The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-03

wounded who have arrived here. fight |
ing occurred all along the line The |
federal troops held positions on the side
and top of the mountain while the Brit
tions were on the opposite side of the
hill The British charged repeatedly, !
but were repulsed.
The later reports say that the federals
were more than holding their own, but
the final result of the fighting is not
known here.
The federal loss was nine killed and
wounded.
Reports from British Brandfort re-
ceived later state that 1000 federa1s at
tackled 5000 British successfully but
that $4,000 British reinforcements arriv-
ed and the federals were compelled to
retire after Furnishing the British Sc
verely.
The federal loss according to these
reports was slight.
ANOTHER DISPATCH FROM ROB
ERTS.
London, April 3.-Fuller news of The
disaster to the British army in the
neighborhood of Sannas Post does not
tend TO improve matters from a British
point of view, but with the dispatches
so mystifying it is impossible to slc-
curately portray the present situation
or foretell the ultimate issue of Lord
Roberts attempt to retrieve the defeat.
The war office has posted dispatch
from Lord Roberts reading as follows:
''Bloemfontein, April 2, 10:30 p. MIN
continuation of my telegram of March
81 there has been considerable delay in
getting accurate returns of the casual
ties. as the action took place % miles
hence, the telegraph ble has been in
terrupted several times; cloudy weather
has interfered with signalling and al
though there has been no engagement
since, the force is continually in touch
with the enemy.
There were many acts of conspicuous
! gallantIy displayed during the day. O.
! remained in action under a cross fire at
rH for 10
! serving the guns as the casualties re-
/ duced the detachments. Several gallant
/ attempts We're made to bring in the
| guns, the teams of which had been kill
! ed, but at each attempt the horses were
/ shot.
THE Essex, Munster, Shropshire and
| Northumberland mounted infantry and
! Roberts horse covered the retirement
of the guns from that position to the
| crossing of the drift found by the cavalry
! two miles further south and withStOOd
| the determined attacks of the enemy
| who in some cases advanced within 100
| yards. U battery of the Royal Horse
| artillery was suddenly surrounded IN
the drift and the officers and men We're
all made prisoners without a shot being
| fired. But Major Taylor and a sergeant
major succeeded in escaping III the con-
fusion. Five guns were captured at the
same time. Further details will follow
Lord Roberts dispatch seems to final
ly dispose of the earlier report of the
recovery of the guns and the fact that
| the Beers remain in occupation of the
waterworks is taken as an Indication
that they intend to make a stand Suffi-
GENTLY long to cover the withdrawal OF
the guns and wagons to place of safe
ty although the absence of definite in
formation regarding the movements OF
Gen French's cavalry makes it difficult
to estimate their chances of adding this
crowning success to the blow ALREADY
inflicted.
st A dispatch from Maseru, Basutoland
| cd .
Rosslyn, who is acting war CORE
spondenu for the Daily Mail in South
Africa and who left there April l or
his way to Thabet N'Chu has probably
fallen into the hands of the Beers
Messages from Springfontein suggest
that the fact that the press messages
are keenly censored indicates an early
advance northwards although there is {
question whether the loss of guns anc
convoy will not delay the commander IL
chiefs movements
The alarming increase in the mortality
among the Boer prisoners at Simons-
town has induced the authorities tt
promise to remove to the mainland, tht
prisoners who are not going to st
Helena.
A dispatch from Vanwyks VIei dated
Monday, April ?, indicates the pacifica
) ton of the northwest part of Capt
, Colony.
tillery died April l, as the result of al
: accident.
A dispatch from Pretoria announces
the arrival of 28 prisoners, mostly resi-
dents of Ladybrand, who We're seiZet
when the Beers forced the British Il
evacuate that place.
The German liner Koenig has again
reached Lorenzo Marques. this tira
. having on board 257 passengers boun'
for the TIansvaal.
I An Interesting item appears in a peri
odical called The Gem giving the opin
! ions of the royal family on Presiden
I a al
: ing to the Duchess of Fife
The Prince of Wales wrote:
Mr.. Kruger is a good judge of TO
e bacco and a bad judge of the Englisl
people
The Duke of Cambridge wrote: I ar
e an old man and so is Kruger As he is
Q so am IAN old soldier I have so man
: faults myself, how can judge another.
n The queen wrote: May God guild
e him and all of US out of our troubles an
e difficulties.