The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-11
BRITISH DEFEAT.
Reports of Another Terrible Re-
verse Reach London.
Emanating From BOer Sources
They Are Doubted.
GEN. ROBERTS CABLE
Makes No Mention Of the En-
gagement.
British Loss Reported at 600
Killed and Wounded.
Besides 500 Captured by the
BOer Army.

New YORK, April ia Tribune us |
patch from London says:
The seventh month Of the war in |
South Africa opens with reports from
Boer sources Of another British disaster
If the news can be trusted a terrible
reverse has been inflicted upon the
British arms. According to an official
announcement in Pretoria, telegraphed
by the News correspondent, battle has
been fought south of BrandfOrt in which
the British suffered a loss of 600 killed
and wounded. in addition to 800 cap
tured by the Beers. This intelligence is
amply confirmed by the Nails cOrre-
spondent on the BOer side, who reports
from Brandfortsthat General De Wet on
Saturday defeated the British for the
third time within a week, the scene of
this last engagement being Meerkats-
fontein.
No confirmation has been received
from British sources of the reverse,
and it would be advisable not at once
to give these statements of British
losses their face value. The present
announcement may. after all, be merely
a rehash Of the BOer version of Sannas
Post and Reddersburg, although it
should certainly be borne in mind that
the Nails telegram speaks distinctly
of a third British defeat
ROBERTS DOESN'T MENTION IT.
London, April 11.-Lord Roberts wires
10 the war office from Bloemfontein,
under date Of Tuesday, April 10, as fol-
lows:
The enemy have been very active
during the past few days. one COM
mando is now on the north bank of the
Orange river, not far from Aliwal
North, while another is attacking Wep-
ener. The garrison there is holding out
bravely and infiicting serious loss on
the Beers Major Syringe of the Cape
mounted rifles was killed. No other
casualties have been reported as yet.
The troops are being moved up rap
idly. A patrol of six men of the Sew
enth dragOOn guards, under Lieut.
Wetherly. which had been reported
missing since April z, has returned
safely"
AS the foregoing dispatch does not
mention the alleged reverse on Satur-
day at Meerkatsfontein. the BOer tele-
grams are not credited at the war Office
and they are further discredited on ac-
count of the discrepancies in the dis
patches, as MeerkatsfOntein in one
message is located near Brandfort and
in another it is located southeast of
Bloemfontein, the places being 100 miles
apart.
General Gatacre's recall is accepted
as being in the nature of a recall
though no reason is given for it. and it
will be associated in the public mind
with his lack Of success. Lord Rob
ertS criticised his mana cement of the
Stormberg attack, and possibly Cat
acre having arrived al hour and half
too late to rescue the Reddersburg
force may have decided his return.
General Rumble, seemingly, succeeds
General Gatacre and according to a
dispatch from BlOemfOntein the com
manders of several brigades are about
to be changed.
MORE BRITISH ARRIVING.
London, April 1.-THE Reuter- Tele-
gram company's correspondent at Ali
wal North wiring at $50 this morning,
says:
There is no further news from Wepe-
ner. Too cloudy to heliograph. More
British troops are arriving"
HOLDING THEIR OWN.
Aliwal North April 1O.-The British
loss in the fighting at Wepener yester-
day was IL killed and Al wounded
Fighting was resumed today. The
British are holding their own we'll
BOERS WARN PORTUGAL.
London. April LIT is learned that
the Boer governments have formally no.
titled Portugal that they consider the
shipping of British troops and 1nuni-
tiOns of war to Rhodesia nv v-av "a
Beira. Portuguese East Africa. to b.
tantamount to hostile action This
however, viii not stop Gen Sir Freder-
lex Carrington's force from entering
RhOdesia. Whether or not the POer,
will make reprisaIs upon Portugal re-
mains to be seen, though the best in
formed opinion here inclines to the be.
lief that the Beers are not likely Il
back up their protest with action tha.
would bring them into hostilities witt
sui another power
BOERS SHELL BRITISH CAMP.
Ladysmith Tuesday April 10Th
Boers opened fire this morning earIv
sending shells into the British canD =
1iahusiaagte from three positions wide
~ separated- The shells did no dam
age The troops moved ont to recon
nOltre and found the Beers in str.on,
force and well fortified. One naval 4 7
lncn gun replied to the Beers. who hay
again paced a Long Tom in position.
MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED.
Colesburg, Cape Colony. ApriI n =,
view of the state of unrest across m
border Lord Roberts has proclaimed d.
warning to the Cape Colonists that Fnr
ther acts of hostility win be treate,
with the utmost rigor Of martial law.
GATACRE SENT HOME
Bloemfontein, Tuesday, April 1O-cer
Gatacre (the commander of the TThirl
division) is about to return to England
Gen. Pcle-Carew has been appOinre
q the command of the Eleventh divis
ion. - -
Several changes are likely to be mad
in the brigade commands.
SIRATHCONA HORSE ARRIVES.
Montreal April IA cablegram re
celNed this morning announces the ar
rival at Cape Town of the transpoT
Monterey with the Strathcona horsi
Al lon board were well. One hundre
and sixty-three horses died on the vov
age.
ALL TO ST. HELENA.
Simonstown, April 11.-Owing to IL
unfavorable conditions for keeping tt
Boer prisoners here the authorities hay
decided to ship them all to St Helen
with the least possible delay. The sicl
ness among the captured burghers
abating.
FIRED 100 POUND SHELLS.
Aadysmlth. Tuesday, April 1O-Evel