The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-12

with one man wounded. Inc 6OeT loss
is said to be considerable
LORD ROBERTS WARNING.
London, March 12.-The war office has
received the following advices from
Lord Roberts. dated Driefontein, Sun
day, March II, 9:45 a. m:
The following telegram has ben ad-
dressed by me to their honors, the state
presidents of the Orange Free State
and the South African Republic:
Another instance having occurred
of gross abuse of the white flag and OF
the signal of holding up hands in token
OF surrender, it is my duty to inform
you that, if such abuse occurs again,
shall most reluctantly be compelled to
order my troops to disregard the white
flag entirely
.sThe instance occurred on a kopje
east of Dreifontein farm yesterday eV-
ening, and was witnessed by several of
my own staff officers, as well as by my
SELF and resulted in the WOunding OF
several of my officers and men.
"A large quantity of explosive bullets
of three different kinds was found in
Commandant Cronje'S laager and this
has been the case of every engag cement
with your honor's troops. Such breach
es of the recognized usages of war and
Of the Geneva convention are dis
grace to any civilized power. A copy
of this telegram has been sent to my
government, with the request that 1T
may be communicated to all neutral
powers.
Spenser Wilkinson, in the Morning
Post, says:
with 100 dead at Dreifontein, the
Beers must have had 500 wounded. We
may expect Lord Roberts to continue
has march at the rate of about ten
miles a day.
1.-The news that Lord Kitchener has
gone south shows that the rising in the
Prieska district is troublesome, but it
will be effectually suppressed.
I'VE need not believe the BOer re-
port that 1900 British are near Help
maaker. 1t is quite unlikely that Gen.
Butler will make any decisive move un-
til his troops are recuperated.
The war office maps show a group of
kopjes and a large water pan at Drei-
fOntein, position which has apparent
ly considerable defensive advantages.
The Beers who Tetreated to AbrahamS s
kraal from Poplar Grove must have
moved southwark, or else a fresh force
must have come from Bloemfontein or
the Orange river.
The opposition met at Dreifontein was
somewhat unexpected, the idea being
that if there were any resistance, it
would be at Petrusberg. Profting by
their experience, the Beers were pre-
pared for a British f1anking movement,
but in extending their position, in order
to avoid being outfanked. they proba-
bly, weakened their center, thus making
it possible for the British infantry to
carry this with a bayonet charge.
Lord Roberts dignified protest
against the abuse of the white flag is
regarded as the most important fact of
the situation. According to the ac-
counts supplied by the correspondents,
the instance appears to have been most
fragrant and there is no doubt that
Lord Roberts will carry his threat into
execution. The dispatch from Durham
as to the engagement near Pomeroy
seems to explain in the Boer accounts of
skirmishing in the Helpmaakar district
and although Col. Bethunes force num-
bered only a few hundreds, the news
shows that the Beers are in considera-
BILE numbers on the Biggarsberg.
There is no confirmation of the ru-
mors of the raising of the siege of
Mafeking, concerning which the gravest
anxiety continues to be felt.
The British reported casualties up to
this date are as follows: Killed, 2,41S;
wounded, S747: died of disease, 1929;
missing, 3,4S3; total, 1857.
The numerical superiority of the
British troops leaves no doubt in the
minds of the cries here that Lord
Roberts will accomplish his immediate te
objective, the occupation of BlOemfOn-
tein. The commander-in- chiefs latest
dispatch announcing that Gen. Gatacre
is at Bethulie bridge and the specials
saying Gen. Gatacre commands the
bridge approaches, put the Beers in
that vicinity between two British forces
AaSVOgel KOp whence Lord Roberts
sent his last cable message, being 100
miles almost due north of Bethulie.
However, there is a large plain between
them and the main body of the Beers
now confronting Lord Roberts with its
ceaseless activity may be quite able to
cover the retreat of the BurgherS con-
fronting Gen. Gatacre. Once the British
are in possession of the railroad from
Bethulie to Bloemfontein the junction
at the Free State capital of Generals
Gatacre and Roberts would be a matter
of a very few days.
Commenting on the fact that Lord
Roberts found the Beers holding posi-
tions in a part of the country supposed
to have been left open, the st. James
Gazette says:
mo more damning indictment was
ever preferred against any cavalry
Rumors of the relief of Mafeking con-
tinue to circulate but fail of any con-
firmation. From Natal which Gen. Bull
Ter so enormously declared was free of
Beers and from Cape Colony where
Gen. Kitchener's stern hand is upon the
rebellion, there is no news of any i'm
portance.