The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-13
HARD PRESSED.
British Are Being Driven Back
at Rensberg.
England's Hopes Now Centered
on Lord Roberts.
RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY
Believed to Be the Move He Has
In View.
He Now Has an Army Of 81 900
Men at His Command.

Rensberg, Cape Colony. Feb. 1s.-The
Beers are actively pressing around
Rensberg. The British force under
Lieut.. Col. Page consisting Of a sec
tion of artillery and $50 horse, which
reached Slingersfontein February 10,
has been compelled to fall back on
Rensberg. owing to its eastern flank
being threatened.
The Beers have again driven in the
British outposts on the western flank,
all outposts at Bastards Mex Hobl1irks
Windmill and other points, retiring TO
Adaeders Farm. There were several
casualties but details have not yet been
received.
RELYING ON ROBERTS.
New York, Feb. 13.-The striking fea-
ture Of the war situation is the bound
less confidence reposed in Lord Rob
erts. General Buffers report of his
third repulSe arOuSeS no harsh crlu-
cism, for some of the experts say the
attack was only a feint, ordered by
Lord Roberts with a view to keeping
General Joubert busy and preventing
him from sending reinfOrcements to
General CrOnje at Kimberley The pit
iful condition of the inhabitants of
Kimberley who are dying of disease at
an appalling rate leads to the belief that
Lord Roberts with his fine army of
$4,000 men will endeavOr to raise the
siege at once On the other hand eX
perts say that invasion Of the Free
State would be wiser tactics. But what
ever Lord Roberts does Will be accepted
as the best thing to do.
The Boer raid in Zululand continues
to alarm Natal. It is believed the
Transvaalers will sweep vast herds of
cattle out Of zAuland and then raid
northeastern Natal
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg
-Fo bof fes oh a r1f n
Natal, thirty oxen being slaughtered
daily and that the Beers have over 100
guns between the Tugela river and
Ladysmith, and the Boer artillery fire
greatly impresses all who see it, the
guns being mounted in almost inpos-
sible places.
Charles Williams, the military critic
of the Morning Leader, who is under
stood to have close relations with Lord
WolseIey, the commander in chief Of the
British army, writes as follows. Tine
government last night refused to say
whether Lord Roberts and Kitchener
We're sent to the front without consul
tation with Lord Wolseley or not. 1t
has already been so stated in this place
and it is again asserted. Lord Wolseley
learned the news from the Monday
morning papers and the appointments
were made on the previous Saturday"
The remainder of the criticism is de-
voted to the governments army plans.
The writer declares:
The Ministerial ScQeIne QeVolOpeQ
last night in both houses is in the main
a colossal, costly imposuure, designed at
once to hoax the country into the idea
that some satisfactory reform Of our
military system is at length to be ac-
complshed, and to throw dust in the
eyes of foreign nations"
COMMANDMENT OF KIMBERLEY.
Kimberley Friday, Feb 9.-There
was a heavy bombardment yesterday
and today. The fire of the Boer big
gun at Kampersdam has been very try
ing.
CONSOLS DROP.
London, Feb. 13-In expectation of a
new issue consols declined 5s in the Op-
ening of the stock exchange.
Lord Roberts has gathered $4,000 men
with whom, according to the best mill
tary opinion in London, he proposes
turning the left of the Magersfontein
lines near Jacobsdale, entering the Free
State, compelling Gen. CrOnje to raise
the siege of Kimberley and thus max
ing his first step toward BloemfOntein.
Yesterday Lord Roberts announced
the appointment of Gen. Sir Henry Col
Vile, hitherto commander of the guards
brigade to the commander of the Ninth
division, which is being formed and will
consist probably to a great extent of
colonial troops. Gen. Colville will be
succeeded by Gen. Reginald POle-C -Carew
Lord Roberts tells the correspondents
that when he gets down to business
they shall have ample opportunities to
send news His chief press censor is
sued new rules. and in future all writ
ten communications are to go uncheck-
ed. Only kilograms will be censured
For the next few days little news is
likely to get through, but later there
will be more freedom. Thus says the
censor and the last clause may be in
terpreted to mean that something is
about to happen. Kimberley. 20 miles
away from the Modder river position is
in sore straits. Details of the Decem-
E.srs !, 70 cl1N h1f in 71.,-
tion of 1000 whites and $4,000 blacks
mortality was go whites and 13S blacks
per thousand The infantile death rate
was GIL per thousand among the whites
and 912 per thousand among the blacks.
Enteric fever was prevalent
This frightfuI state of things in De-
cember can not have improved much if
at all since. and the fighting power of
the garrison must have been greatly
diminished.
Meanwhile the bombardment by the
Beers has increased and there is inmi-
nent danger Of the town falling under
the very eyes of Lord Roberts. 1t is be
1ieved in circles close to the war Office
that he Will move at once.
Scouts have approached within a
thousand yards of the Boer entrench-
ments at Magersfontein. They have
found these strong and ascertained that
they are used as dwelling places Naval
gunners are constantly watching the
euemy'S lines with strong glasses, and
they declare that there is an apprecia-
Bile diminution in the Boer forces.
In Natal the Boer commandOes south
of the Tugela occupy BOlds' farm and
several mines west of Chieveley. Two
thousand Beers with three guns are ad-
vancing through Zululand towards Ma
tai.
BRITISH BEHIND THE TIMES.
New York, Feb. IA dispatch to the
Herald from London says:
Mr.. Julian Ralph. in a letter to the
Daily Mail from Adodder river, says:
british defeats at the hands Of the