The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-02
FEELS BETTER.
British Public Has Been Braced
Up Considerably
By Buffers Announcement of
What He Will DO.
HE LOST 1886 MEN.
In His Turning Movement, But
They Have Been Replaced.
Criticism Has Been Turned Up
on tho Ministry.
He LOST 1885 MEN.

New York, Feb 2.-There is a de-
cidedly more cheerful feeling in Lon
don The confirmation of the report
that Gen. Butler had announced that
he would relieve Ladysmith, together
with the unconfirmed report that he
had actually begun a new forward
movement, had a good effect on the
public mind Figures just published
have had a reassuring effect. The gov
ernment announces that it was ascer-
tanned before the war began that the
Beers could put 50, 600 men into the field.
The British in a few days will have 213,-
600 men in South Africa Gen. Joubert,
according to late advices, has $4,000 men
surrounding Ladysmith and confronting
Gen Butler. In the recent turning
movement, Gen Butler lost 1885 men,
but the places are filed. The Beers
have no means of replacing the lost
men with fresh soldiers. Looking at the
matter in this light it is as inevitable
that Joubert will be beaten, as it was
that Grant would take Richmond.
Few dispatches are now allowed to
come through from the seat of opera
tions about Stormberg and Colesberg,
ana Gen Roberts is clearly anxious to
Olrect attention from the work in pro-
gresS in cooperating with Gen. Cat
acre and Gen. French. The Dutch gar
risons, both at Stormberg and Coles
berg, have been reinforced and the Boer
strategiStS are striving to repeat their
tactics at Magersfontein, CoIenso and
Spion Kop by creating a new impasse
by which the British invasion of the
Free State may be blocked
The military experts are inclined to be
easier with Butler since he and his
army are so undaunted and the harsh
criticism is shifting to the ministry. The
Daily Mail says:
when as is notorious to all with any
knowledge of politics the government is
tremblingly awaiting the news of some
little victory to ward off temporarily
just criticism, the situation is too hu-
initiating for words.
"One by one public belief in the rep
reSentative leaders on the uniOnist side
is disappearing. The Marquis of I4ans-
doWne was diScredited at the outbreak
of the war. Mr.. Balfour fell at Manches-
ter. Lord Salisbury's pitiful exhibition
under the lash of Lord Rosebery on
Tuesday damaged another ideal. Mr..
Chamberlain has so far made no dec
laration of vigorous policy suited to our
pressing needs.
Some weeks ago many of the best
friends of the government were urging
now for that policy. People now are
looking for some strong man to lead
them.
'Rosebery's name has been on every
DOuy lOuSu u0 the last lew 0aYS
but to turn to him before Mr. Chamber
lain has been tried appears to us to be
unwise and unfair from many points OF
view.
berlain's attitude during the next few
days"
NO WORD FROM BULLER.
London, Feb. 2.-2:37 p. m.-There is
no official news from Gen Buffers
headquarters and the only information
which has reached London in any way
supporting the reports that he has re-
crossed the Tugela river is found in an
Associated Press dispatch announcing
Lord Dundonald'S reconna issance. .WhicE
is taken to indicate a prelude to renew
ed activity. AS the dispatch is three
days old, and Lord Dundonald found no
difficulty in crossing the river, it is not
impossible Gen. Butler may have moved
in the interim and public anxiety is
| again concentrated on the upper Tugela
| Dispatches from elsewhere in South
Africa merely tell of desultory shell
firing and the movements of natrols
| through Cape Town mentions a rumor
I that Gen. French has CAPTURED eight
hundred Beers where and when not be-
Ing announced.
MAFEKING STILL BESIEGED.
Lorenzo Marques, Thursday, Feb. l.
I A dispatch from Gaberones dated IAN
uary %, describing a reconnaissance of
some of Col. Plumer's forces around the
/ Boer laager southwark seems to dispose
| of the story that Mafeking has been
| relieved. On that date the RhOdeSian n
| captured two Transvaal flags and drove
off the Boer outpost before returning to
| Gaberones.
ROBERTS WANTS 10000 MORE.
London Feb. 2.-SensationaI rllraors
are current that the militia ballot act
! will be put in force February a. and
| that Gen. Lord Roberts, the commander
! in chief of the British forces in South
| Africa has cabled for 1000 additional
men. which it is added the government
| has promised to give him, sending so, 900
militia and volunteers and 10000 militia
! reserves.
1t is also said that the volunteers will
| be modified forthwith. 1t is even as
serted today that the cabinet has spec
| tally dealt with these matters.
The militia ballot act makes every
| unmarried man between 21 and 80 years
| of age liable to serve for five years