The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-07
tinues.

LONDON, Feb. Z, 4:SO o'clock a. m.-Not
a word has been received from the corre-
spondents with General Butler for three
days, excepting the heliogram from Lady
smith saying that the Beers are cannonad-
ing and that fighting is going on
General Macdonald, with 1900 infantry,
cavalry and artillery, threatens the Boer
fight at Magersfontein. This is the first
sign of activity on the part of Lord Meth
uen for some weeks, and doubtless has re-
lation to the movements of the British fur
ther east.
The Standard has received the following
dispatch, dated Feb. 5, from Koppies dam:
General Macdonald. with brigade of in
fantry. regiment of lancers and one bat
terry, has reached here from Modder river
camp in what is regarded as an important
movement to the right of the Boer position
at Magersfontein. Koppies dam commands
the roads from Kimberley to Hopetown
and Douglass. Two Boer laagers, at Kam-
ulhoek and Griquatown, are within striking
distance. The arrival of General MacDon-
AIDS column was opportune, as 1T just pre-
vented two large commanders effecting a
junction. He now holds both banks of the
river. Our lancers had two brushes with
the Boer patrols. There is great activity
| among the enemy. and strong forces are
concentrating to oppose our further ad-
| vance. The troops suffered from heat and
scarcity of water during the march,"
Lord Roberts, has caused to be distributed
| in the towns bordering .on the invaded
colonial territory circular addressed to
| Free Staters and Transvaalers, offering
their farms on the British occupation of
republican territory. The manifesto guar
them. Foreigners will have their passage
| paid to Europe. Colonial rebels are ad-
vised to surrender in preference to being
taken prisoners.
| 1t appears that General French's visit to
| Cape Town was to ask Lord Roberts for
seven thousand more men. Whether he
| got them is not disclosed. Troops are no
| longer detained at Cape Town. They pro-
ceed Immediately to some point at the
front. Three thousand disembarked on
Monday and were quickly sent elsewhere.
| No public reception was given to the ar
| riving volunteers at Cape Town. because
| they had to leave at once.
AS Lord Roberts, since the battle of
Spion kop, has had twenty thousand fresh
troops to dispose of, it is probable that
| some have gone to General Butler.
The World says it learns that Lord
| Methuen has disbanded Remington S
mands. because he had ascertained that
some members of the corps had been COM
municating with the Beers.
/ Capt. Walter Congreve. who received the
| Victoria cross for gallantry in endeavor-
| ing to save the British guns at Colenso,
| writes: ''I never saw a Boer all day. and
| do not think any one else did. Thousands
| of bullets pattered and shells burst all over
the place, but the. Beers were invisible
The Transvaal special war tax Of Is
| Cd an acre affects three million acres OF
| English-owned land, a part of which is not
| worth more than the tax.
In the absence of war news this morning
| Spencer Wilkinson, in the Morning Post
| discusses the problem of arming the nation
| at home He says: There is now such
interest. and widespread interest. in the
| army and its management that the nation
| has itself to thank If the solving of the
/ problems do not be the history of the mex,
| few months" He proceeds to argue that
| .conscription would be valueless unless
| the general management of the army were
| first remodeled." On this point he says
"A War Office that for thirty years has
| not known what to do with the volunteers
| would not know what to do with half q
| million conscripts."
Mr.. Wilkinson also discusses the use OF
! the bayonet, remarking: This weapon
very seldom comes into actual It's
effects is on the spirits Of both sides rather
than on the bodies OF either. The British
BY using formations ut for charging, but