The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-23
BACKS OUT.
Col. Plummer Retires to CrOcO-
die Pools.
Relief of Mafeking Is Further
Off Than Ever.
FRENCH PUSHES ON.
Cavalry Leader Is Still Adyanc-
ing Toward the Transvaal.
Beers Destroy All Crossings of
the River.
FRENCH PUSHES ON.

J0o RIVER
London, March 23L2:15 P. M-Col.
Plummer apparently has retired to Gro
codne Pools and AIafeking seems furth-
er off than ever from relief. This news
was contained in dispatch from Bulu-
wayo, dated Monday, March 49, and
published in the second edition of the
Times. The tadvices add that the hos
pital has been brought back to Gaber-
ones, though the correspondent further
says it was thought the object of the
Boer demonstration of March 10 ana
March is, was to cover the removal of
the siege guns from Mafeking.
Gen. French's activity in the Orange
Free State may well be preliminary to
a forward movement by Lord Roberts
with the main army. A dispatch from
Bloemfontein, dated Thursday. March
p, says President Kruger is reported to
have issued a proclamation declaring
that Great Britain is in dire Straights
and that the Russians have occupied
London
A Springfontein telegram published
IN the second edition of the Times says:
THE apparent submissive attitude of
the Free Staters should be accepted
with caution. The large proportion OF
obsolete inferior weapons being turned
in by them to the British is giving the
impression that large stores of modern
Mausers are being concealed.
The OutlOok's special correspondent
at Cape Town says: Feeling is run
ming strong against the leniency with
which rebels of Cape Colony and Natal
are being treated by the British auth
critics"
FRENCH PUSHING ON.
Bloemfontein, March 23-General
Trench with a brigade of cavalry and
mounted infantry has arrived at Tha-
1aunication with Maseru He reports
all well.
ALL CROSSINGS DESTROYED.
Warrentown, March 22-The Beers
have vacated Klipdam and Windsor
ton, which are almost deserted Their
wives and families have fled with them
They sank the points or ferryboats at
Riverton and Windsorton
The Naal river can only be crossed
by swimming. The country this side
Of the river is well patroled by the
British.
FIGHTING NEAR wARRENTON.
Kimberley, Thursday, March 2S-
There was a smart artillery duel near
Warrenton yesterday morning. A bat
terry under Major Blewitt, supported by
the Kimberley light horse, located the
Beers, who employed four guns two
of which used cordite, but ineffectfveIy.
The British battery replied with effect
and silenced the BOer fire. The Beers
sent two shells near the railway station,
which was. not damaged.
A scouting party got too close to the
bank OF the river and encountered a
hot fire. The men were unable to get
away, and it was impossible to re
lieVe them without loss, the party be
ing obliged to wait for, darkness in or
der to escape
The party retired with only one
wouuded.
Thfzsmorning brisk firing was re-
a r. Oh IaI
six but it has now Stacked up
A detachment of -fusiliers has ar
rived.
Two Vreyburg inhabitants, who had
been imprisoned by the Beers, We're
sent into Warrenton under a white
flag, after being taken from laager to
laager around the district. They say
that the big gun from Kimberley has
been taken through Christiana to Pre-
toria. There are women and children in
nearly every laager.
Trains now run within eight miles of
Warrenton
COUNTER PROCLAMATIONS.
London, March, ga special CORE
spondent of the Times at Bloemfontein,
telegraphing Thursday says:
y esterday Mr. Kruger issued a proc
lamation annexing the Free State to
the TransvaaI. Mr.. Steyn immediately
issued counter proclamation, declar-
ing the Free State intact"
All reports regarding the British op-
CratiOns in the Free State continue
most satisfactory. Nothing has devel-
oped regarding General Buffers inten-
tions. but it seems hard to believe that
lie is again embarking General War
Ien's division.
1t is reported from Lorenzo Marquee
that Pretoria is prepared to stand a
siege of two years, and that the Boer
women, frantic at the reVerses to the
BOer arms are entreating to be al
lowed to shoot the British officers i'm
prisoned at Pretoria.
1t is also announced from the Trans
vaal capital that the Italian govern
ment has declined to intervene.
FRENCH IS FIGHTING
London. March 23-6:45 p. m.-Accord-
ing to a special dispatch from Cape
Town dated today. General French s
cavalry brigade is fighting eastward of
Bloemfontein.
1t was announced in a dispatch to the
Associated Press from Bloemfontein
last night that General French, with a
brigade of cavalry and mounted in
fantry had arrived at Thabanchu, east
of BlOemfontein, and about half way
between that place and Ladybrand on
the frontier of BasutoIand, and had
opened photographic communication
with Mazeru, the chief town of BasutO-
land. 1t was added that he reported all
we'll But the position taken by Gen.
French would indicate that his instruc-
tiOns were to intercept the BOer forces
which have been operating against the
British troops under Gen. Gatacre and
which are understood to be in retreat
from Bethulie, Rockville and other
places in the southern part of the
Orange Free State.
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