The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-29
STARVE THEM OUT
That Seems to BE the BOer Plan
at Ladysmith.
Daily BOmbardment is Still
Kept Up.
NO SIGNS OF ASSAULT.
Another Big Gun Mounted in
Place of One Lost.
no SIGNS OF ASSAULT.
Beers Now Have Trains Running
Into COIensO.

P1etermaritzburg, Wednesday, Dec-2f.
A dispatch from Ladysmith. dated
December %. says:
The Beers have mounted another
Howitzer on Surprise Hill replacing the
gun captured in the sortie of the rifle
brigade. While they watch this night
ly with a searchlight and lombard the
place daily, they show no signs Of as
saulting the town. They probably think
they can starve US out, but we have
plenty of provisions.
THE total casualties since the siege
began are 20 men killed and 236 wound
ed"
TRAINS IN COLENsO.
Pretoria, Dec. 25-CNonday) General
Schalkburger reports under date of De-
cember %, that trains are now running
to COlensO. indicating that the Beers
have built a connection around Lady
smith.
Gen Cronje reports from the MOdder
river, December "a, that the Beers cap
tUred two British forts at Kuruman,
December II.
1t is rumOred that Gen Methuen'S big
naval gun has exploded.
The Transvaal government has pro-
mugated new gold tax law, by which
individuals and companies working
their own mines are taxed so per cent
of the output, while mines worked by
the government will pay so per cent
their probable output, calculated on
three months workings. Reducing works
will pay so per cent of their net profits.
The law is retroactive to October II.
HILLS TURNED TO FORTRESSES
London. Dec. pa dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Pietermarltzburg, da-
ted Saturday, December %, says:
Every day reveals some new fact
regarding the strength of the BOer pO-
sitiOn at COlensO. Thanks to the ser
vices of continental officers the charac-
Frar- aE ion II
are no longer fighting a foe who relies
upon guerrilla tactics. but we have to
deal with what is rapidly becoming a
disciplined army. enjoying the adVan-
tages of knowing the country and Sc
lecting the scene of contest without the
burdens of cumbersome cOmmissariat
THE Beers have converted the hills
near COlensO into fOrtresses of immense
strength. Everywhere they have splend-
id trenches, many of them bomb proof
Tramway lines permit the shifting of
guns with astonishing rapidity. The
main positions are connected with the
outlying positions by underground pas
sages and the forts proper bristle with
machine guns that command the ap-
prOaches. Probably mines are laid.
"One hears less nowadays about Boer
shells not bursting. Observers of the
COlenso fight say the BOer shell fire was
very effective. This is due largely to
the fact that the distances are marked
off with white paint
THE enemy's discipline is improving
labor, for which the Beers have a keen
dislike and the way in which they re-
strained their fire when our troops were
advancing is another proof of improved
soldering"
Dispatches from all parts of South
Africa emphasize the great enthusiasm
among the troops and public occasion
ed by the appointment of Gen. Roberts
and Gen. Kitchener. The announcement
that the former will have supreme com
mand and that the latter will be chief
Of q
preston in the Cape Colony caused by
the recent reVerSeS while the soldiers
anticipate everything from the presence
of "BObs" from success in battle to
Caper Beer.
Advices from Cape Town dated De-
cember "A, say an investigation shows
that the reported disaffection among
the Dutch in the Victoria West district
has been Overdrawn. The farmers, it is
pointed out, are mostly land owners and
will not risk the loss of their farms by
rising.
A dispatch from Lorenzo Marques
dated December %, says a curious story
is current, emanating from BOer sour
ces that Matt Steyn, brother of the
president of the Orange Free State and
500 Free Staters have definitely refused
to continue the war.
Matt Steyn, acting as spokesman of
the party is reported to have told the
president that he was only authorized
to intervene in the interest of peace
and that the burgherS did not feel that
they were bound by his +funwarranta-
BILE conduct" especially as they ran the
risk of cOnfiscatiOn of their property
and they simply desired to be permitted
to farm in peace and proposed to imme-
diately return to their farms.
HEAVY FIRING HEARD.
Cane Town. Dec. 2S-A dispatch from
Cradock reports heavy firing in the di-
rectiOn of StOrmberg. 1t is supposed
this is connected with General Cat
acres attempt to reopen communica-
tion with the Indwe cOlleries.
7 - IT T
London. Dec 29.-Sir Charles Howard
Vincent, member of parliament. for the
central division of Sheffield. and colonel
of the Queens Westminster volunteers,
has been appointed to command the in
fantry division OF the city of London
Imperial regiment
The text of Colonel Baden PowelTs
proclamation to the burghers besieging
Mafeking, the gist of which has already
been cabIed, comes from Lorenzo Mar
quez today. After asserting that the
republics can not hope for foreign in
terventiOn and pretending TO relate the
exact attitude of all the European pow
ers including Emperor William. who
the colonel said, fully sympathizes
with England" Baden-POWeu makes
American government has warned the
others of her intention to side with Eng
land should any Of them interfere
FIGHTING DAILY AT MAFEkING.
London. Dec. ga war office dis
patch from Colonel Baden-PoweH. dat
Lady Sarah Wilson had arrived safe
and well at Mafeking. adds that the
bonn nbardment and musketry fire con-
tinue daily on all sides, and that the
health and spirits Of the garrison are
very satisfactory.