The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-08
UNOPPOSED.
British Marched Into Burghers-
dOrp Last Night.
Roberts Has Moved Forward
Fourteen Miles.
TURNED BOER FLANK.
Mafeking Garrison In a aPitiable
Plight.
A Big Battle Looked For at an
Early Date.
TURNED BOER FLANK.

AoltenO says that the British occupied
Burghersdorp unopposed last night.
CLEMENTS TAKES NORVAL.S PONT
London. March 8, 4:2S p. m.-Lord
Roberts teIegraphs that he has captured
a Krupp gun and a number of tents
and wagons. The general also an
nounccs that General Clements has oc-
cupied Norvals Pont.
MAFEKING'S DISTRESS.
Mafeking, Feb. 19.-What may be ty-
phoid malaria has broken out in the
7vomen's Iaager and dysentery due to
the absence of vegetables is rife among
the garrison. We are thrown upon our
resources. Such luxuries as we had
are exhausted or have been command
cred for the hospitals, which are filled
to overiowing The children's grave
yard close to the women's laager grows
weekly as the young lives are cut short
prematurely by shell and fever. We
look with hope deferred for relief.
The checrfulness which was charac-
teristic of the early days of the siege
has almost deserted us, the men pre-
ferring to remain at their posts rather
than move about and work up an ap
petite which cannot be satisfied. The
natives are in the worst plight. Those
who are unable to obtain work are al
lowed a small handful of meal daily.
Many Drawing the danger wander about
the town with gaunt and hungry faces
in search of work. which entities them
to an extra ration of meal If they find
work they are generally too weak to
perform it.
From their advanced posts the Beers
rake the streets and the market square.
It is impossible to dodge their bullets
hsaxr fs3I Irafn
however, and the casualties though
heavy are not what they might have
been had less able men been at the
head of affairs.
Even the headquarters mess fares
scanully- Like saints under the altar,
we cry, How long, O Lord, how longr'
Two hundred and ninety-two persons
have been killed, wounded or died of
disease. The garrison is so small that
It would be criminal to make its weak
ness public but there is never so much
whisper. If any one suggested the
possibility of surrender it is because we
do not mean to get beaten, and we are
cheerfully enduring the hardships of to-
day rather than to make a surrender in
any degree possible tomorrow.
ROBERTS TURNING MOVEMENT.
London. March S-The war Office has
posted the following advices from Lord
Roberts:
Poplar Grove. March 7.-Evening-
We had a very successful day and have
completely routed the enemy, who are
in full retreat.
THE position which they occupy IS
extremely strong and cunningly ar
ranged with a second line of entrench-
ments, which would have caused US
heavy loss had a direct attack been
made.
THE turning movement was neces-
sarily wide, owing to the nature of the
ground, and the cavalry and horse ar
tillery horses are much done up.
Fighting was practically confined to
the cavalry division, which, as usual,
did exceedingly well. and Gen. French
reports that the horse artillery batter
les did great execution among the enc
my.
our casualties are about So I re-
gret to say that Lieutenant Keswiclz
was killed and Lieutenant Bailey was
severely wounded. both of the Twelfth
Lancers. Lieutenant DeCrespingy, of
the Second Life guards was severely
wounded. Remaining casualties will be
telegraphed tomorrow
Gen. Dewet and Delaney commanded
the BOer forces
Lord Roberts wired yesterday morn
ing from Osfontein and in the evening
from Poplar Grove, IA miles eastward.
by an application of the elementary
principle of strategy the Boer positions,
10 miles long across his path have been
enptled and their holders have been
obliged to retire in confusion conse-
quent upon hasty withdrawal
disturb the symmtery, the deadly in
genuity of the BOer trenches in front of
him. He marched out infantry estimated
from the commands named, at 300, 900,
and sent 1000 hOrsemen and horse ar
tlllery in bold sweep around the Boer
LETT ,whereupon the Boer center and
right became untenable Fifty Brit
ish fell when the cavalry came into con-
tact with the Beers
The correspondents differ as to the
enemys strength The Daily Nails
representative thinks that the Beers
numbers something more than 4OOO. The
Dally news man estimated them al TO-
UuO- AS these figures come from observ-
ers at headquarters, it is clear that
LORD Roberts force was OVERWHELMING
~ superior. He can scarcely have few
er than $4,000 Immediately available as
the Guards brigade reached him from
Lord Methuen Tuesday.
LORD Methuen now commands 0nIv
volunteers and the local force at Kim
berley, some Of whom nave gone toward
Mafeking.
The Beers do not vet appear to an
preclate the mobility of Lord Roberts
corps, which was able to strike so
sWlItly IN this affair that the enemy
had to abandon a gun, much fora ge a nd
q large quantity of camp eouipn9ent
The Standard cautions Englishmen
against rising to a height of serene
contentment which the actual position
does not Justify" and thus measures tbe.
situatiOn
"A large number of the Beers are still
IN the held. They have a wide range
OF country over which they can operate
although their morale is somewhat
damaged, it would be too much to saw
that they win not stand again. Indeed.
what we want them to do is to stand
again' Tor 1t IS only in a real stand up
night that we can infliet these losses
which would eventually lead the de-
9sated to sue for peace. Lord Roberts