The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-22
This IS treasured as a

Botha's name. This is treasured as a
great trophy.
hill and Colenso Wednesday, February
q, and the British advanced infantry
was subjected to a severe muSketry
fire, but they had excellent cover and
the casualties were few.
The Boers had the railroad running
from Colenso to Bulwana. The British
continue to discover large quantities of
ammunition. The Beers are well sup
piled with food and a quantity of pro-
visions was left behind.
It is expected that further resistance
will be half hearted and that Lady
smith will be reached in a few days.
BOERS DRIVEN orr
London. Feb 22,-4:12 p. m.-The war
office has received the following dis
patch from Gen. Roberts:
THE Beers have been driven off in
all directions, leaving many killed and
wounded"
HOW "BOBs" DID IT.
London, Feb. 22.-4:17 D. m.-The war
office has received from Lord Roberts
the following message which was de-
layed in transmission dated Paarde-
berg, Wednesday, February 21:
Yesterday afternoon I was satisfied
by a careful reconnaissance in force of
the enemys position that I could not
which l was most anxious to avoid. Ac-
cordingly 1 decided to lombard him
with artillery and turn my attention to
the enemy reinfOrcements. The result
was most satisfactory. The Beers were
driven off in all directions, losing a. good
many killed and wounded and about so
prisoners who say they arrived from
Ladysmith two days ago by railroad.
They also say it was our artillery fire
which caused them to abandon the
kopje they were occupying. Our loss
was two officers, Captain Campbell of
the Ninth LancerS and Lieut.. Houston
of the artillery and four men, all slight
ly wounded.
HURRY ORDER FOR GUNS.
London, Feb. 22.-Artillery officers re-
ceived hurry orders today to proceed to
South Africa with fifty one-pound Max
im-Nordenfeldt guns.
SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION.
London. Feb. 22.-Great relief has
been caused here by the receipt of the
news from Paardeburg showing that
Lord Roberts is personally superintend-
ing the operations and though it is diff
ficult to grasp the real situation, it is
generally thought Lord Roberts is
gradually tightening his grin on Gen
ent failure of Sundays attempt to
storm the Boer position, it is evident
that Gen. Cronje is not merely laagered
in the ordinary acceptatiOn of the term
but occupies a carefully prepared and
strongly entrenched position previously
made ready with the object of stem
ming the prospective British invasion
of the Free State.
After failing to dislodge. Gen. Cronje
and in spite of great blOodshed on both
sides, Lord Roberts seems to have con-
tented himself with shelling the Beers
Monday and Tuesday. He apparently
contemplated a renewal of the assault
Tuesday afternoon but after a recon
naissance he decided to content himself
with shelling the Beers, which he was
still doing, when Paardeberg advices
were sent off at o'clock yesterday ev-
ening.
The fact that the Beers from Lady
smith have already arrived in the
neighborhood of Paardeberg causes
some apprehension but reinforcements
of guns and men are also reaching Lord
Roberts and it is not thought that the
TranSvaal and Free State railroads will
| be able to transport hurriendly the
great number of men and horses.
From the available information re-
ceived here it appears that Lord Rob
erts completely surrounds Gen. CronJe
with artillery thus releasing the other
arms, of which, military experts assert
he has plenty to defeat all reinforce
ments of the Beers as they arrive in
| detail. The fact that Gen. Cronje asked
| for an armistice points to great losses
as we'll as indicating that he recognized
| that his hope lies in securing delay in
| order to allow BOer reinforcements tc
| create a diversion in Lord Roberts
rear.