The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-19

the surrender of any of the enemy. 1t
also warns them that the Beers are
treacherous in the use of the white flag.
This order has been received with en-
MARLBOROUGH STAFF CAPTAIN.
London, Jan. 19.=The war office an
nounces the appointment of the Duke of
Marlborough as a staff captain in con-
nectiOn with the imperial yeOmanry be-
ing organized for service in South
Africa.
Military critics in afiliation with the
war Office consider that the expected
battle along the wide arc south and
west of LadySmith can hardly be de-
layed beyond today. From Durham it
is reported that the fighting has already
begun. General Buffers forces engaged
in the hanking operation across the
Tugela are some 49, 600 or IA, 900 bay
Onets, 200 horses and 40 guns. The dis
position of his other fifteen or twenty
thousand men is not known, although
the assumption is that the whole army
will be in action when the hour for COM
bined movement arrives
Three weeks ago General Butler had
10000 men. Considerable reinforcements
have since reached him, giving him
probably $4,000 men and eighty guns all
told.
Estimates of how many men and
guns the Beers have to oppose him are
mere guess work. In not replying to
Gen. Lyttleton's shells they are using
the tactics that proved so successful in
the battles of MagersfOntein and Co
lenso-lying low in their trenches and
thus hoping to conceal their precise
! position until the infantry advance
The Daily Chronicles military expert
/ sees a curious analogy between Gen.
/ Buffers situation now and the eve of
/ MagersfOntein. Now, as then, the
! Beers are making a stand with their
/ backs to investing lines within a few
miles. AS Lord Methuen, after cross
! ing MOdder river had to attack the
| Spytfontein and Magersfontein hills so
| Gen. Butler, after passing the Tugela,
! faces invisible entertainments in a
! rough country One correspondent
| mentions Gen. Buffers wheeled trans
1 port of 5000 vehicles which connect
/ him with the railroad about thirty
/ miles to the rear. Among these We
which draw from ten to fifteen wagons
each.
General Buffers warning as to the
| misuse of the white flag by the Beers
| in his proclamation to the troops is
| considered a rather broad hint to give
| no quarter. His phrase, there will be
| no turning back" is commented on ed
| itorially by the morning papers as pre-
saging cheerful announcements.
The absorbing interest felt in the
situation in Natal makes other points
| in the theater of war seem microscopic.
Lord Methuen lies behind his works
| at Modder river. 1t is estimated that
! his forces will have to be nearly or
| quite doubled before he can relieve
| Kimberley.
British reinforcements are moving
| toward Gen. French at Renesburg.
| With these he is expected to advance.
| Gen. Gatacre'S men occupy LOperS-
| burg, a slight advance.
! The war office announces next week
! will be embarked Y guns, $40 men
band 2,210 horses. This is the largest
| consignment of artillery ever sent
abroad. The war office invites 500 vol
unteers for sharpshooters' battalion
of yeOmanry.
Sir William MacCormack, IN the Ian
| Get, says that of the S09 wounded in the
| hospital visited by him only eight had
| been hit by shells.
Mr.. Kipling has written the follow
| ing characteristic letter to the British
/ Guiana branch of the navy league, in
| war fund:
Bravo British Guiana. Seeing what
| they have had to contend with lately
/ in the sugar line they have done un-
| commonly well. Please convey to them
| my best thanks-first, as vice-p -presi-
| dent of the league; second, as perpre-
| tatOr of the absent beggar, and third,
| as a fellow contributor to the big Jack
pot which we are boiling up on
| Thomas behalf. Have you seen Bra
| zil and Trinidad come into the game ?''
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Times, discussing Afrikander disloy-
atty, says:
Il believe the sympathy of every
! Dutchman in South Africa is with the
| two republics, and that a general ris-
ing is still quite possible. However,
there is nothing to implicate the bond
! party as a whole in officially organized
conspiracy against the imperial gov
| ernment, although the bond leaders
| have winked at or pandered to sedi-
| tion in order to preserve their pOpu-
larity.
The British failures and the appear
| ance of the Beers on British territory
| have fomented rebellion, but even now
a decisive British victory would pre-
vent it's further spread"
This correspondent testified to the
value of the services render ed by Mr.
Schreiner in an embarrassing position.
He speaks less highly of Mr. HOffmyer
the real leader of the bond party, and
severely condemns the Dutch press in
the colony, which he says lis doing
its utmost while keeping on the windy
side of the law to promote rebellion
/ and to envenom racial attacks"
The British losses in killed, wounded
and captured up to date are 1887 Off
GERS and men.
PERSISTENT SMELLING.
Spearmans Camp, Natal Jan. 18.-
Thursday S:25 p. m.-The BoeI
trenches have been persistently shelled
by the naval guns all day long. Small
parties of Beers were seen at inter-
walls, and a large force from the direc-
ton of Ladysmith were seen treking
towards the northwest British posi-
tion. A balloon did good service
Lyttleton's force made a demonstration
in the direction of the Bakefontein
kopjes four miles north of the British
position under cover of a heavy artil-
lery fire, to which the Beers did not
respond. On the left Gen. Warren's
troops remained in possession of two
fprOminet kopjes behind Spionkop
There was some Boer sniping, but it
| was ineffective.
The Graafreinet Beers evacuated
Prieska January Is, and returned
! northWard across the river.
METHUEN IS ACTIVE.
Modder River. Cape Colony Jan. IS
| Gen. Methuen, who is in robust
health. personally directed another
strong reconnaissance yesterday. The