The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-01
Women and Children Who Were
Found with the Beers Are Be-
ing Returned to Their Homes.
PRAISE FOR THE CANADIANS
WHOSE DASH INDUCED THE BOER
GENERAL TO SURRENDER.
ROberts's Meeting with Cronje-TOtal
British Loss to Date, 12,S34-
Rensburg ReOccupied.

LONDON. March 1, 4:30 a. m.-There is
no authoritative indication yet of what
Lord Roberts will do next. 1t seems likely
that a branch railway will be built across
the veldt to lessen the difficulties of trans
port. Colonel Girouard, who built the Su-
dan Railway. is with Lord Roberts. The
strain on the Western Railway is seen
from the fact that the population of Kim
berley, two weeks after the relief. con-
tinues on reduced rations. Lord Robertss
troops, thus far, have been only partially
fed.
1t is quite clear to technical heads that
those who talk of an immediate and rapid
advance far into the Free State do not
realize the transport conditions. The Beers,
as ii now appears, have built railway
from Harrismith to Kroomstadt, to facili-
tate the movement of their troops between
Natal and the Free State.
With the additional six hundred Beers
reported prisoners at Kimberley it seems
that the number of men captured by Lord
Roberts nearly reaches five thousand.
The newspapers comment on the hero of
kandahars achievement, laying special
stress on the gallantry of the Canadians,
who. according to a Paardeberg special,
were actually fighting hand to hand in the
Boer trenches when General Cronje sur.
rendered, though this scarcely agrees with
Lord Roberts's dispatch. In this connec-
ton the Times prints the following dis
patch from Paardeberg, dated Tuesday:
''The performance Of the Canadians under
an absolutely withering fire which caused
them TO retire fifty yards until the engi-
neers had dug trenches, was splendid. The
oIm moonlight and the cloudy sky alone
rendered the enemys point-blank fusillade
ineffective. The Canadians held the posi-
ton until dawn. The greatest admiration
is expressed for their valor and ii is felt
that new era has been opened to the
empire, now that the Canadians have
avenged Majuba.'
A dispatch to the Morning Post from
Paardeberg says: THE Canadians were
only prevented from carrying General
Cronjes laager at the point of the bayo-
net by imperative orders to the contrary.
Their gallantry is the universal theme of
conversation. We captured five thousand
small arms. Cur tremendous shell fire had
scarcely any appreciable effect on the Boer
trenches. Their wounded during the week
numbered about eighty. The number of
their dead we have not ascertained''
The rapidly growing casualty lists are
being classified as quickly as possible.
They show that up to this morning the
total number of casualties was 12S34, of.
which 2,319 were added during the last
fortnight. Ten of the eleven Scotch regi-
ments lost about 1850 men, and eight of the
Irish regiments 2,0OO Then come the
Gloucesters and Northumberland, while
of nearly 200 colonials the Royal Cana
dians lost 121. and the Victoria mounted
contingent &c. The casualties are classified
thus: Killed. 1898; wounded. 6,SSS; missing,
3.173: disease. $50.
Gibson Bowles. Conservative member of
Parliament for Kings Dim. who was
much struck by the statement of Cecil
Rhodes the other day that the profits of
the De Beers Company last year were
G2.0O0.000. and that there are diamonds in
Kimberley now valued at 8167,000, intends
to suggest to Mr.. Balfour, first lord of the
treasury. that the rescued property be dis
tributed among the troops salvage, or
at least be applied to the relief of the
widows and orphans of the fallen.
Lieutenant Barentzen, writing on behalf
of himself and of other Scandinavian pris-
oners, affirms that there are no mercen-
aries In the Boer army, and no volunteers
who receive penny for their services.
There has been extravagant rejoicing in
Cape Colony and Natal over the surrender
Of General Cronje. At Durham, Natal the
stars and stripes have been flying along
side the union jack over the town hall.