The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-19
Reports That He Has Captured
Several BOer Camps.
Attempts to Carry a Strongly
Fortified Position.
DUTCH FORCES RETIRE
Before Gen. Brabant'S Advance
at DOrdrecht.
London War Experts Still Fear
Another Trap.


London, Feb. 19-3:OS p. NIT is Of
fcially announced that Gen. Butler re-
ports that he has captured several
camps and a quantity Of ammunition
and a number of prisoners
Chievely, Feb. 1S.-Gen. Butler has
established his headquarters on Hussar
hill Heavy artillery firing was main
tained at intervals by both sides from
"Wednesday until Friday. The British
slowly pushed the advance and their in
fantry occupied entrenched new posi-
tions in front of Hussar hill with slight
losses.
It is believed that the lyddite worked
havoc in the Boer trenches.
The Beers are supposed to have
moved their big guns back over the
Tugela, Friday afternoon. The rifle
fire has been heavy at times. The
whole country is thickly wooded.
The British operations are directed to
the capture OF Hlangwane hill, where
the Beers are strongly fortified and
from which they are shelling the Brit
ish with great accuracy.
The British infantry are now disposed
along a line extending for seven miles
70 the small kOpJes at the base of
Monte Christie hill. From O'Clock Fri
day morning the British necessarily
shell Monte Christie, with the mex sep
arating 1t from Klaauw Krantz hill on
the right
The British infantry is making slow
progress up the mex in the endeavor to
occupy Monte Christie, which will enable
them to enfilade the Beers on Hang
wane.
sterkstrom Camp, Feb. 18.-The Beers
are retiring and Gen. Brabants forces
are now entering Dordrecht.
WILKINSON ON THE SITUATION.
London, Feb. 19.-Spencer Wilkinson,
review ing the military situation in the
Morning Post today, says:
Lord Methuen's army can now be
used to assist the. operations of Lord
Roberts Probably the march from
Jacobsdal to Bloemfontein will occupy
six days. The British right wing is
acting on the defensive in the country
south of the Orange river and is now
holding its own, which is all it is re-
CURED to do for the moment
The army Of Lord Roberts in. push
ing through the Free State will prob
ably have the effect of disturbing the
Boer army in Natal. because if the
enemy remains there he will run the
1isk of being caught between the ar
mics of Lord Roberts and General
Butler.
While the two British armies are
several days marching apart it is pos
sible for the Beers to throw the bulk
of their forces against one while act
ing on the defensive with the smaller
body against the other. The Boer COM
mander in chief must therefore, now
desire to strengthen General Cronie to
the point where he might hope to check
or to delay Lord Roberts How far he
can detach troops for this purpose de-
pends largely upon General Buffers ac-
tion.
dispatches from Ladysmith indicate
movement among the besiegers. This
may mean that they are sending rein
forecemtns to Cronje or that they are
preparing a new assault upon Lady
smith.
1T is satisfactory, therefore. to hear
that General Butler has occupied Hus-
sar hill
The Daily News publishes the fol-
lowing dispatch, dated Sunday morn
ing, February IS, from Modder river:
our sudden appearance seems to
have astounded the enemy and thrown
them into a panic. All their positions
were hurriedly evacuated and the big
runs at MagersfOntein and Kimberley
were left behind.
General Cronje moved his transport,
consisting of many hundred wagons,
along a bank of kopjes north of the
MOdder toward Koffyfontein. 1t got
past our mounted infantry, but owing
to weariness had to stop. Thereupon
our artillery opened upon it, The main
body of the BOer force kept up a run
ming Eght the whole day, vainly trying
to escape.
Each time their advance guard
sought to move off our mounted in
: hem. We never attempted to stop their
main movement, cOntenting ourselves
with trying to check them.
Their position at Koffyfontein is
said to be very strong. They entertain
a wholesome dread of 10000 cavalry
moving more quickly than they do
themselves We hope to be in Bloem-
fontein shortly"
The Daily News has another dispatch
from the Modder river military camp,
dated Sunday morning, which says:
AT dawn on Friday the Beers were
kOpjes toward KoffyfOntein. Our
mounted infantry was sent out from
Kip drift, but was driven back and the
enenly's wagons passed
General knOX's twelfth brigade, how
ever, quickly attacked the enemy s
all day over a line which was very ex-
tended. The enemy, making a des-
perate attempt, finally escaped owing
to the serpentine bend Of the river The
mounted infantry suffered from the
trying hanking movement. Our force
has now been reinforced" j."
'BOBS" PROCLAINIS.
Cape Town, Feb. 1S.-LOrd Roberts
has issued a proclamation to the burgh-
ers of the Orange Free State saving
that he feels it his duty to make known
to all the burghers the cause of the
coming of the British, as well as to do
all in his power to terminate the devas-
tation caused by war. and that he is
sues the proclamation in order that if
the burghers should continue fighting
they may not do so ignorantly. but
with a full knowledge Of their RESPONSE
biltty before God for the lives lost in
the campaign. The proclamation goes
on to say:
'eThe British government believes
&hat the wanton and unjustifable in