ have large wagon train and artillery.
/ VICTORY DEARLY BOUGHT.
| London, Oct. 20.-The war office has
/ received the following official dispatch
| from Ladysmith filed at $3.50 this af-
! ternoOn. This from Glencoe:
| I'VE were attacked this morning at
| daylight by a force roughly estimated
| at 1900. They had placed four or five
| guns in position on a hill 5.4OO yards
| east of our camp, and they fired plugged
| shells. Their artillery did no damage.
| Our infantry formed for attack and
| we got our guns into position. After
| the position of the enemy had been
/ attack and after d hard fight lasting
| until 1:30 p m. an almost inaccessible
| posltlon was taken the enemy retiring
eastward All the BOer guns have been
| captured. We can see our soldiers at
the top of the hill. Our cavalry and
| artillery are still out.
| Gen. SymOns is severely wounded.
Our losses are heavy. They will be
! telegraphed as soon as possible
EVERY MAN CALLED.
| Cape Town, Oct. 20.-Advices from the
President Steyn has issued another
| proclamation calling upon the burgh-
ers to a man, to take arms and to fight
against an INSCRIPTIONS enemy 1--WE
are fighting a just war; says the proc
lamation, 'and can not be defeated, as
God is on our side
MANY REFUGEES.
| Lorenzo Marquee, Oct. 20.-The towr
| is over-crowded with refugees. almos
| all of whom are without money. The1
are compelled to sleep in the open
Many of them are English. The inhabi
tants are quite unable to cope with the
| distress.
| POSTERS TORN DOWN
Limerick, Oct. 20-Posters pIacarded
inIimerick today urging the Irish to en-
| list for service against the Beers were
torn down by the police
IL, 900 TROOPS GOING.
Southampton. Oct 20-The trans
1 nOTf Y0TEShiTn tT1A
of the special army corps for south At
! rica cast off this aftarnnnr, .t o. =.