Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-18
CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA.
Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener
Arrive at the Seat of War.
UNEASY FEELING OVER LADYSMITH.



netted-The Disaster to the sufYolks-
B0er Successes Cause Enthusiasm-
Streicher Bearers to Front
London, Jan. ll--During the inter
lude of military inactivity and official
secrecy Lord Roberts and Lord kitch-
ener have arrived at the seat of war.
1t is assumed that their clear vision,
supported by 10000 fresh men who
are due to arrive in South Africa
within 30 days, will alter the sltua-
ton and that the fourth month of the
campaign will witness the beginning
of victories for the British arms.
They are not, however, expected to
produce definite results for some
days, but their mere presence will
restore the shaken confidence OF the
men at the front in their generals.
Lord Roberts finds 100000 men on the
defense or watching for an opening.
Lord Methuen's health, according to
the Daily Mail, has "broken down"
and the field marshal may relieve him.
Possibly some others will be relieved
Of important commands.
There is an uneasy suspicion that
when the Latysmith casualties are
announced they will be disheartening
and will partly destroy the patriotic
glow produced by Gen. Whites "vic-
tory
Free Statsrs stick to Their Position.
London, Jan. ll.--'rhe Standard has
received the following, dated January
., from its special correspondent al
Frcre Camp: u hear, on good an
thority, that President Kruger seht
word to the Boer headquarters ask
ing why Ladysmith had not been at
tackled and that the reply was we
should lose too many men,. His an
swer TO this excuse was the sug
gestion that the Free Staters might he
put in the fore front. This hint was
taken and the attack delivered. Pres
ident Kruger's advice was so far good
that the Free Staters behaved better
than the Transyaalers have done.
At all events they managed to seize a
hill. Later in the day the Transvaal-
ers retired before Gen. Whites coun-
ter attack amid the jeers Of the
Free Staters, who actually stuck to
their position until they were bay
onctted In the ditch. After this affair
it is almost certain that the allies
will quarrel. A heavy gun mounted
on Umbulwana hill has been firing
since daybreak. Evidently the seige
Of Ladysmith is still maintained"
The Disaster to the SUFFOLK Regiment
Rensburg, Cape Colony, Jan. H.
1t is reported here officially, with
reference to the disaster to the First
battalion OF the Suffolk regiment that
Lieut.. Col. Watson marched the reg
iment in close column to the top of
the hill at midnight. He assembled
the officers and was addressing them
just at daybreak when the enemy
volleyed at distance of 80 PAGES.
The colonel, his adjutant and two
other officers were killed. The Suf-
folks, who had scarcely fired a shot,
feel back to the picket about thou
sand yards away, some one shouting
"retire,' About $40, however, re-
manned, lost heavily and finally sur
rendered.
B0er Successes Cause Enthusiasm.
London, Jan. 1.-THE Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Mail tel
eglaphing Monday, says; "rhe Boer
successes have been followed by a
tremendous outburst of enthusiasm
and Boer sympathy in the western
part of the colony. Reports from
Paarl say the whole district is made
hideous at night by bands of young
men parading in the villages and
singing the rransvaal Volksleid, while
the children are everywhere practic-
ing the national songs of the repub-
lies. The following are specimens Of
statements believed by the western
Dutch; Butler and Rhodes are pris-
oners, and two thousand Beers Sc
cretly sailed and captured Cape
Town."
str~,cher- Bearers start for the Front
London, Jan, 1.-THE Durham cor
respondent of the Standard, tele-
graphing Tuesday, says that 1000
stretcher-bearers started for the front
the previous night and that their de-
parture was regarded in Durham as
indicative of renewal of the fight
Ing.
London, Jan. l2.-The newspapers
were reconcIled during the early days
. OF the war to cable censorship, tax
ing IT for granted that full narratives
sent by mail would supply all def.
ciencies, For some weeks, however
even the mail correspondence that
has arrived in London has shown
signs of habitual scissoring by the
censor. Pages are remembered with
out chronological or logical connec-
ton, leaving the happenings de-
scribed quite uninielligible in many
cases. The editors, acting possibly in
concert are laying these facts be-
fore the public and insisting that
they be permitted to know and to
print the facts. The Daily Mail for
mally accuses the war office of doc
fprinnN In ad,tt,,. an....,I -