The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-13

''The essential qualities of the army
Of 20 years ago are no longer the su-
preme necessities for success. The man
behind the gun stands more supreme
than ever.
Dig a trench and line it with good
shots, supported by modern artillery
and no enemy can advance in the face
of them. They may be Outfianked or
starved, but while their ammunition
holds out, none can ouSt them, for they
can fill the whole plain over a radius Of
at least four thousand yards with such
whitening blast of shrapnel and rifle
bullets that no troops can stand IN the
open before it"
Speaking of AIagersfontein he says:
THE Beers there demonstrated the
fact that, given a plain, field glasses,
modern magazine rifles and quick-firing
small guns and the whole German army
itself could not diS1Odge the $1,000 men
of the two Boer republics by q frontal
attack on those grass edged trenches.
Not so 600 British could have beaten
those $1,000 Beers, except at such a sac
rifice of life as no commander would
require or could be pardoned for occa-
SiOEing.
For a frontal attack the old military
manuals declared that the attacking
force must be three times that of the
| defending force, but today, with the
new weapons, it is said that ten men
must attack one"
IMPORTANT MOVE EXPECTED.
London, Feb. 13.-The cessation of
war Office news from South Africa is
! taken to indicate that the British pre-
! parations for a move from AIOdder river
are about completed and that import
/ ant events can be anticipated within
! a few days. Interest centerS almost
/ wholly upon Field Marshal Roberts,
/ especially since Gen. Buffers report of
/ his withdrawal from Vaal krantz came
for the first time. through Lord Roberts,
/ showing that all the different opera
/ tiOns over the wide field will hereafter
/ be more completely co-ordinated. 1t is
2 q oh
! have gone to join Lord Roberts at the
Modder river, another move preluding
an advance.
A dispatch from the AIodder river an
nounces the arrival there of 1,400
refugees from the Barkley West dis
trict They had been ordered away by
| the Beers because they refused to join
| the republicans. The refugees reached
| the Modder river via KOodOOsberg. 1t
is learned that 200 Beers were killed or
wounded during Gen. MacDonald's re-
connaissance. There is no confirmation
/ of the reported Sorte Of British troops
from Ladysmith nor of the Boer out
/ hanking movement.
A report comes from Durham that
| the British artillery forced the Beers
! to evacuate their camp on Hlangwa
| hill south of COlensO. 1t would be an
important advantage if the British
| were able to occupy the position. The
/ absence of Gen. French from the RenS-
/ berg district seems to have given the
Beers an opportunity for renewed ac-
tivity. They have apparently COM
menced an extended attack on the
British lines and are meeting with
! minor successes which are having con-
| siderable moral effect on the border
| cOIonists. The BOer invasion of Zulu
| land is causing keen anxiety. Apart
from the fact that it threatens Gen.
Buffers supplies it is difficult to believe
that the Zulus can long be kept
uuieseents while their cattle are. com
wandered and their country overrun by
their hereditary foes
VALUE OF CECIL RHODES.
The friends of Cecil Rhodes are be-
coming alarmed at his possible fate and
have sent an emissary to see DR. Leyds,
the diplomatic agent of the Beers in
Europe in regard to the probable course
the Beers would pursue in the event of
1 his capture. DR.. Leyds assured the in
termediaries that the Beers did not in
tend to kill Mr.. Rhodes, but he added,
they would certainly hold him a
hostage until the identity for the
Jameson raid was paid. In view of the
! develOpmentS since the rail, the Beers
have also decided to double the amount
of the indemnity demanded, so Mr..
Rhodes friends will have to hand over
$10,000,000 before he is released
1t is also learned definitely that DR..
Jameson is still at Ladysmith in spite
of all the conflicting reports. A semi
official para graph is published in the
Globe this afternoon saying Germany
does not contemplate Intervention. The
! German government, it is added, does
not consider itself concerned in the fu-
ture status or in the existence of the
Boer republics.
HELP IN A FEW WEEKS.
London, Feb.13.-An undated dispatch
from Mafeking via Gaberones, F'ebru-
ary 2, says:
Colonel Baden-Powen has received a
| communication from Lord Roberts
promising that relief would be sent in a
few weeks. The food will last. The
garrison is as game as ever. The Beers
have expressed their intention not to
fight but to starve US out. All well
A GENERAL RETREAT.
Rensberg, Feb. .13.-Ye esterday's retire
ment Of the western outposts included
the withdrawal from Coleskop and all
the surrounding posts. The Beers plant
ed 40 FOUNDER at Bastards Mex, COM
manding the surrounding country and
successfully shelled the British posi-
tiOns. The Beers numbered some thou
sands and We're to l wherever fighting
occurred. The British are chafing IN
der the necessity of retreat from their
posts, some of which they had held
since the new year. The British now
have no camp west of Rensberg. They
safely brought off the guns from
Colesk0p.
CASUALTIES AT POTGIETER'S
DRIFT
London, Feb. ia revised list of the
British casual ties at Potgieter's Drift
from February to February 7, shows:
Killed 26; wounded 319; missing s.
RENSBERG TOTTERING.
London, Feb 13.-6:4O .. ma dis
patch to the Evening News from Rens-
berg says severe fighting occurred dur
/ ing the British retreat the various out
posts on both side suffering heavy loss
es. The dispatch adds that it is doubt
ful if Rensberg can be held.
A private telegram received here says
that the force commanded by Gen.
Wood has moved up from the south
ward and seized Zoutpans Drift, which
it now holds.
BOERS HAVE 10000 MEN
Rensberg, Feb. 13.-An Australian
newspaper correspondent, Reay, paid an
interesting visit to the Boer camp Sun
day to make inquiries as to the fate of
his missing colleague. Mr. Hales, of
London Daily News, who was captured
by the Beers February at the time
Mr.. Lambie Of the Melbourne Age was