The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-12
Wires That He Has Occupied a
Position.
On the South Bank Of the Tu-
gela River.
STREAM is IN FLOOD.
The Beers Are Entrenched
Alp Miles Away.
British Losses In Ladysmith
Battle Over 500.

London, Jan. 12-The war Office this
morning received the following dispatch
from Gen. Butler. dated Springfield
Thursday. January II, at e:20 evening:
I occupied the south bank of the
Tugela river at Potgieters Drift this
morning and seized Pont. The river
is in flood. The enemy is strongly en-
trenched about four and a half miles
to the north"
The Daily Mail says:
I'VE learn that in the attack on
Ladysmith last Saturday, January 6.
the British losses were IA officers kill
ed, "a wounded and over 800 non-com-
missioned officers and men killed and
wounded
THE Boer losses, we hear. are esti-
mated at between 1000 and 5000"
The queen has proclaimed the meet
ing Of parliament for January 80.
Lee-Metford cartridges are running
short in the British magazines and, ac-
cording to a seni-official report the war
Office purposes to fall back temporarily
upon 100 900, 900 Mark iv'' expanding
bullets, most Of which are already in
storage in South Africa.
The war Office, however, has issued a
strict order to the volunteers that the
80 rounds of Mark iv' given them
must be used in practice at home, none
being taken to South Africa.
After the public announcement that
no such bullet would be used in this
war its employment, the Daily Chroni-
Gle thinks would be a serious breach
of faith, especially as the British COM
manders have complained that the
Beers occasionally use such projectiles.
The newspapers were reconciled dur
ing the early days of the war to cable
censorship, taking it for granted that
full narratives sent by mail would sup
VsTrr oil al ia FfTeer
however. even the mail correspondence
that has arrived in London, has shown
signs Of habitual scissoring by the CEN
sor. Pages are numbered without
chronological or logical connection, ,leav-
ing the happenings described quite un-
Ineligible in many cases. The editors
acting possibly in concert are laying
these facts before the pubic and in
sisting that they be permitted to know
and to print the facts.
The Daily Mail formally accuses the
war Office of "dOctoring' in editing of
official dispatches before their issuance
and cites particulars. The Daily Chron-
1cle AYERS that there seems to be an Off
cial conspiracy against letting the
truth be known.
Although the number Of deaths from
dysentery and enteric fever at Lady
smith has been published by the war
office since Saturdays fight, nothing
has been given out regarding the losses
in the engagement. The war office as
Arm chair critics, who in the absence
of repOrtorial or official descriptions
from the seat of war, pour forth pages
of conjecture and opinion, conclude
that much is to be expected of the
British hosts in South Africa until Lord
Roberts shall have had plenty of time
to think and fresh levies shall have ar
rived Time is working now for the
Beers. Each dey makes more difficult
the three beleagured positions
Although the war office declines to
confirm the report that Lord Methuen
has been recalled to England inquiries
made by a correspondent at Methuen's
home in Wiltshire have elected the in
formation that when he received his
wound his horse threw him heavily ard
spinal and other injuries superVened.
The theory is now advanced that the
seizure of the German mail steamers
HerzOg and General, since released was
made on purpOsely misleading informa-
tion supplied to British agents, the de-
sign being to embrOil Great Britain and
Germany in a. quarrel.
London, Jan. 12.-Apart from the
definite news that General Butler has
commenced a second ATTEMPT to cross
the Tugela river the only official news
this morning is the list of casualties
among the British officers in the fight
at Ladysmith Saturday Jan. 6. showing
thirteen killed and q wounded. Among
the latter was Lieutenant Colonel VIM.
Henry Dick-Cunyingha '. c., COM
mander Of the second battalion of the
Gordon EighlanderS since 1897 who has
since succumbed to his wounds. He
was immensely popular everywhere and
his death will cause widespread sorrow.
General Buffers movement, obviously
is of a fianking character, but whether
it is intended to push the advance
home, or whether his operations are
only a feint to cover an attack in force
on the BOer position at UlangWana
mountain, remains to be seen. Spring
field, from whence 2 General Buffers
dispatch was sent is sixteen miles
west of F'rere. The last news from
Springfield was that it was held by the
Johannesburg corps under General
Ben Viljoen. and that the Beers had
big guns in position at Potgieters drift
apparently six or eight miles north of
Springfield and across the big Tugela.
The possession of the drift and the
tance.
1t is reported here that General Bull
Ter submitted his plan of campaign to
Lord Roberts Immediately after the
latter landed and that General Roberts
sanctioned it
There is a belief in some quarters
that General Hector Mcdonald will
succeed Lord Methuen in command of
the British force at Modder river.
WAR OFFICE ESTIMATES.
London, Jan 12.-The war office an
nounces that the British casualties at
Iadysmtth January among the rank and
file were 1875 killed and PAP wounded.
Lady Methuen has issued absolute
contradiction of the rumors that Lord
the falling of his horse at the battle of
Magersfontein-
TRUTH Is COMING.