The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-09
WHITES PLIGHT.
London Realizes That He Can't
Hold Out Much Longer.
Much Indignation at Supineness
of Butler.

London Jan 9-Further news of Gen.
Whites victory is anxiously awaited
as it is generally realized today that
there was little warrant for the ex-
ultation which followed the announce
ment of his repulse of the Beers. The
remarkable revolution in Boer tactics
has been a complete surprise to the
British who had not reckoned on the
weakened garrison of Ladysmith being
subjected to such a courageous assault
and it is realized that Gen. Whites
troops can not be expected to greatly
prolong such an arduous defense. In
some quarters it is considered unac-
cOuntable that Gen. Butler did not press
his attempt to effect a passage of the
Tugela river while the Beers were en-
gagged nOrthWardS and the comment on
his apparent SupineneSs are no wise
complimentary.
From the Boer headquarters it is re-
ported that Gen. Butler is constructing
a subsidiary railroad from the main
line to CoIenso westwardly, in the di-
rection of Potgieters drift.
Advices from the Modder river say
the Beers continue to extend their
works and it is estimated that thirty
thousand men are required to defend
them.
The prisoners captured by the Canad-
ians and Queenslanders at Sunnyside
are going to Cape Town for trial as
rebels. The Canadians expressed in
tense Indignation on learning that the
prisoners were British subjects. The
colonial troops continue to earn warm
praise on all sides the latest example of
their effective work being recorded in
the dispatch to the London Times dated
Jan.ts6, from the Modder river cabled
to the Associated Press last night,
which said that the news from Belmont
showed that the Canadians and Queens
landers had been so energetic in that
vicinity that the Beers had been COM
| PEELED to desert a large belt of the
Orange Free State territory across the
| border.
Little change is apparent in the po-
| sition at Colesburg. General French
reported to the war office Sunday morn
| ing, January T. that he haG reconnoit-
| cred with a squadron of the household
| cavalry of the Beers east flank, two
! miles from Achterlang and drew con-
siderable force of the burs hers who.
| being anxious for their communications
with the Norvalspont. withdrew.
The casualties of the Sufolks near
| Colesburg were:
Killed-Colonel Watson and Lieuten-
ants Wilkins, Carrie and White and %
men.
Missing-C Captains Brett, Thompson
| and Brown and Lieutenant Rants, AL
| len, Wood-A Martin and Butler and 107
| men.
| Wounded-Twenty-o men.
General French further reports that
! the casualties of the other regiments to
| January were twelve men killed and
| forty-four wounded.
gratulations and thanks to General
| White and his troops at Ladysmith.
A dispatch from Frere Camp last
| Sunday night said all was quiet there,
thus dispelling the widespread hopes
that General Butler had followed up
his demonstration before Colenso with
an effective movement eIseW here.
The London Times correspondent at
Lorenzo Marques cables that although
| there IS no guarantee that Transvaai
| gold is of standard value the Portu-
| guese government compels the local
banks to accept it as legal tender, the
| same rate as British soNereigns, thus
| giving the republics every facility Tor
| extensive transactions here and remit
| ting money to Europe"
Continuing the correspondent says:
"It is a question whether the Portu-
guese order is not breach of neutral
| ity'
The latest news from Bloemfontein
says the officials there recognize that
| they must evacuate the town at an
early date and are securing houses at
Pretoria.
It is also announced that the hospi-
| tails at Bloemfontein and elsewhere are
| packed with wounded men.