The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-31

erly direction. The casualties in yes
terday's engagement were more numer-
Gus than at first reported.
Officers killed, 2; wounded, 8. Rank
and file killed, 10; wounded, 159; miss
ing. 81
KRUGER THREATENS BLOEAEFON-
TEIN.
London, March 31-The Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Daily Chronicle.
telegraphing Thursday, March 20, says:
President Kruger's latest proclama-
tiOn warns the women and children to
leave Bloemfontein within five days as
he intends to lombard and destroy the
city and to shoot the burghers whom he
captures there.
Vigorous measures have been taken
by the British to harass marauding
bands of Transvaal Beers The latter
are resorting to guerrilla methods
chiefly against Free Staters who refuse
to join Kruger.
The head of the army of Lord ROBBERS
is now about p miles north of Bloem-
dontein. It occupies a cluster of hills
won from the Beers after stiff fight
in which the British lost seven officers
and 100 men.
The Beers had been using the kopjes
as base for marauding bands that
have been beating up the country ad-
Jacent TO BlOemfOntein for supplies
driving off cattle and forcing nonre-
again. The enemy must have been in
considerable force, as Lord Roberts
sent 5000 infantry and 5000 cavalry
against them.
Lord Roberts progress to Pretoria
will probably consist of a series Of such
forward movements in which Boer po-
sitions viii be attacked by a portion
Of the army advancing rapidly with
wheel transport the main army coming
up as the railway is repaired.
Lord Roberts is stripping the forces
IN the minor spheres of operations of
their wagons and transport animals in
order to hasten the advance. This is
understood to be the reason why he
Srecalled Lord Methuen from Barkly
West to Kimberley. Lord Roberts has
to have Methuen's transport.
The reason why a hot chase was not
made after Commandant Olivier is that
Lord Roberts did not wish to wear
out of the cavalry transport
General French lost 5000 horses in the
relief Of Kimberley and the pursuit of
General Cronje. Lord Roberts lost
5000 transport cattle at Watervaal
drift, and it is estimated that he has
lost 1000 other animals since the for
ward movement began on February 13.
Ihe advance beyond BlOemfOntein is
through bare country and the supply
officers foresee an increasing difficulty
In provind for a great army moving
along single line of railway even
when the latter is working smoothly
and with ample rolling stock
The Canadian mounted rifles were
part of the force that occupied Ken
hardt yesterday. The rebellion
throughout the northwest districts of
Cape Colony is almost suppressed.
The Goth will sail today Saturday
with eco men for St. Helena to guard
General Cronje and 1000 prisoners.
A ONE-SIDED AFFAIR
London, March 31.-Even the details
OF the engagement yesterday at Karce
siding station. q few miles south of
BrandfOrt fail to instill much interest.
1t appears to have been a one-sided
affair although the Beers stoutly held
their ground against a force of three
or four times their size for three hours,
When foreseeing the danger of the Brit
ism cavalry enveloping their flanks. the
purgners withdrew in good order on
their main body at Braudfort which,
according to Lord Roberts, they seem
later to have decided to relinquish with
the view doubtless of occupying pre-
pared position further north. There will
probably be a general shifting of camDs
on the part of the British, the new no
sition being made the base of a further
advance as soon as the railroad is re-
paired
Lord Roberts today reported to the
war office that he had received news
from Colonel Baden-POwen at Mafe-
king, up to March 10, when the general
health OF the garrison and its spirits
We're good, the locally made gun.
searchl1ght and ammunition were
working well, the food was holding out
well. and the paper currency which the
british commander had issued was sat
isfactory.
From Cape Town it is reported that
president Steyn has gone to Pretoria