The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-16
His Line OF Communication with
BIoemfontein Already Severed
by the British.
GEN. BULLER AT CHIEvELY
BRITISH REPORTED TO HAVE RE-
TIRED FROM RENsBURG.
Gen. Gatacre and His $4,000 Men Sup
posed to Be Trying to Join Rob-
erts-Lancers Killed.

LONDON. Feb. 16, 40 a. MAS the
wires are closed to correspondents with
Lord Roberts. and as nothing further from
him has been communicated TO the public.
the military adopts spend their, time in
studying maps. topography and figuring
out the possibilities of Lord Roberts's COM
Beers to do.
General Cronje's communications with
Bloemfontein have already been cut The
best news England could hear would be
that he elects to give battle among the
low hills and ridges west Of Kimberley.
Should he determine not TO do this. he
must raise the siege OF Kimberley and re-
treat to point where he would prefer to
fight. This retirement could be long de-
tour around the head of the British ad-
vance to Bloemfontein, or, seems to
military students more practicable, he
could withdraw to the north, using the
railroad for his guns and heavy baggage,
moving to Fourteen Streams station, and
thence into Transvaal territory. The Beers
have made no preparations to defend
Bloemfontein, and there is no particular
reason why General Cronje should risk
battle to protect the capital Of the Free
State.
A feeling OF quiet confidence prevails
here that the strong hands of Little
Robs'' and the hero OF Khartum are shap-
ing matters toward a much-needed decisive
victory. AS the st. James Gazette says:
Lord Roberts. with his own line well
guarded and having little fear, only a de-
tense which would be deadly-namely, a
counter stroke attacking his long line as
il swings around-will be able to force the
Beers to fight under very unfavorable con-
ditions, or abandon their heavy guns and
stores
Operations elsewhere are apparently sus-
pended. A correspondent. writing from
Chievely, Feb 1S, says: 1--WE are still hope
full of relieving Ladysmith.''
A special dispatch to the Times from
Chievely, dated Feb 13. says: General
Lyttleton has succeeded to the command
Of the Second Division during the Illness
OF General Clery. who is suffering from
blood poisoning. Colonel Northcott, Of the
Rife Brigade. temporarily commands the
Fourth Division"
Colonel Baden-Powell in a dispatch from
Mafeking, dated Jan. %, after mentioning
matters already sent out by correspondents
gives his total casualties up to Jan. 25 as
follows: Killed. officers and 60 men.
wounded, officers and 123 men; missing.
81 men.
No word has been received regarding
General Gatacres 1900 men at Storm
berg. The impression is that these forces
are on the way to Lord Roberts.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle, telegraphing Wednesday,
says: ''It Is reported here that the British
have evacuated Rensburg and retired to
Arundel"
The official list of the British casualties
at Rensberg. from Feb. 10 to Feb. II. shows:
Killed. four officers and seven men; wound
ed six officers and fourteen men; missing,
two officers and eight men. The officers
killed were Colonel Coningham, of the
Worcester Regiment, and Major G. Eddie
and Lieutenants j. Powell and ]. c. Rob-
erts. all OF the Australians.
Mr.. Chamberlain's announcement in the
House Of Commons of the intention of the
government to encourage the Zulus TO
defend themselves from the Beers is a con-
tingency the Beers seem to have antici-
pated. as they have been doing everything
In their power to win the good will of the
Basutos. who have thousands OF good
rifles. The Beers gave 1000 Basutos a safe
conduct. If the British let loose one tribe,
the Beers will probably let loose another.
The War Office has issued orders for the
formation OF twenty-one new batteries and
three battaiions OF infantry.
The Cabinet council was in session yes
terday for two hours. II will meet again
to-day. This Is quite unusual.