The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-26
YULE ESCAPES.
Flees From Beers Under Cover
of Darkness
Makes an All Night March in the
Rain.
REACHES LADYSMITH.
Forms a Junction With Gen.
Whites Forces.
Latest From Mafeking Reports
BOmbardment in Progress.

London. Oct 26.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. White:
..Ladysmith oct. 26.-1O:4O p m
Gen. Yule's column has just marcneo
IN here after a very hard march during
a night of exceptionally heavy ram.
The men, though done up, are IN goou
spirits and only want a rest. The enemy
did not molest them"
BOMBARDMENTOF MAFEKING-
Pretoria. oct. "a. via Lorenzo Mar
uuez--The bombardment of Mafeklng
by Gen. Cronje's commando began this
morning. The women and children
We're given time to leave the city.
TOWN SET ON FIRE.
Pretoria. Oct. 25. via Lorenzo
Marquez-The shelling of Mafeking
was resumed at daybreak this morning
Several houses are IN hameS-
THE FIGHT AT RIETFONTEIN.
London Oct 26.-Details of the fight
ing at Rietfontein are coming in slow
ly a special dispatch from Ladysmith
dated October "A filed after the fight,
says:
on discovery that the Beers were
massed to the westward of the main
road TO Dundee, an attempt was made
by a train to recover the body of Col
Scott Chisholm killed at Elandslaagte.
The train was fired upon and obliged to
retire and Gen White moved out to at
tack the Beers. believed to be Free
Staters who should have Joined the
TransVaalers at Elandslaagte. General
White commanded personally. me
Fifth LancerS We're placed on either
flank. They first came in touch with
the Beers below MOdderspruit where
1900 burghers occupied a strong ridge
whence they opened fire at 1,20O yards,
hitting several of the British. In the
meanwhile the Erdars and Natal car
bineers advanced unscathed through an
opening in the ridge under the fire of
the BOer gun, while the Imperial light
horse took part of the crest of the
ridge, the Beers retiring. At about
o'clock a BOer gun stationed on the
crest of MatawanaskOp opened fire with
great accuracy on the main force which
in the meantime had come up; but the
shells failed to explode and the British
artillery silenced the opposition The
whole British force then advanced and
the action became general large
body of Beers occupied strong posi-
uonS at MantaWanaskOp and the pre-
cipitOus ridges surrounding it. The
British guns shelled the positions and
the infantry advanced under cover Uf
fire. The Gloucesters and DevOns cross
ed a fearful fre-zOne beneath Tuitany-
Oni hill whence the Beers poured a
whitening fire with such effect that 30
of the attackers dropped within a dis
fance of 200 yards. Seeing the peril of
,he DevOns and GlOucesters, General
White dispatched the CarbineerS and
LiverpOOlS TO take the enemy in the
rear.
A fierce rifle and artillery duel was
maintained for some time. The British
MaXimS ratified. but the Beers. under
cover of the rocks, remained cool and
replied with an incessant rifle fire. The
British artillery set upon the face Of
the hill and at length the shells became
so destructive that the Beers retreated
TO another ridge whence they were dis
lodged by the volunteers in the face of
a calling fire.
The Beers soon reformed and took
up a position on another ridge. but the
volunteers dashed across the interven-
Ing plateau, again rushed the BOer DO
SltiOn and drove them back to the main
force occupying Matawanaskop. The
British then shelled the latter until
clusters of Beers were seen leaving and
retreat1ng westward. when the engage
ment closed
A special dispatch from Glencoe camn
dated October % says:
After the victory Friday the British
imagined they We're free from further
molestatiOn for some days but they
soon found that the earlier reports of a
sweeping success were exaggerated The
reported capture of all the Boer guns
was incorrect The burghers succeed
ing in removing them before the British
carried the hill, leaving only the rifle
men behind to cover their retreat
On saturday news was received of
the approach of Gen. JOubert's main
column, threatening Dundee Cen Yr1e
quickly recognized the impossibiIitv of
defending both Dundee and Glencoe
against such superiority of numbers.
sent word to Ladysmith of his danger
Gus situation and ordered the evacua-
ton of Dundee, which commenced wifi,
long range firing by the big guns at
daybreak Sunday. The Beers made ex-
cellent practice and the shells from a
40 FOUNDER occupying the Impati noun
tains dropped in and around the town
In the meanwhile the British had
reached Glencoe in safety. There or
ders reached Gen. Yule on Monday to
fan back on Ladysmith At the same
time he was informed that a large force
was waiting at Elandslaagte to assist
his retirement. Glencoe camp accord
lnS!y was quietly evacuated. The pre-
Sarlous position of the British was not
known to the Beers.
GEN. SYMONS Is DEAD.
London, Oct. 26-The death of Cen
eral Sir VIM. Penn Symons. the Prit-
lsh commander at Glencoe. who was
shot IN the stomach in the battle with
the Boers there October 20, was official
" announced in the house of commons
today. = iiS
YULE'S CLOSE CALL.
London, Oct 26-The disnatcbas san+
from the front are so diversified s15
contrary that it is difficult to outline
tne situation with any degree of nra-
clsIon- Ihree or four main facts how
ever stand out prominently Genera 7
Symons' fight at Glencoe was not 80
thing like the decisive victory 81 go
alleged and General Yule would in ali
PROBABILITY have been annfbfIa+e5 -
met with the same fate - tbe -
tured aussars. If he had NOT retreate
ne DoIIDafdment of Mafeking has
commenced with unknown results aD5
the Beers have got their Hussar rTis
oners safely to Pretoria -
Altogether the campaign is bafng