The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-15

are greatly pleased and hopeful of
what is to come They have been fed,
however. on such a low diet of British
successes that they are disposed TO eau
ton and given to measuring develop
ments with considerable reserve They
fully realize that serious fighting is yet
to come.
Lord Roberts announcement make
the minor operations in other parts of
the field shrink.
Spencer Wilkinson in the Morning
Post today says:
There is good news today, for new
campaign has begun. The movements
of Lord Roberts are a practical illustra-
tion of the principle of concentration of
action in time and space. The uneX-
pected presence of the Sixth division
makes Lord Roberts stronger by 10000
men that any one had Ventured to hope.
Evidently he ordered Gen. MacDOnald's
reconnaissance to Koodoosberg in order
TO draw the enemy's attention west
ward, away from the contemplated
move through the Free State.
The Boer army is barred from the
direct route to BlOemfOntein, and even
on the road by Boshof it would be ex-
posed to a flank attack during the
march.
Gen. .Cronje.on learning of Lord Rob-
erts' disposition on Tuesday and yes
terday must have had an interesting
problem. He had to consider whether
to hold on to his positions at Jacobsdal
and MagersfOntein and to seize kim
berley or to raise the siege and move
off, and if so, in what direction, wheth-
er to Blemfontein or northward across
the vaal.
These events form the brilliant
opening of a new campaign which is
being marked by concentration of pur-
pose and by an energy and rapidity that
augur well for the future. The public
must wait patiently for the result of
these operations, remembering that the
distance to be covered is considerable
n NJ 10 hi 1<rIa
there may be no general action until
Friday"
FIGHTING ON THE TUGELA.
The Daily Telegraph has received the
following dated Tuesday. from its spec
ial correspondent at Frere:
'On Sunday the Beers advanced down
the Ladysmith road toward Potgieters.
Three hundred horsemen, with others,
proceeded to point where they began
to construct new rows of trenches at
right angles to the road. This was
about two miles north of the Drift.
"A party of Beers also crossed the
Tugela now very low, about six miles
below Potgeiter's Drift where they
sniped the South African light horse,
who repulsed them.
Several other skirmishes have taken
place, and the Beers are evidently anx-
iOus about their positions. They have
been throwing up defensive works from
Trichard's Drift and the Spion KOp
range eastward to the Hlangwana and
Monte Cristo hills, both on this side of
the Tugela.
They have also two, if not three
wooden bridges spanning the Tugela in
the bend and a wire rope apparatus for
the conveyance of food and ammunition
across the river"
The total British casualty returns up
to tonight are:
Ofncers killed 1872; wounded $50; miss
ing II.
Men killed lay; wounded $780, miss
ing 2,7S1; other fatalities reported 563.
Grand total 10.515.
DAVIS DIDN'T SAY IT.
The Times pubs es the following
from its correspondent at Lorenzo
MARQUES:
Webster Davis. assistant secretary
of the Interior of the United States, has
emphatically repudiated an alleged in
terVieW with him published by the
Standard and Diggers' News, attrib-
uting TO him the statement that in his
opinion the Beers would never be con-
Guered.
1T is asserted that since the begin
ming of the war 5000 new burghers have
been enrolled in the TransvaaI A ref
ugee asserts that on February 120O
men. including the Irish brigade, were
sent from Ladysmith to assist in a
contemplated night assault on Kim
berley and that the Irish brigade was
expected to lead the onslaught
''Republican officials are circulating
reports that the British wish to sue for
peace. 1t is asserted that Chief Detec-
I've Mention. an Irishman, has been in
tervie wing prisoners from the Irish reg
iments in Pretoria and urging them to
take up arms against England.
Another Johannesburg foundry has
been commandered to manufacture
sheilS. Some of the British prisoners
have been removed to Irene, just south
of Pretoria. Irene is commanded by
Ona of the Pretoria forts"
THE SLINGERSFONTEIN FIGHT.
Rensburg Tuesday, Feb. 13-Before
dawn yesterday the enemy opened an
attack upon Slingersfontein, asSau ulting
with musketry the hills ON the northeast
held by three companies of the WOr-
cesters under Captain Hovel. The ar
tillery attack began at sunrise The
Beers approached in great numbers, es-
timated at seven to one. The British,
under good cover sustained the attack
throue hout the day.
Meanwhile two big guns on the west
orened upon the British at daylight and
fired for half an hour, when a British
hewitZer silenced them with lyddite, the
British artillery firing with precision.
Then another Boer gun to the north
opened on the Royal Irish rifles, but
rather Intellectually as the rifles had
good cover. The shelling continued all
day and last evening the Beers brought
up a forty FOUNDER in order to bonn
hard the camp from a hill to the north.
The attempt was plainly visible, as the
gun could be seen being drawn up by
IS oxen
With the Beers surrounding the
British in overwhelming numbers and
using artillery it became evident that
It would be impossible to retain Sling
ersfontein, which the British evacuated
under cover of the darkness, falling
back upon Rensburg.
The British casualties were lighter
than might have been expected in the
circumstances.
RENSBERG CASUALTIES
London, Feb. 15-The official list Of
the British casualties at Rensberg from
February 10 to February Il, shows:
Killed-F0ur officers and seven men !;
wounded. six officers and fourteen men;
missing, two officers and eight men.
The officers killed We're Col Conying-
ham of the Worcester regiment and