The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-03
CONCEN NTRATING.
The Main Boer Army is Gather
ing at RensbuTg.
Seventy Miles Northeast of
BlOemfOntein.
IN FRONT OF ROBERTS.
Only a Few Thousand Men OPP
pose His Advance.
JOubert Got All His Big Guns
Away Safely.
IN FRONT OF ROBERTS.

New York, March "a Herald dis
patch from London says: First Rob-
erts scored. then Butler. and now Rob
erts is about to begin operations again.
He has already moved his camp to Os-
fontein. six miles to the eastward.
Renewed fighting can be expected any
day. as some seven thousand Beers have
been located in the vicinity. The main
Boer army from Natal is said to be
concentrating at Rensburg, 70 miles
northeast of Bloemfontein. Here the
ground is favorable to defensive tao
tics. If the Beers make no determined
stand south of this place, they vir-
tually abandon half of the Free State
to the British and also allow the rail-
way which runs from Bloemfontein to
Port Elizabeth to fall into Lord Rob
erts' hands. giving him another val
liable line Of communication. They will
also leave the scattered forces at
Stormberg and Labuschangnes Mex iso-
lated. For these reasons it scarcely
seems possible that they will abandon
the BloemfOntein railway south with
out an effort
The Beers at Colesburg have already
crossed the Orange river, moving north
TO assist in the attempt to oppose Lord
Roberts
Gen. Butler is not moving any troops
into the infected area supplied with
water from the contaminated Kip
river.
The Beers apparently were able to Sc
cure sufficient start in removing all
their big guns and heavy stores north
so that pursuit is considered hopeless.
The main body of burghers appear to
have gone westward
Two incidents indicate it IS clearly
possible that despite the threats of for
he of hn
ish public viii not be satisfied until the
two South African republics shall be-
come part of the empire.
The first was the inauguration of a
movement of the ministerial members
Of the house of commons to lay before
the government a statement that there
can be no lasting settlement of the
South African troubles which does not
provide for the complete disarmament
of the two states and their incorpora-
ttOn into the empire under the SOW
ereignty of the queen. The other was
the breaking up of a meeting in Exeter
hail which was called for the purpose
of petitioning the government to put an
immediate end to the war.
A Tribune dispatch from London says
Gen. Butler in a dispatch from Lady
smith makes it clear that the Beers
decided to raise the siege of the town
Immediately they learned that Gen.
CronJe was at the mercy of Gen. Rob
erts at Paardeberg. The British ad-
vance IN Natal was then only opposed
in order to allow time for the big guns
and ammunition and stores to be safely
removed north and west. That the
Beers were not completely successful
in carrying out this intention was owing
TO the fact that they were more or less
demOralized by Gen. Buffers victorious
attack on Tuesday. After the battle
orders were evidently given for a hasty
retreat to the passes, with the result
mat large quantities of ammunition and
two guns were. left behind. Natal is
now clear of the republican forces. Pub
lie interest in the war is already de-
clnlng since the end is considered a
fOregOne conclusion. tedious as NAV he
the process by which it wiII-be reached
The relief of two garrisOns and the
complete collapse of the Dutch plan of
campaign leave Gen. Roberts at liberty
to concentrate his forces with the trans
port as his chief difficulty to be over
come.
KRUGER AND STEYN TO CONFER.
London, March 3.-2:27 p. m-Presi-
dent Kruger is said to have left Pre-
toria with the intention of meeting
President Steyn The place where they
viii meet is not mentioned but is be-
lieved to be somewhere in the Orange
free state. Those in South Africa who
are cOnVersant with the effect the re-
cent reverses have had on the Beers ex-
press the opinion that the meeting of
the two presidents is preliminary to
suggestion OF negotiations for peace.
But if this is the case. it must be due
to the pressure brought to bear upon
the presidents by the burghers and
Afrikanders in the British colonies
rather than in the personal inclinations
of the presidents, as all the available
information depicts them as being as
determined as ever to persist in the
war until the resources of the republics
are much more enfeebled than they
seem to be at present, although some
significance is attached to the consul
tation in view of the reported visit to
England 10
Mr.. HOfmeyr and DR.. Te Water. Osten-
sibly on private business, and for their
health, but closest observers do not an
ticipate any sudden cessation of hos
tilities and certainly the reports from
the theater of war do not tend to en-
courage the advocate of immediate
peace The Beers are apparently rally
ing with their accustomed ability to re
pair a temporary reverse and Great
Britain has yet to test their force as a
defensive power under the new condi-
tionS Of warfare.
Telegraphing from Osfontein TODAY
thanking the lord mayor of Iiverpool
for his congratulations in behalf of
that city Lord Roberts says:
Il trust her majesty's soldiers in this
country will gain such further successes
as viii speedily restore the freedom. and
prosperity of South Africa
BULLER ENTERS UNNOTICED
LadySmlth, Thursday, March -1-Gen
Butler, accompanied by his staff arriv-
ed here at 11:40 a. m. today He enter
ed the town unnoticed as more cavalry
was coming in during the morning The
news of his arrival soon spread. how
ever and Gen White and his staff went
at once to receive him The two gen
erals met amid scenes of tremendous
enthusiasm and Gen. Butler had an i'm
mense reception 1t is understood that
the Beers are IN full flight toward the
Free State and a flying column of La
dysmith troops are in pursuit of them
Abe Beers left many wagons guns and