The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-16
Gen. French, Commanding a
Relief Column,
Succeeds in Reaching the
BeIeaguered Town.
CLEMENTS RETIRES.
British EVacuate RenSberg
in the Night.
Beers Take Up the Aban-
dOned Position.
MARCH TO THE SEA.
TranSVaaIerS Initiate Gen.
Sherman'S Tactics.
MARCH TO THE SEA.

London, Feb. 16. 9:15 a. m.-The war
Office announces that General French
reached Kimberley Thursday evening.
Following is Lord Roberts message
to the war office:
'Jacobsdale, Feb. 16. a. m.-F'rench
with a force Of artillery, cavalry and
mounted infantry reached Kimberley
this evening, Thursday"
GENERAL CLEMENTS RETIRES.
Arundel Feb. IA Cwednesday).-Gen
eral Clements Withdrew from Rensberg
during the night. his rear guard arriv-
ing at Arundel early this morning. The
Beers promptly followed, reoccupying
their old position in the Taaibosch hills
whence they have been sheIling the
British cavalry patrols, but ineffect-
ually. The British guns returned the
fire. making fairly accurate practice.
BOERS MAKING FOR THE SEA.
London. Feb. 16.-The Morning Lead
er says:
1t was 10 vain report which told us
OF a strong Boer column in Zululand-
It has been strong enough to drive back
Colonel Addison's column. which had
been working up from Eschowe. This
place is unpleasantly close to the sea,
and if the Beers should get there they
would practically have a port; not
big. one. but still a port. Even at
Chieveley camp the Beers are keeping
General Buffers men lively.
The statements of Mr. Chamberlain
and Mr. Balfour in the house of COM
mons regarding the arming of natives
opens up a new prospect of horror in
this caIamitous war. However great
the provocation, we should regard arm
ing the undisciplined, uncivilized
Kaffirs as an act of the gravest folly.
To put rifle in the hands of a savage
IS to invite him to commit atrocities.
He has no other conception of warfare.
CONFIDENCE RESTORED.
London, Feb. 16.-London takes the
news was Immediately posted at the
Mansion house and the various clubs
and hotels but nowhere did it attract
more than ordinary groups
At the war office itself the crowd in
the lobbfes was scarcely larger than
usual Al the same time there is an
immense feeling of satisfaction and re-
newed conf rdence that Lord Roberts
plan of campaign is working satisfac-
torily.
FRENCH'S ADVANCE.
Riet River. Orange Free State. Wed
nesday, Feb. 14.-General French, in
command of the cavalry division and
with a strong force of horse artillery,
left Nfodder river Sunday morning for
Rambam, twelve miles of Enslin. where
the whole division concentrated. The
next day he made a rapid march to
Riet river where a party of Beers con-
tested his passage at Dekiel and Water
fall drifts. After some hours shelling
General French drove the Beers away
and crossed the river
Yesterday CTuesday) the column con-
tinued it's march to Kip and Romda-
val drifts on the Modder river, where
again short engagement ensued, Gen
eral French shelling the Beers vigor-
ously and forcing a passage.
The Beers precipitately retired, 1eav-
ing FIVE laagers in the hands of the
British besides a great quantity of
cattle and 5000 sheep.
The rapidity of General French's
march and the overwhelming nature of
his force enabled him. in spite of the
difficulties of water transportation. to