The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-22

FOR A SIEGE.
HOllanders in Pretoria Hold a
Mass Meeting.
Arrange to Send Women and
Children Away.
II OUTLOOK is DARK
and Steyn Issue Emer-
gency Orders.
British Troops Capture Twenty
seven Locomotives.

Pretoria, May PAN open air meet
ing was held today by the local Hol-
landers, 200 of whom were present TO
consider the situation in the event Pre-
toria should be beleaguered. A COM
mittee was appointed to secure a place
of safety for the women and children.
The consul general of the Netherlands,
Mr.. Nieuwenhuys was asked to advise
his government to take it's subjects
One speaker said the position was
most dark. The British he declared
would be masters of the Free State and
the Transvaal; might would be right;
the capitalists would dominate; h poor
would be the sufferers and the Hol-
landers would have no chance.
Dr.. Heyman contradicts the reports
circulated regarding the health of Pres
ident Kruger, which he says is good.
Mr.. Kruger is -tranSacting all h work
of the presidency.
In accordance with an understanding
with General Botha n President
Steyn the government has issued a. cir
cular stating that should the enemy
succeed in gaining a position in the
Transvaal and take possession of one of
the other district, the inhabitants would
be free to decide whether or not to leave
their families on the farms, but The
men must remain with their nina
dos.
CAPTURE 27 LOCOMOTIVES.
Cape Town, Monday, May 21.-British
troops have arrived at Veereenigen Gin
the T~ransvaal north of the Vaal riveT).
The bridge across the Vaal was found
to be intact. TWenty-SeVen Free State
and Transvaal locomotives were cap
tured.
TOOK FIVE HOURS FIGHTING.
London, May 22.-Lord Roberts re-
ports to the war office in a dispatch da-
ted Kroonstad, May q, as follows:
"Mahon reports hat the flying col
umn entered M~afeking at 4 a. m, May
10 ] go - - I n
Beers on May Is. nine miles from Mafe-
king, but the Beers were driven from
their strong positions after five hours
fighting, thanks, he says to the magnif-
icent qualities of his troops. A detach-
ment of Canadian artillery by a series
of forced marches reached him the
morning of the fighting and rendered
valuable assistance.
"AIahon's casualties were about 80
The BOer losses were heavy"
BOERS HAVE LEFT NATAL.
London, May PA dispatch from
Pietermaritzburg, dated Monday, May
q, says the Beers are reported to have
entirely left Natal, leaving Laing's Mex
free. If this be true it leaves the way
open for General Butler to advance into
the T~ransvaal so soon as the repairs
of the railroads are sufficient to insure
good communications. Lord Roberts is
still at Kroonstad, recognizing his
forces.
General RundIe's forces are encampes
at Trommel, r-ecuperating. A patro
four miles from Trommel was attacked
by the Beers. One man was wounded
and some horses were killed.
The affair was unimportant, except il
showing hat the Beers are still in tn
neighborhood and on the lookout fol
any chance of sniping.
Further details of the fighting a
Mafeking say that Commandant Sare
Elof's followers deserted him, where
upon Eloff fired on them himself an
then surrendered with eighty followers
The dispatch also says that one party 0
Beers was driven out of the Staat an
allowed to escape as I'VE had sufficien
prisoners"
The capture of Eloff and his follow
ers cost Baden-Powen three men killet
n seven wounded.
BETHUNE AMBUSHED.
London, May %, 4:37 p. NIT is off
cially announced that Colonel Bethun
has reported that while marching in tn
direction of Newcastle, Natal, yesterda,
he was ambushed by a party of Boer
six miles west of Vryheid, in the Trans
Vaal, and hat very few of his fore
escaped. His casualties numbered 6
men.