The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-12
DEMORALIzED.
British Generals in Africa in a
Bad Fix.
Apparently They Don't Know
Which Way to Turn.
BOERS AGGRESSIVE.
JOubert Is Reaching For Bull
ler's Communications.
Roberts Scheme Is Now to Res
cue Cecil Rhodes.
Kimberley's Garrison Is Living
ON Horse Meat.
Kimberley's Garrison Is Living
ON Horse Meat.
NEW BATTLE GROUND.
MOdder River to Be the Center
of the War Drama.

New York, Feb. 1.-THE news printed
in London today throws a great light
on the war situation. Lord Roberts is
not engaged in a movement against
Bloemfontein, as had been hoped, but
is at Modder river. and it is believed
that he means to attack General Cronje
for the purpose of relieving Cecil
Rhodes and the besieged city of Kim
berley. whose inhabitants have been
eating horse meat for five weeks and
whose death rate has grown alarmingly.
General Cronje has strengthened his
position. in expectation of an attack.
At Rensberg the Beers are strong
enough to take the offensive.
The most depressing news however
comes from Natal The Beers have oc-
cupied a farm south of the Tugela,
near Chieveley, which farm is studded
with hills from which the country can
be commanded for miles around. 1t is
reported from Durham that General
Joubert is marching with a column of
5000 men to outfank General Butler. A
Boer column is operating in Zululand
and a fear that General Buffers line
of communication will be attacked.
Although Winston Churchill tele-
graphs that General Butler is about to
make a fourth attack on the Boer
front, the London papers call atten-
ton to the fact that General Butler has
removed his headquarters from Spear
mans Camp to Springfield and appar-
emily do not believe that General Bull
Ter will attack again. AS for Lady
smith the military experts have given
up hope. It is agreed that a sortie from
the beIeaguered town would result in
the British being cut to pieces.
The Morning Leaders expert says:
General Butler felt that it would be
useless to persevere in his attempts to
relieve Ladysmith, which would have
cost more loss than the number of men
remaining in Ladysmith.
I'VE hear now of two attempts to
turn General Butler himself; one by
small Boer column marching through
zululand and another with 5000 in
Natal under the redoubtable Joubert
himself.
TT is quite possible that General
Butler was held on the Upper Tugela
as much by the ruggedness of nature
as by the enemy'S artillery. He may
be so weak on the Lower Tugela as to
leave his right flank and his communi-
cations with the sea open to a strong
attack.
But he must make the best of his
force. All the reinforcements within
reach for a fortnight to come are ear
marked for an attempt to force pass
age of the Orange river, which we have
got at a point where it is of little use
TO US save for the relief of Kimberley.
The expert notes with alarm the ap-
pearance of entric fever in General
Gatacre's and other camps.
He says Lord Kitchener has not got
to the front yet, and that Lord Roberts
is not likely to order a general ad-
vance until his chief of staff arrives.
Winston Churchilps dispatch from
Frere camp, Sunday, sent with General
Buffers approval, in which he warns
the British people that there may be
heavy loss and possibly disappoint-
ment from General Butler says, ,describ-
ing the last fight: "A Maxim-Viclzer
gun abandoned by the Beers in
DOnga was about to fall into British
hands when that notorious ruffian. the
fearless ViljOen himself, brought back
a team of horses and escaped with the
gun, threading his way between the
red flashes and black clouds of lyddite
shells which the British artillery con-
centrated on him.
1T was a splendid feat of arms.
During the night General Hildyard for
titled himself continually with much
skill, building traverses and head-cover.
Consequently, though exposed to a. ter
rible shell fire during all of the fight,
he only lost Al. In twelve minutes 63
shells exploded on the hill and 24O were
counted in two hours besides smaller
shells from Maxim-V Wicker guns, which
were innumerable.
Prince Christian Victor aide-de-
camp to General Hildyard, was knock
ed down by the concussion of a 100
pound shell bursting on a rock by
which he was sitting. The prince be-
haved throughout with extreme COM
pOsure.
THE Boer prisoners admit heavy loss,
but declare an unfaItering determine
tion to resist to the uttermOst."
The fifth month OF the war opens
with the Beers apparently about to
take the offensive, with their armies
apparently intact and we'll supplied
with ammunition, and, according to
Winston Churchill, foreigners and war
material pouring into the Transvaal
through Delagoa bay.
BUILER'S OWN EXPLANATION.
London, Feb. II, 4:12 p. m.AThe war
office has received the following dis
patch from Field Marshal Lord Roberts,
dated from the Modder river, Sunday,
February IL:
u have received a telegram from