The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-19

complete afDlIy IOr so many years 1t
believes the responsibility rests Wholly
with the government of the Free State
acting not in the interests of the coun-
try, but under the mischievous in
Huences from without.
Great Britain, therefore, wishes the
people of the Free State to understand
that it bears them no i'll will, and that
so far as is compatible with the sue
cessful conduct of the war and the re-
establishment of peace, it Is anxious to
preserve them from the evils brought
upon them by the wrongful action of
their government"
In conclusion Lord Roberts warns all
burghers to desist from further acts of
hostility toward her majesty's govern
ment and troops and he gives directions
regarding acquisitions and complaints.
AWAITING MORE DETAILS
Chicago, Feb. ia special to the
Tribune from London says: 1.-The first
oubturst of jubilation over the relief
of Kimberley having now spent itself,
especially in military and political cir
cleS, disposition IS shown to suspend
judgment on the Importance of General
French'S operations
Close study of the official and press
dispatches shows the affair is some
thing of mystery, for information is
withheld on several vital points.
THE British do not announce the
capture of a single gun, which proves
that the Beers, so far from being sur
prised, had forestalled General French's
dash and had moved their artillery
from their positions in ample time
''The capture of a wagon convoy by
General French was more than COM
pensated for by the Boer capture of a
200 wagon British convoy
"Then the news that horse sickness
has appeared in General F'rench's force
is regarded as exceedingly grave.
Finally, the British position at
Arundel is serious, as the Beers evi-
IDENTIFY are making a determined effort
to get at General Roberts communica-
I n IA not mar
mitted by the British censor to be made
public, the British military position
provides ground, according to expert
opinion here. for much doubt if not
Colonial Secretary Chamberlains
threat in the house of commons that
| the blacks would be armed against the
/ Beers and urged to attack them if their
/ territory was invaded is less serious
1 than was intended, for the Zulus, who
were specially pointed out, have re-
fused the arms offered them by the
! British authorities.
1t is true that the Beers sent
/ force into Zululand to meet the British
/ firing columns, but the Beers only at
tackled the British magistrates guard
guaranteeing full protection to the lives
! and property Of the Zulus themselves,
! large numbers of whom the Beers have
! even been feeding, saving them from
/ famine.
THE native Zulu policemen captured
/ by the Boer force and sent to Pretoria
! were paraded by President Kruger, who
/ assured them that as long as the Zulus
/ remain neutral they will have every
! protection from the Beers This ad-
/ dress was repeated to King Dinizulu by
/ the policemen, whom President Kruger
Instantly released, and caused the king
to refuse the offer of arms and ammu-
/ milton rendered him by the Natal gov
ernment."
ROBERTS PLANNED WE'LL.
Jacobsdal, Orange Free State, Feb. 16
/ Lord Roberts combinations for the
/ movement of the corps dOVetailed with
/ precision, although obstacles that had
i not been foreseen had to be overcome.
The execution of his design began at
/ 3 a. m. Sunday. Gen. French rode into
| Kimberley Thursday afternoon Just
( when he was due according to the field
/ marshaTs time table, having, in four
and One-half days, marched 80 miles,
| with artillery and having fought two
/ small engagements.
The relief of Kimberley was accom-
| plished with the loss Of only so men.
! Twenty thousand infantry made Splend-
id marches under subtropical sun,
4 and through dust storm, to hold the
/ positions which Gen. French took
Lord Kitchener was with Gen. Tuck
er's division. In consequence of his
/ transport arran gementS, the four divis-
J ions moving over the sandy Veldt are
| fed and watered 1t is hardly possible
to appreciate adequately the mathe-
/ matical precision with which every part
OF the transport department mas work.
ed, marching through the day, tOiling
1 almost sleeplesSly throughout the night
| victualing the army and evolving every
hour results from seeming chaos.
Everybody did what was expected of
/ him cheerfully, though enduring fright
| full fatigues. Few slept more than three
hours. The battalions hour after hour,
toiled through the heavy sand uncom-
plainingly. and when now and then a
man fell out of the ranks exhausted, he
would rejoin his company later after
he had rested. Some 50 or so were over
come by the heat and had to be sent to
the rear in the backward defile of
empty wagons.
The rapidity of Lord Roberts move
ments away from his base has solved
one of the problems, perhaps the chief
problem, of the war. He and Lord
Kitchener have created mobile force,
able to move in exterior lines and to
outfiank the Beers, themselves so Won
derfully mobile.
The position of the Boer army at
SpyfOntein being untenabIe. General
CrOnje ordered a retreat. At the mo-
ment this dispatch is written it is un-
certain whether his whole force or only
a portion of it has gone toward Bloem-
fontein. It is possible that part is go
ing north of Kimberley.
1t is supposed that 90 ton gun is
still in the neighbOrhood of Kimberley.
The road from JacobsdaI to Modder
station is now open.
Further details of the Boer retreat
show that the enemy has been fighting
a good rear guard action and occupy
ing successive kOpjes in order to allow
the moving of the convoy, which, how
ever. has been going at a very slow
pace, the animals apparently being dead
beat.
The latest reports show that the
Beers in the neighborhood of K1ipkaa1's
drift are undoubtedly disheartened.
Gen. French's significant march is
still the subject of admiration, especial
ly in view of the dust storms and thun-
der storms that all experienced.
The work of shelIing the Beers pro-
ceeds vigorously.
TOO EASILY WON.
London, Feb. ia war critic ex-
presses the following views: The scrip
tural phrase, Rejoice with trembling
fifty expresses our first attitude toward
the news of the relief of Kimberley. Sc
many times have loudly trumpeteC