The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-29
KRUGER TO LEAD.
Dom Paul VIII Place Himself
at the Head.
OF the Republican Armies In
JOubert's Place.
ROBERTS ADVAN CE.
Forward Movement From
BlOemfOntein Begun.
Beers Shell British Camp at
WarrentOn.
Another Heavy BOmbardment
of Mafeking Reported.

Brussels. March ga private dis
patch has been received here from Pre-
toria which says that President Kruger
will now take chief command of the
Transvaal forces.
BOERS SHELL BRITISH CAMP.
Warrenton. Wednesday. March Is
The Beers opened fire with artillery
and rifles on the British camp today
The first shell burst while the fusiliers
We're at breakfast.
A hail OF bullets poured into the vii
lage. Many cattle were killed.
A hotel that is used as a hospital and
over which the Red Cross flag was tiy-
ing, was fired upon. The attacking Boer
force was large. but Notwithstanding
the enemy's heavy expenditure of big
gun and Mauser ammunition only one
Briton was wounded.
ROBERTS ADVANCE BEGUN.
London. March 29-5:15 a. m.-Lord
Roberts has sent 10000 troops to Glen,
ten miles north of Bloemfontein, on the
railway This is a preliminary to the
general advance.
Immense quantities of stores have
now been accumulated at Bloemfon-
tein. and Lord Roberts infantry is
sion which can be traced to the war
office, is abroad that the advance will
begin next Monday. Boer observation
parties are lowering near Bloemfon-
tein, but Lord Roberts has 1876 miles to
cover before reaching the great position
which the Beers are preparing at
Kroonstad.
Moving ten miles a day is probably
the best he can do with field transport.
Therefore he can hardly engage the
Beers IN force for two weeks Ihe re
construction of the railway behind him
may even delay an invasion of the
Transvaal until May.
Meanwhile all the important towns in
the Free State within Lord Roberts
reach are being garrfsoned. Thaba
Nichu, Philippolis, Fauresmith and
Jagersfontein are thus held.
Sir Alfred Miner is touring in the
disturbed newly acquired territory, in
vestigating conditions and arranging the
administration. He is understood to be
getting materials for report to Mr.
Chamberlain concerning a plan of civil
government.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph, in a dispatch
dated Tuesday. March q. says:
Tt is q matter for regret that, owing
to the state of the roads and Of our
horses, COmmandant GrOvelarets, com
lnandO of 5000 men from Colesberg and
the southern districts got away north
by travelling day and night close to the
BasutO border before our force could
hope to get near them.
The latest news is that the Beers
have 10000 still under arms, of whom
10000 are in and around the Natal bor
der Although tents and stores are
reaching here. a block on the railway
is delaying arrivals from the south con-
siderably. It is asserted that 10000
Beers are nassed at KroOnstad.
a special to the Daily Mail from
March Is, saws:
British scouts have thoroughly re-
cOnnOitered the passes of the Draknes-
burg range. The number of Beers hold
ing them does not exceed 1000. who are
working half heartedly in constructing
entertainments"
A Pretoria dispatch to the Daily Mail
dated March %. says:
An official dispatch reports a heavy
bombardment of Mafeking in progress
on Monday. March 26. which was meet
ing with a spirited response.
The BIOemfOntein correspondent of
the Morning Post telegraphing Tuesday,
says:
''The first Coldstreams and the
Third Grenadiers are already at Glen.
The GOrdOns and the cavalry brigade
moved Sunday. The Fourteenth brig
ade followed today.
The three span bridge at Glen was
dynamited three hours before the
guards reached it. Necessary repairing
viii delay further advance for time.
Gen Gatacre's forces are now arriv-
ing"
Speaking at a breakfast of the liberal
agents at Nottingham today. Herbert
Gladstone, son of the late William E
Gladstone. and member of parliament
for West Leeds. declared that nearly all
the liberals had agreed in regard to the
settlement of the South African ques-
ton. that it was the duty of the gov
eminent to make recurrence of the
war impossible and to show the world
that British prestige was predominant
and the British flag must wave over the
whole of South Africa.
The war office has the following dis
patch dated March 27-Gen Clements
occupied Fauersmith today without op-
position. One nine-pounder and one
Martini Maxim were discovered in a
prospecting shaft of a mine. where a
large quantity of ammunition was bur
led. Arms are being surrendered grad
uallys and the inhabitants are settling
down.
Col Pitcher visited Ladybrand on
March 26. on leaving the town he was
attacked by a party of the enemy. and
one of his force was wounded and five
are missing
During the sIlirrnish north of the
Niodder river March 25 five men were
wounded. Three are reported to be
missing. Captain Sloans-S Stanley of the
Sixteenth Lancers and five men oe that
regiment We're taken prisone:.
ROBERTS ADVANCE.
London. March 29.-Conjecture as to
Lord Roberts advance is the topic of
the day. April is set by various crit
les as the day of the departure of the
main army from BlOemfontein. It is
pointed cut that there will be several
weeks hard marching before Kroon-
stadt is reached. though there seems no
certaintyVthat KroOnstadt viii entirely
occupy Lord Roberts attention. The