The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-05
Reports That the Beers Are
Weakening Abound.
Little Credence is Given to Them
Anywhere.
PREPARING FOR SIEGE
That is More Likely to Be What
They Are Doing.
May Make a Stand at Glencoe
and Laings Mex.

London, March 5.-A Times special
from Lorenzo Marques dated Sunday,
March 4, says:
Persistent reports continue that the
Transvaal republic has opened negotia-
tions looking to the securing of peace.
On the other hand il Is asserted the
Beers Will make a stand at Glencoe and
Laings Mex and that in the meantime
entertainments at Pretoria are being eX-
tended in anticipation of a siege.
conference between the Beers in north
ern Natal was hurriedly arranged on
receipt of the news of Gen. Cronjes
surrender. Until Thursday night official
confirmation of the surrender was with
held from the public.
President Kruger sent a fervid relig-
1ous appeal with orders that it should
be read by all the officers to the burgh-
ers urging them to stand fast and
strive in the name of the Lord, for
unless they had faith in Him cowardice
would set in and their position would
be hopeless the moment they turned
their backs on the enemy. Their past
victories, he declared, showed that the
Lord was on their side. The president
beseeched the burghers not to bring
destruction on their progeny. Contin-
h'ng, the special says that high au-
thority in Bloemfontein declares that in
the event of a repulse of the Free State
forces, the latter will retire towards the
Transvaal and unite with their brethren
there, maintaining the struggle to the
last.
The Boer casualties at Colenso during
the week ended February 25 are report
ed to be 81 men killed and 13O wounded.
STEYN IS BLAMED
New York, March 5.-A Tribune dis
patch from London says:
one of the results of the Iacifeation
of the Dutch districts of Cape Colony
may be the purchase of large numbers
of horses from the farmers But the re-
mounts sent deWn are believed to be
utterly inadequate. Gen. Kitchener can
work out the transport problem to Pre-
tOria II anybody can do it. Letters re-
celNed from officers at Cape Town
describe Gen. Roberts as the flower of
courtesy and Kitchener ,as a man of
business. A staff officer of engineers
told Gen. Roberts that he could do
certain work assigned to him in the
course of a fortnight. Il am sure" said
Gen. Roberts, that you will do as well
as you can"
Gen. Kitchener asked the same Off
Ger how much time he would require for
the job. "A fortnight" was the answer.
Kitchener smiled grimly.. Either you
VIII do 1t in a week. he said. ''Or YOU
will be sent home" The work was fin
ished in week. 1t is this tireless ex-
acting energy of Kitchener's that is
putting Englands work through in
South Africa.
There are no further details of the
conference of Presidents Kruger and
Steyn respecting peace negotiations.
South Africans in London have never
ceased to regard President Steyn as
more directly responsible than Presi-
dent Kruger for the outbreak of the
war and they now assert that he will
be the first to suggest retirement from
hopeless conflict. Steyn in their esti-
nation is an ambitious schemer with
out Kruger's sturdy qualities and in
HeXlDle viii. South Africans here are
confident that the Free State forces will
not cross the Vaal river for the defense
of the South African republic but will
withdraw from the conflict and be
ready to make peace as soon as their
own capital is occupied and their ter
ritOry overrun.
The ministers naturally will prefer
to have the two republics stand to-
gether, so that each territory can be
occupied in turn and be brought under
military law. In this way a peace con-
ventiOn can be avoided with the DoIiti-
cal agitation which will go with it. both
in England and Dutch South Africa.
When ministers like Mr. Chamberlain
forecast peace they doubtless have in
mind the return of the burghers to their
farms and the disappearance of the hos
tile armies now IN the field and the es-
tablishment of temporary military
government in each capital
BRITISH ARE RESTING.
London, March 5.-The air of mys-
terry, which covers the movements of
the main British army in South Africa
continues, though what information
leaks through indicates that the cam
paign is being carried on with steady
progress. There are now practically
three British armies in the field one in
the Free State, one in Cape Colony and
the other in Natal.
All that is known about the first and
most important is that it is in close
touch with a body of Beers, estimated
to number about 5000 men. Speculation
as to the direction and method of Cen
Tpsalaa .
State is quite worthless, so carefully
are the plans concealed.
In Cape Colony Generals Brabant and
Clements command the two horns Of
the army. while General Gatacre holds
the main Boer force in check Generals
Gatacre and Clements will probably
combine and advance on Bloemfontein
with General Brabant guarding the
right flank with the mobile colonels
This movement will be subsequent to
securing a line of communication with
the lines of the Free State railroads.
which, according to the latest dis
patches, seems almost accomplished.
The third army, that in Natal is
comparatively inactive and may remain
so, with the exception of sorties a
serious movement can hardly be expect
ed from it this week. When it will be
ready to advance it's movements. must
greatly depend upon how much distance
the Beers put between themselves and
General Butler As an incident of the
British main objective, which at last is
clearly outlined as Pretoria the relief
of Mafeking by a force from the south
may be expected any day Colonel
Plumer's force on the north seeming
incapable of accomplishing it.
The unexpected activity of the Cape
Dutch and the reported likelihood of
fighting between them and the Basutos.
aided by other tribes having a grudge