The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-08

we know what damage has been in
fiicted and what prisoners have been
taken"
The Dutch risings in the northwestern
districts of Cape Colony are the only
cloud visible in the sky of prospects.
The military authorities have decided
that General Cronje and the other Boer
prisoners shall be sent mediately to
the island of St. Helena, there to re-
main until the end of the war.
Lord Roberts has chosen Lord
Bathurst colonel of a military regi-
ment at the front to command the
escort to st. Helena which was last
month placed in cable communication
with Cape Town and London. 1t is also
asserted that the cabinet has resolved
neither to propose nor to entertain
proposal at the present Juncture for an
exchange of prisoners.
A dispatch from the Modder river
dated yesterday says:
THE Beers occupy an extensive por-
tiOn between ourselves and both Bloem-
fOntein and Winburg. They include the
bulk of the Natal forces and are I'M
der General Joubert himself. Only suffi-
cient men have been left behind to hold
Van Reenans Pass and Laing's Mex.
Extensive deSertiOnS are reported dur
ing the week.
AN engagement is imminent which
will probably be decisive as to the
whole war"
EXPERTS CHEEKY VIEW.
London, March S.-The full extent of
not clear but the best informed appear
satisfied that it brings peace percept-
IDLY nearer Experts anticipate that
the burghers will make no further stand
west of the Free State capital and
some of them even deduce from the fact
that the Boer forces are divided and
have retreated in different directions
that decentralization has set in and that
the TranSvaal forces will next be found
carefully entrenched in positions north
of the Vaal river, while the bulk of the
Free StaterS will abandon the contest
and sue for peace. Elsewhere the news
indicates that the conditions continue
hopeful from a British point of view,
the kilograms from Mafeking alone
showing any dependency.
THE WAY "BOBS" DID 1T.
New York. March S.-A dispatch to
| the Tribune from London says:
| Lord Roberts second turning move
| ment was a simple but effective tactical
! manoeuVre. The Dutch forces were
/ holding a double intrenched position
! about fifteen miles in length north and
! south of Modder river. General Rob-
/ erts does not explain his own strategy
! in his bulletin; but it can be inferred
| from the press dispatches which have
! already appeared that he stationed one
! division north of the river and two
| divisions south of it and then posted
| General French with three cavalry
! brigades at the end OF his own line
| northward and ordered him to make a
I reconnaissance IN IOrCes he created III
this way the impression that he would
/ turn the enemy'S position nOrthWard,
! because wherever F'rench'S brigades
were massed the fanking movement
| might be expected. He then brought
| French's brigades around to the op-
! posite end of the line and turned the
| enemys position southwark, enabling
! Kel1y-Kenny's division to advance with
! out opposition.
The Dutch forces at once refreated
northward and eastward, followed by
| the sixth division and French's bri-
/ grades. The Dutch commander evil
/ IDENTIFY had expected a flank attack from
| the north, whereas it was delivered
| from the south and in his retreat he
/ has exposed BloemfOntein which is now
open to General Roberts advance. The
! Dutch were again outmanOeuvred by
! being attacked on the flank where they
| were not expecting the blow to be de-
| livered and their communications with
! BloemfOntein were threatened. The
| casualties We're light the British
| side, being reported at fifty in General
/ Roberts second report; but the moral
effect of this fresh demonstration of su-
| perior generalship and mobility will be
great. The occupation of Bloemfontein
is likely to follow this brilliant turning
movement, by which the enemy was
routed without a battle, as the Dutch
| forces will not be able to make another
stand in defense of their capital. An
| interesting feature of General Roberts
two bulletins is his reference to the
/
front with the bulk of the army, but
without General Methuen-
LATEST FROM ROBERTS
London. March S.-6:47 p. m.-The fol-
| lowing is the text of Lord Roberts
| latest dispatch:
gades of cavalry with horse artillery
and Kelly-Kennys division marched
today ten miles eastwards.
The Beers were quite taken by sur
hFTr--
| riedly that they left cooked dinners be-
hind. We captured a Krupp gun and
several tents and wagons. The total
| casualties We're:
Kiiied~Lieutenant Keswick and
F'rieslick.
Wounded-Lieutenants Bailey of the
| Twelfth Lancers, and De CriSpigney of
| the Second Life Guards, both severely,
and Lieutenant Smith of the Shrop-
| shires, who is believed to have been
picked up by a Boer ambulance. Two
men We're killed, fOrty-six were wound
ed and one man is missing.
Gatacre reports that he intends oc-
| cupying Burghersdorp today
Repairs to the railroads towards
| both Stormberg and Steynsberg are be
| ing pushed.
elements now occupies Norvals Pont
/ on the south bank of the Orange river.
| The bridge was blown up March 6, and
the enemy are holding the north bank
| of the river but not it is believed, in
any great strength"
BOERS NOT DISCOURAGED.
Pretoria, March S-Secretary of State
Reitz has issued war bulletins saying
the Beers are not discouraged by re-
verses and will fight to the death.
Gen. De Witt is now in command of
| the Beers north of the Modder.
President Kruger has gone to BlOem-
/ fontein, presumably to settle the differ
ences between the Transvaalers and the
Free Staters.
FAIR PROMISES.