The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-30
London Is Hugging to Itself the
Belief
That Lord Roberts Is Deceiving
the Enemy
BY FALSE MOVEMENTS
And Misleading Reports of His
Intentions.
Kruger Promises to Recapture
Bl6emfOntein.


London. March 30, 2:3O p. m.-The re-
ports that Lord Roberts will remain at
floemfontein another month are prob
ably intended for Boer consumption,
and the recent movement of troops and
other indications point to preparations
being well advanced for a forward
movement. The entire silence of the
cables this morning is regarded as sig
nifcant
The fact that the Boer kilograms an
nouncing the bOmbardment of Mafeking
Monday and Tuesday do not claim any
success is accepted as proof that they
met with none, and hopes are enter
tanned that it may prove to have been
the final effort to reduce the place be-
fore raising the siege.
It is now suggested that the ap-
parent inactivity of the British at War
rentown is merely designed to impress
the Beers with the notion that they are
checking the Mafeking relief column,
which in reality is advancing by
western detour. Color is lent to this
View by the announcement that col
urnn of 5000 mounted troops, command
ed by Colonel DrummOnd and accom-
panied by three batteries, a pontoon
train and several wagons of ammu-
milton, passed Barkley West March 26.
on an extensive march, the objective of
which is a strict secret.
h1l00EfA BOAS1.
London March 30.-The Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Morning Post, tel
egraphing Wednesday. says: 'sPresi-
dent Kruger boasts his intention to re-
take BloemfOntein within week, and
il appears probable that the Beers are
advancing in force sOuthward.'
The Beers are concentrating in force
about Is miles north of BlOemfontein
in rear of Glen, and Lord Roberts is
sending forward trOODs TO engage them
Tla seventh inf1nfr-N Hfx-fGfnra and ri
of General French's cavalry have been
sent up to join the Fourteenth brigade
and the two cavalry regiments that are
holding Glen and it's envirOns
II does not seem probable that the
Beers will give serious battle in the
fairly open country north of Glen.
stiil, their evident strength indicates
more than a corps of observation
In small affairs the Beers are daring
y aggressive in all parts of the field of
war The Johannesburg mounted pO-
lice, esteemed by the Beers to be their
best mounted commando, are raiding
the country near BlOemfOntein,h harassing
the farmers who have given up their
arms to the British and carrying off
cattle. There is a BOer report from
Natal that a Russian soldier of for
tune, Colonel GanOtzki with a hundred
horsemen, is operating close to the Brit
ish outpOsts on the western border
The Beers have reOccupied Campbell
and are in strength near Taungs and
Barkly West.
They shelled the British camp at
WarrentOn Wednesday. but moved out
of range that night Yesterday (Thurs-
day) two British guns enfladed the
BOer trenches, quieting their Mausers
Lord Methuen and the forces that had
been operating IN the Barkly district
have been recalled to Kimberley by
Lord Roberts Nc. explanation has been
given for this. but the mounted troops
are dissatisfied at having been ordered
back.
The Beers and disloyaIists at Ken
hardt have been dispersed and caused
10 retreat. General Parsons is about to
enter the town EInOpposed.
Lord Roberts is making extensive
preparations to police and safeguard all
the Free State towns in the territory
occupied Dispatches from Mazeru as
sert that the Beers who returned to
Ladybrand from ClOcOlan have taken
up strong positions and sent pickets far
in every direction to watch Basutoland,
in the expectation that part of General
Buffers army will invade the Free
State on that side.
According to Pretoria advices .Mafe-
king was bombarded for seven hours on
Tuesday
1t is reported in London in well in
formed quarter that Lord Kitchener
viii be offered the post of commander
in-ehief in India, succeeding the late
Sir William LOckhart, so soon as de-
cisive successes have been obtained in
the Transvaal and that General Sir
Archibald Hunter will succeed him as
I4DIQ EbOEGIlS CUlGl o. SLdIl. Inc lQQlan
newspapers have been urging Kitchen
er's appointment.
QUEEN CONDOLES WITH MRS
JOUBERT.
London. March 3O.-Queen Victoria
has cabled to Lord Roberts, asking
him to convey to Mrs. Joubert widow
of General Joubert, her sympathy at
the loss of her husband. and to tell her
that the British people always regarded
the dead general as a gallant soldier
and honorable fOeman.
JOUBERT'S FUNERAL.
Pretoria. March 29.-The funeral of
General Joubert took place this after
noon and was attended by all classes.
The foreign military attaches, in uni
form. were among those present and the
British officers who are prisoners here
sent a wreath. There We're universal
signs of mourning.
BRITISH EVACUATION OF WAR
RENTON.
Pretoria, Thursday March ga dis
patch from Fourteen Streams north of
Warrenton says the Beers, March 2S.
opened a bombardment on the British
camp there and that the British replied
feebly and evacuated the place during
the night
REND TTTTc r0D DnEDc