The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-15
OVER THE TUGELA
War Office Dispatch Says War
rem Has Crossed.
Fighting Is Supposed to Be In
Progress.
HE HAS 11,OOO MEN.
Both Flanks of. the BOer Army
Are Threatened.
Fears That the Dutchmen Are
"Playing P0ssum."

London, Jan. ia special dispatch
| from Cape Town dated January IL last
| evening announces that Gen Warren
has crossed the Tugela. river.
New York. Jan. 15.-A Herald dis
patch from London says: Although
there is every reason to suppose that
fighting is proceeding upon the line of
the Tugela river, no report has been al
lowed to come through since Gen. Bull
ler's statement of his arrival at Pot
gieters drift.
In connection with this movement
| Gen. Sir Charles Warren either on
| Thursday or Friday moved with about
LOCO men in the direction OF Weenen,
| which would give color to the view that
| both fianks of the Boer army are being
threatened as a preliminary to a de-
| termined advance on Mount Inhlawe
| to the east.
| Colenso upon the southern bank Of
| the Tugela must be cleared of the Boer
force which has been holding it since
otherwise this force might be able to
| threaten the British line of communica-
| ton.
1t is quite possible that Warren will
cooperate in the attack on this noun
| tain. Now that the Tugela is running
at flood the time is favorable as it will
| be difficult for the Beers to reinforce
their position south of the river except
by pontoon bridge which is believed
to have. been constructed. In the alb
sence of any official news the war office
is remaining obdurateIy silent.
London was full of rumors Sunday
1t was freelyreported that engagements
had taken place at three different
points along the extended Boer lines
AS a matter of conjecture this may be
| correct, for there is reason to suppose
| that some movement was made against
|, Colenso simultaneously with the seiz-
ure of Potgieters drift. 1t is quite pos
7sible that an attempt to flank the
| Beers may be attempted on both the
east and the west, but athe ground on
| the east is more difficult than that
| toward Springfield, and TO make wide
detour in the direction of Weenen
would necessarily require a large
amount of transport.
If fighting really occurred at three
| points yesterday or Saturday they
would most likely be Mount Hang
Wana, ColenSo and some spot north of
process of enveloping the Beers to
which Gen. Butler is obviously COM
mitted.
In this connection the dispatch to the
Daily Telegraph from Frere, dated
Wednesday, in which Mr.. Bennett Bur-
leigh looks forward to Some decisive
event, and is making preparation to
take up a wagonload of luxuries for the
lIOOpS dC 41dO SIllllu, CIGdI1y 44I1ulCdI0S
at Frere it was understood that the
British attempt to relieve Ladysmith
was about to be made. The whole po-
sition of affairs on the Tugela is en-
veloped in mystery, which can only be
understood as implying that operations
of critical Importance are going on.
The mystery is further deepened by a
despatch from the BOer headquarters,
which although issued on Thursday
last, makes no mention of Gen. Buffers
hanking movement in the direction of
POtgieters drift. It is impossible that
this movement could not have been
known to the Beers, because it must
have been in. progress for two or three
days and Gen. Butler himself states
that the Beers were intrenched for four
and a half miles north of his advanced
position. The Beers are also probably
playing possum." There is a delight
fully naive affectation of perplexity in
the concluding statement of the dis
patch that the object of the British is
conjectured but is by no means clear.