The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-01
AM In AFRICA.
either B0er Nor British Army
Seems Capable
Making Any Further Advance
Movement.
is LITTLE FIGHTING.
War Has Dwindled Into a Sc.
ries of Skirmishes.
Each Side Is Waiting For Some
thing to Happen.

London, Jan. 1.-Interest in the war
today centers on the comparatively un-
important skirmishing near Dordrecht,
Captain Montmorency's sortie with a
patrol of 120 men of the Twenty-first
Lancers and his retreat, December 80,
were followed the next day by a sue
cessfuI British engagement and the
rescue of a small party, supposed to
be men Captain Montmorency left be-
hind aim. Captain Goldsworthy with a
force of 110 men with four guns accom-
panied by Captain Montmorency's
scouts sailed out of Dordrecht during
the morning of December 81 to relieve
Lieutenant Turner and q men left
over night at Labnschagns Mex. The
Beers were driven back and Lieutenant
Turner's party was rescued. Eight
oers and thirteen horses are known to
AVE been killed. The Times, in it's sec
ond edition, published a despatch from
Sterkstrom, dated December 81, which
says:
"Captain Montmorency's scouts were
cut off owing to their refusal to leave
a wounded officer, Lieutenant Warren
of Brabant's Horse. These men, under
Iieute1ants Milford and Turner of the
Frontisr Mounted rifles, defended them
selves most gallantly against the re-
+ peated attacks of some 500 Beers. The
senemy resorted to sniping during the
might, lut were repulsed with loss
AT 5E15 this morning Captain Colds
fWorthyi with the Cape mounted rifles
arrived land the enemy Immediately fed
to the hills, Turner's party, whose
horses lad nearly been killed, were res
cued. They displayed splendid pluck
4 and tho brilliant manner in which Cap
tain G3ldsworthy affected their relief
& on his dwn responsibility is deserving of
the highest praise. Our loss was but
s1sal lost Oh aDIIf
thirty men, including eight men killed" ,"
Another account says:
1.-The success of this little party will
arrest the progress of the enemy's re-
cruiting in that vicinity"
A dispatch from Modder River says:
'Decimber 81, the naval guns planted
a few Excellent shells without reply.
The eltemy's position on the left is q
place practically weakened But
neither,from the Modder river nor from
F'rere cpmes any news tending to show
an impl lding change in the existing
impasse nor confirming the impression
created lby yesterdays dispatches that
General ESuller meditated an immed-
late forward movement.
Count GIeichen of the Grenadier
Guards, and a distant relative of
queen Victoria, who was wounded at
the battle of Modder River, has recov-
cred from hos wound and has left Cape
Town for the front.
A GLOOMY NEW YEAR.
New York. Jan. IA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
The new year opened gloomily for
England, with a. record of miscalcula-
tions and disaster in South Africa to
be retrieved at great cost of life and
treasure, and with the regulations of
generals in the field and of ministers at
home hanging upon the issue of battle
during the next few weeks. There is no
lack of criticism and fault-fnding in
the ITess, and there are signs of ankle
ty in ministerial circles over the politi-
of a fn
British arms but there is also a hopeful
feeling Induced by fresh proofs of the
incapacity of the Dutch allies to make
use of their opportunities.
tunities.
The Boer victories of Stormberg,
MagersfOntein and Colenso have not
been followed up in any instance. There
nave bean no successful raids on the
lines of communication and Ladysmith,
Kimberly and Mafeking have not been
overwhelmed by superior numbers and
guns. There is a record of Boer failures
as well as British defeats.
The budget of news received at mid
night was a light one. The arrival of a
cape steamer has brought a large mail
and all the morning journals print let
terS from their special correspondents.
The most interesting letters are those
published in the Standard, the Times
and other journals from Ladysmith in
which incidents of the siege and garri-
son life are described. The writers are
wisely reticent on important points, and
deal lightly with the dangers of the
situation, but there is little doubt that
the garrison has been short of ammuni-
tion and that knowledge of this fact has
Influenced Gen. Butler in sacrificing his
original plan of campaign and massing
his forces for the relief of Ladysmith.
He is still calling in reinforcements, for
the Majestic has gone to Durham with
another battalion and numerous drafts
No additional battalions of infantry
will be available from incoming trains
ports for a week.
Indications still point to a battle at
the end Of this week, although there
may be delays through mule transport
service which Gen. Butler is evidently
Tugela is reported in flood from the
heavy rains, and the passage of the
river will be most difficult.
News from the western border is
meagre. There are belated accounts of
gun practice by the naval brigade at
Modder river, which is constantly i'm
proving. One dispatch describes the
havoc made by naval gun which had
found the range for the main source of
the water supply for the Boer camp
t- British accounts of Baden-PoWelI's
sortie can not be expected for several
days. The Boer official dispatches stat
ing that two wen known British officers
one of them son of the prime minister
were wounded, have caused much
anxiety in the world of wealth and
fashion. Lord Edward CeciPs wife is
the daughter of Admiral Maxse and is
now in South Africa Lord Cavendish-
Bentinck is a half brother of the Duke
of Portland and is an officer of bril-
liant promise. A grim story is told OF
Lord Salisbury in connection with the
service of his son under Baden-PoweI
at Mafeking He was offered at the
opening of the war special facilities fol-
getting early copies of dispatches from
Mafelking, but replied that he could take
his turn and wait for the newspapers
like other people.