The Topeka state journal., 1900-12-15
BOERS Got Them.
Four Companies of NOrthGm-
berland FusiIiers Missing
As Result of Gen. Clements Re-
cent Engagement.
CASUALTIES HEAVY.
Knox Reported to Be Still Driv-
ing De Wet Northward.
Kitchener Wires His Regrets to
the War Office.

London, Dec. 15.-Lord Kitchener re-
ports that Is officers and 555 men are
missing from General Clements force.
They consist of four companies of the
Northumberland fusiliers.
Judging from the message, these were
captured by the Boers-
Clements casualties December 13
amounted to five officers and nine men
Killed and many apparently wounded.
Following is Lord Kitchener's message
to the war office:
Pretoria, Dec. 14.-Clements brought
in his force to Commando Mex unop-
posed. The casualties were, regret to
say, heavy--kilIed. five officers and nine
of other ranks; missing, Is officers and
555 of other ranks. These latter were
four companies of the northumberland
fusiliers who were stationed on the hill,
and also yeOmanry and other details
sent up to support them Name and ma
ture of wounds are being telegra phed
from Cape Town.
.'Broadwood's brigade took no part
in the engagement. The Beers suffered
severely. Knox drove De Wet north to
the Thabanchu- -Ladybrand line, which
was held by our troops. De Vets force,
about 5000 strong, made several at
tempts to get through during the day,
assisted by a force of Beers operating
from the north. These attacks were
driven back, though some of the Beers
from the south were able to get through
the line
Wiring later December IA Lord Kitch-
ener reports that while passing the lines
in the neighborhoOd of Thabanchu De
Vets force lost considera bly, The
South African light horse and Thorney-
croft's mounted infantry captured a 10
FOUNDER, taken at De Wetsdorp, POM
pon, several wagons with ammunition,
22 prisoners and some horses and mules.
portion of the enemy has not been
able to pass north.
HOW KRUGER TOOK IT.
Afv. Z nd TlT.
Leyds who dined this CF'riday) evening
at the palace" says the correspondent
of the Daily Mail, at The Hague, ION
hearing of the British disaster at
Nooitedacht were quite unmoved. Mr..
Kruger said he thought the English
would break their necks on the Magalies-
berg, and he reasserted his complete
confidence in ultimately forcing Eng
land to initiate an acceptable settle
ment.''
WORST OF THE WAR.
London, Dec 15.-Gen. Kitchener's
supplementary dispatch referring to the
disaster at the Magaliesberg confirms
yesterdays most pessimistic fears and
demonstrates that the catastrophe is
among the worst of the war. The mat
ter was brought up in the house of COM
mons today but the secretary of war,
Mr.. VIM. st. John BrOderick, had no in
formation to add, except that the
wounded numbered six officers and
fOrty-five men.
The newspapers see pre-arrangement
in the recrudescence fBoer activity ev-
erywhere the object being to strengthen
Mr.. Kruger's hands, while the fact that
the news of the fresh disaster comes
on the anniversary of the battle of
Colenso furnishes the editors with an
excuse to demand the head of General
Butler.
The st. James Gazette declares it has
reason to credit the National Reviews |
recent statement that Butler after his |
first failure to drive the Beers from |
Tugela, counse1ed Gen. White to surren- !
der Ladysmith.
WANTS BULLER COURT MAR
TAILED
London, Dec 15.--The st. James Gaz- |
cite hold Butler alone blamable for the !
disasters of the Tugela campaign and |
says:
when comparable b1unders occurred !
in the navy a court martial meted out |
justice. Why, therefore, should not the |
same rule hold good in the army
The public, apparently is little affect |
ed by the fresh troubles. Soldiers are |
still eager to go to South Africa, the 1
news from the Magaliesburg having re-
suited in offers from volunteer regi- |
ments to proceed to the front. In con-
trast with the apparent insufficiency of |
the troops to master the situation in I
South Africa comes a revelation of the /
resources at home still at the /
of the government in today's |
that 46 600 troops will be |
sent from Aldershot to London to par
in Lord Roberts triumphal en- /
try January 3.