The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-24

ment apparently indicates that the
Beers are engaged in gun running and
men importing through RhodeSla or
perhaps they are planning to take Col.
Plummer in the flank.
The Times publishes a letter from
Ladysmith, dated December 1S, the
writer of which says that the besieged
then had full ralons Tor at least two
months.
The Morning Post and Standard touch
lightly upon the unpleasant features of
Buffers dispatch and take hope from
the projected night attack. but alto
gether considered, the dispatch looks
like preparation for worse news
Parliament will meet in five days The
cabinet had been hoping for one rally
ing British success to cheer the country
and to command generous support for
fresh revenue measures. Among these
will be probab bly, an increase of the in
come of a shilling in the pound, but this
would only provide the cost of five
weeks hostilities The duties on to-
bacco, alcohol tea and coffee are like
ly to be raised.
The cabinet will meet at the end of
the week and discuss the situation.
Political considerations both foreign
and domestic, press upon the military
authorities the necessity for speedy ac-
complishing something These authOri-
ties may have been persuaded to urge
General Butler to attempt its great op-
Grafton without adequate preparation.
aboard.
Apparently Lord Roberts has nothing
whatever to do with General Buffers
operation. General Butler and the war
office communicate with each other di-
rect. Buffers scheme was conceived be-
fore Lord Roberts arrived at Cape
Town, and its execution was begun on
the day he landed. The fact that the
judgment of Lord Roberts has not been
brought to bear upon the movement
does not add to public confidence.
The Times, commenting editorially
upon General Buffers dispatch says:
TT can but tend to increase the
severe strain from which the nation is
suffering. We must await the result
of his attempt to seize the formidable
BOer position with courage and GOODNESS.
His success may be decisive, but the
danger of the attempt is evidently
great. The intense excitement of the
besieged in Ladysmith may be mag
| ined.'
General Warren is moving with COM
| mendabIe, indeed imperative caution,
but it must not be forgotten that delav,
however caused, must tell in many re-
SpectS in favor of the enemy. The
Beers have, it is true, fallen back when
hard pressed, but they have gained time
to bring up men, guns, ammunition and
supplies to the position they have Sc
| lected for their principal standard and
| to entrench it in thorough fashion, the
| fashion they understand so well. Until
! that position has been taken and its
| defenders routed and badly cut up, the
relief of Ladysmith can not be consid-
! cred secure
From Vienna comes the statement
! that the idea of the Intervention OF
| foreign powers is gaining adherents in
| influential quarters. The Daily Mails
| correspondent regards the signs as un-
mistakable, and mentions especially
suggestions printed in the Austro- Hun
| garian foreign office journal.
Dispatches from Boer sources de-
na 1f
of Ladysmith as more heavy than any
! previous firing and as intended to dis
courage a sOrtie, symptoms of prepara-
tions for egress of the town having
been observed from the Boer positions
Special dispatches photographed from
| Ladysmith on Monday say that the in
| vestment has not been relaxed ano
| that the garrison has ceased to specu-
| late regarding the precise date of de-
| nverance.
The position of the British forces out
| side of Natal is unchanged. The for
ward movement elsewhere appears tC
be waiting for reinforcements.
The correspondent of the Times al
| Lorenzo Marques telegraphing Tuesday
| says:
| The wholesale expulsion of British
| subjects now remaining in the Trans
| vaal is expected next week. Schultz
| military commandant of the Rand, i:
maintaining his reputation as an un-
! scrupulous and Vindictive official. Hi.
latest move was an attempt to breal
open the vaults of the Rand Safe De
posit company, ostensibly to obtair
| their securities for the residents.
It appears that all the bridges OF
the Natal railway and the Laing'l
Mex tunnel and the bridges on the Free
State line have been undermined, so a.
! to enable them to be destroyed at a mo
ment's notice in the event of Boer re
| treat
The French liner Gironde has arrived
| here crowded with military looking for
eigners bound for the Transvaal. Thes,
| include fifty Russian ambulance men
| -"ith Germans, Frenchmen, Italian:
| and Greeks. Herr Potts, the Trans
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