The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-10
A Battle Began at Wepener
Yesterday Morning
Continued All Day With Heavy
Casualties.
BOERS ARE CHECKED.
Fighting Was Resumed This
Morning With VigOr.
Pounding Away at Mafeking at
Last Accounts.

Aiiwal North, April 1O.-Heavy fight
ing was continued at Wepener this
morning. The result is unknown
Three Boer commanders are attacking
the town.
FIGHTING WAS SEVERE.
AliwaI North. April 9.-An engage
ment took place today at Wepener. The
Beers Vickers- Maxim did considerable
execution at first, but the British guns
soon got the range and did great havoc.
The fighting was severe and lasted all
day. The Beers received a check The
casualties were rather heavy on both
sides. Another commando is advancing
toward Wepener from DENTS Dorp-
The RouxviIe division has also gone
To Wepener.
FINAL ASSAULT ON MAFEKING.
Mafeking. Tuesday. March 27.-News
was received yesterday of the advance
of the southern column.
The Beers this morning opened fire at
sunrise with seven guns, including one
1o0-pounder. This has been the most
vigorous bombardment of the season.
The Beer siege gun alone has already
fired over sixty rounds
Under the cover of the fire the Beers
advanced to the northern face of the
works, hut retired precipitateiy on COM
ing within rifle range. They also ad
Nanced to the southwestern parts, but
We're repulsed- There was one casualty.
The Beers under COmmandant Jan
Cronje are evidently falling back be
fore the advance Of the southern re-
lief column and are concentrating with
two commanders who are retiring be-
fore Colonel Plumer in order to make
final effort to reduce the town.
All the forts and outlying positions
are manned, the troops are standing to
arms and everybody is under cover. All
are convinced that this is the Beers last
attempt.
TRULY LAMENTABLE
London, April 10-The Leader says:
THE reports from Boer as well as
from British sources of our reverss $
near the Bloemfontein railway are truly
lamentable They show a distinct lack
OF care and leading
In the face of surprise we seem ut
terly without resource except reliance
ON pluck. That is a safe card in tie
play, but a costly one.
Lions led by asses was an old de-
scription Of the British army, but We
thought we had learned something Of
late years in the command ranks.
What light does this war throw upon
that possibility"
ON THEIR OLD STAMPING
GROUND.
New York April 10-A Herald dis
patch from Ladysmith. April s. saws.
The Beers have posted a big sun or
knights hill north of I1landslaagte and
another ir the vicinity of Vessels Mex
station. The enemy are reported to be
strongly intrenched at Halpmakaar.
HEAVY CANNONADING
Pietermaritzburg. April 1O.-Heavy
Cannonading commenced this mornine
I'm the vicinity Of Elandslaagte.
ROBERTS IN FOR 1T
London, April 1O.-Britons are now
beginning, though reluctantly, to re.
alize that Lord Roberts is in for Z
winter campaign, lasting severa
months. This is the end. in few
words. of the high hopes based upoI
lord Roberts brilliant dash to Kim
berfey and Bloemfontein.
Preparations are being made to holt
BlCemfonteir against surprises
Lord Kitchener has been given an
important duty. being responsible f.
the protection Of the railway Will
Lord Roberts is waiting for remouat
and winter clothing for the troors
whose thin cotton khaki uniforms an,
boots are worn out.
General Brabant and General Cat
acre are both at a standstfl Ior,
Roberts viii probably for sometifn
cnnfHe his operations to clearing tn
Free State behind Of raiders and to r.
liaVing Mafeking, for which purpose. an
parently the Eighth division now a.
irving al Cape Town, has been order e
to Kimberley.
Lady Sarah Wilson and other Mafe
king CORES espOndents send diaries of tn
doings there, showing that the Roe-
have tried by abandoning their trenche
10 lure tie beSleged out into mine
ambush. Fortunately the British en
gineers discovered the mine cut Nh
Wire communication and unearthe
- pounds of dynamite and war gela
tine
Mr.. Steyn's address to the Free Stat
raad at kronstadt is confirmed TIL
Fischer-W olmarens deputations hav
fun power to negotiate for peace sui
jeet to the raad's sanction
Lady Roberts will remain at Can
Town. The Duke Of Westminster, ii
Duke Of Marlborough and Lord Henr
Cavendish- Bentinck have gone to tn
front.
BRABANT SEEMS DOOMED.
London. April 1O-The Boer attac
on Gen. Brabant's force at Wepene
was resumed again at dawn today TT
enemy's attack on two or three sides O
Monday lasted until 2:3O O'Clock in II
afternoon when the firing ceased and
was believed that the enemy had bee
beaten off; but it was announced tn
morning from Aliwal North that Il
fighting had again begun.
Gen. Brabapt's force. numbering fro
two to three thousand, hold positions
rough country. 1t is not known VIII;
the numerical strength of the Beers
uuA Whatever IL may De II IS DelnS raj
idly augmented. A body of 1000 Boe
is marching towards Springfonte
from Smithfield. between Wepener al
Springfontein. The detOnation of heaN
guns was heard at Maseur. on Monda
Sir Godfrey I.agden. the British res
dent commissioner of Basutoland. hi
left Maseru for the border
The events in the southeast portion
the Free State have caused the Eigh
division. which had been ordered
Fourteen Streams to be diverted
SprngfOntein
Mysterious movements of troops