The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-20
General Knox Forced to Give Up the
Pursuit and Look After the
Afrikanders in Cape Colony.
BoER WOMEN MALTREATED
ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN ILL-USED
BY BRITISH SOLDIERS.
Kruger at Amsterdam Telling the
Dutch that He Still Expects God
to Intervene in His Behalf.

LONDON, Dec. 20.-The news from South
Africa is not encouraging. 1t was hoped
General Knox would succeed in drawing
his net about General De Wet. but ii seems
the Boer leader is like an old trout-too
wary TO be caught. When he sees the
meshes of a British net he reconnoiters,
finds the weakest point and dashes through.
Then before the British can recover from
their surprise he appears in a new pool,
or scene of action, and is making trouble.
De Wet, with nearly 5000 men, is
reported to be preparing to attack Wyn-
burg. General Knox, it is also said, has
been forced to give up the pursuit on ac-
count of serious trouble in Cape Colony.
The Beers seemingly are determined to
harass the British wherever possible, and
with that end in view they have invaded
Cape Colony in large numbers. Three thou
sand are reported to have crossed Orange
river, and 1900 more are at Philipstown.
1t is feared they will secure many recruits
among the Afrikanders, and that there
may be formidable rebellion in the north
ern portion of Cape Colony. This news.
coupled with the pessimistic utterances of
Lord Salisbury, has caused feeling of de-
spondency in London, and there are many
people who now wish the war haa) been
avoided at the start.
Reports from Amsterdam and elsewhere
OF outrages by British soldiers on Boer
women are given little credence in official
circles here. Women and children may
suffer in South Africa as they do in all
countries ravaged by war. but it is not be-
lieved they have been personally harmed
by soldiers. The following from The
Hague is evidently sent out by the pro-
Boer press committee:
'Pitiable stories reach Holland concern
Ing the fate or the reconcetradoed women
in the British camps in the Transvaal For
Instance. Nine. Hardus, of Kimberley, re-
ports at the end OF October: To-day ar
rived eight women and twenty-four chill
dren from Potchefstroom by train. They
had terrible tale to tell OF how when they
refused to leave home they dragged
away by Kaffirs, thrust into Jail and after
being kept some time without food taken
by soldiers to kimberley. When they. ar
rived here their clothes were in rags, hav-
ing been torn by soldiers. Two of them
had been subjected to indignities Some
of them were widows; two had husbands
in St Helena. The children were of all
ages and mostly barefooted. / was able to
get them some food. which they needed
badly. Another correspondent describes
six poor women from the same district in
q miserable plight. Two women who had
suffered from the violence of soldiers were
taken to the hospital for treatment. A
nursing sister who has arrived at Harlem
from Africa gives narrowing accounts of
the conditions of many victims of soldiers
another another letter relates how two young
oentrado camp were not allowed to take
infants four and six months old with
Them"
The War Office last evening could give
no information regarding the reports of
Boer invasion of Cape Colony. The OFF,
cials expressed the opinion, however. that
the newspaper accounts were exaggerated
on1 hat nhoI.1
been employed in chasing General De Wet
will be diverted to deal with the invaders
Having regard to the customary methods
of the War Office this can only be inter-
preted as confirming the reports. Lord
Kitchener in the meantime keeps a tight
rein over the news, which increases the
public disquietude. There is a persistent
rumor that he has demanded heavy rein
forcements.
According to the Daily Mail private tele-
grams received in London yesterday depict
the situation i'm Cape Colony as somewhat
ominous. 1t seems that the invading Beers
are receiving considerable support from the
local Dutch and that the troops at the
disposal of the British authorities are not
sufficient to cope with any serious spread
of the military operations. 1t is believed
to the seriousness of the situation and is
making the utmost efforts to provide Lord
Kitchener with horses and mules.
Lord Edward Cecil, second son of the
Marquis of Salisbury, returned to Hatfield
House last evening from South Africa. He
was received with picturesque rejoicings.
His carriage was encircled with ring of
flame by torch bearers. The family group,
headed by Lord Salisbury, together with
Lord and Lady Lansdowne, Arthur Bal
four George Wyndham and Lord Selborne,
stood upon the steps of the Elizabethian
mansion to bid him welcome. All were
surrounded by tenantry of the estate bear
ing torches.
The British losses at Nooitgedacht ac-
cording to the official accounts, were 81
killed and wounded, with A missing and
still unaccounted for