The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-31

sition on the hills near Colenso, where
they are in great force. Reinforce
ments are apparently arriving from the
TransvaaI Large bodies of Beers are
also visible between here and Potgie-
ters drift.
BRITISH DRIFTED TO BOERS.
Cape Town, Jan.31.-Kimberley hello
graphed to the Modder r5ver Friday,
January g. that all the British subjects
in the Barkley West district had been
ordered by the Beers to take up arms
for the republic under a penalty of 81
pounds, or three months at hard labor.
About 300 men are affected by this or
der.
London. Jan S1-When the nation
had almost resigned itself to the fall of
Ladysmfth, there comes from all quar-
ters today an indication that Gen. Bull
Ter will make another attempt to relieve
the besieged place. If the Daily Mails
report of Gen Buffers statement. that
he hoped to be in Ladysmith within
week, could be implicitly reliedson, news
of further serious fighting would be
expected shortly. But the papers are
10th to believe what the st. James Ga
zette characterizes as 'unwarrantable
bcasting," If true Moreover, the war
Office throws cold water on the dis
patch this afternoon by issuing state
ment that it has no news confirmatory
of such a move as Gen. Buffers re-
ported speech indicates. Yet today's
dispatches from Iadysmith and Cape
Town give a strong impression that
there is something more than rumor in
all these reports. SO while all definite
opinion must await further news, it
does not seem at all unlikely that an
other desperate effort VIII be made to
succor Gen. White.
A dispatch from the Associated Press
representative at Spearman's Farm,
dated January %, describing the fight
and retirement from Spion kOp says:
I'VE filed down sadly, but in perfect
order. The kings royal rifle colonel
was struck down at the moment hell
ograph message ordering the retirement
was handed to him. The enemy is hold
ing Thanksgiving services tonight
''The surgeons who ascended the hill
were allowed to remove the wounded
terrible witness to the destructiVeneSS
of the artillery. All day our stretcher
bearers were busy carrying down men"
BOER LOSSES AT SPION KOP.
Pretoria, Monday, Jan. est is Off
cially announced that the Boer casual
ties at Spion Kop were So men killed
and 120 wounded.
Webster Davis, assistant secretary Of
the interior at Washington, accom-
panied by the United States consul,
Hollis, and the state attorney started
today for Boer Head Laager at Lady
smith in the presidents s saloon carriage.
CONFIDENCE IN BULLER GONE.
New York, Jan 31-The dispatch from
Cape Town which quotes General Bull
Ter as saying he hoped to be in Lady
mith in a week, is discredited in Lon
don. The report of the fighting at
Crocodile Pool dispOses of the rumor
that the British had relieved Mafeking.
There is no great enthusiasm in Lon
don over the expected invasion of the
Orange Free State by a third British
army, for it is considered likely that
the Beers have planned a good defense.
Colonel WiIebois- Mareuil, the French
strategist, has started for Colesburg to
assist in repellfng the British advance.
Confirmation has been received of the
report that the chief Esyer shell factory
in Johannesburg has been blown up.
For the present the British can do
nothing to help Ladysmith Some eX-
perts believe that General White will
try to cut his way out. He must either
do this or surrender, for his food sup
ply is almost exhausted.
1t is said that upon the fall of Lady
smith DIR. Leyds, in Europe, and Mon
tague White, in Washington, will ap-
peal for mediation.
The British public seem to have to-
tally lost confidence in General Butler.
The next big news is expected to be
furnished by the Beers. They have
doubled their energy in the siege of
Kimberley and may be expected to
close in on Ladysmith.
There is no sign, except the anxiety
of the British cabinet, that any hostile
demonstration against England is con-
templated. Russia and France are
sure to take advantage of England's 3
helplessness by grabbing territory in
Asia, but the czar is living up to his
reputation as the foe of war.
THORNYCROFT DID WE'LL
London, Jan. 31.-Gen. Butler tele-
graphs from Spearman's Camp under
today's date that Col. Thornycroft was
the officer who ordered the retirement
from Spion kop. Gen. Butler adds:
1T is due to him to say that l believe
his personal gallantry saved a difficult
situation early January "a and that un-
der a loss of at least forty per cent he
directed the defense with conspicuous
courage and ability throughout the day.
No blame whatever for the withdrawal
is in my opinion attributable to him
and think his conduct throughout was
admirable