The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-18
BULLER'S
STRATEGY.
Gen. Roberts Reports Crossing
of the Tugela.
Warren Passes by Means of a
POntOOn Bridge.
BOERS READY FOR HIM
Are Entrenching Five Miles in
His Front.
British Detachment Ambushed
by the Enemy.

London, Jan. 1s-The war Office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. Roberts dated Cape Town today:
Il have received a telegram from
Gen. Butler stating that one brigade
and howftzer battery have crossed the
Tugela river at Potgieters drift. Five
miles further west, at Trichards drift,
Gen. Warren has thrown a pontoon
bridge over the river. BY this, part
of his force crossed yesterday The re-
mainder is expected by this morning
10 be on the north bank. Warren hopes
he will be able to turn the enemy po-
sition, which five miles off to his right
front is being strongly entrenched-"
AMBUSHED BY BOERS.
Rensberg, Cape Colony Wednesday
Jan. IA patrol composed of 16 men
OF the New South Wales Lancers and
South Australians was ambushed yes
terday by the Beers and overwhelmed,
after a severe fight. Two of the de-
tachment escaped and have arrived in
camp. This morning a patrol visited
the scene of the fight and found i've
dead Australians and one wounded. A
number of the dead BOer horses also
were found showing that the Austral-
fans made a gallant fight before sur
rendering.
1t appears that when the Australians
encountered the first body of Beers and
found their retreat cut off they gauOp-
ed for a nearby kopje hoping to beat off
the Beers, but on arriving they found
another force of burghers concealed
there.
A PERSISTENT RUMOR.
London Jan. 18-A Cape Town spec
ial dispatch dated today says it is per-
Bistently reported there that Lady
smith has been relieved.
PLUMBERS MOVEMENTS
Lourenzo. Marques, Monday. Jan. Is.
"A dispatch by way of Bierba, dated
Thursday, January Il, announces that
Colonel Plummer has arrived near
Mochudi, about hundred miles north
of Mafeking, with a portion of his
forces from Tuli.
HOW FOREIGNERS GET IN.
London. Jan. 1S.-A correspondent of
the Daily Mail at Lourenzo Marques,
says:
French vessels. They entrain at a sta
tiOn outside the town and leave the
train a station before the TransVaal is
reached They walk across the border
and rejoin the train. Hundreds have
passed through in that way since the
outbreak of the war"
BULLER'S STRATEGY.
London, Jan. $3.50 a. m.-General
Butler completely surprised the Beers
and occupied the hills beyond Potgieters
Drift fifteen miles west of Colenso, on
Wednesday, January 10. This intelli-
gence is contained in an exclusive dis
patch to the Times, dated yesterday.
ing the Boer trenches.
This news completely disposes of the
statement that Sir Charles Warren'S 5
force went in the direction of Weenen
and it tends greatly to restore con-
fdence in General Buffers tactics. The
supposition that he had divided his
forces into three columns had given
cause for anxiety. 1t now seems that
such a view was erroneous, as General
Buffers forces are concentrated.
In Cape Colony General Methuen has
made a demonstration in force Smelling
the BOer works. General Gatacre is
skirmishing around Molteno and Cen
eral French has been throwing a few
shells at the Beers at Rensberg- Col.
Plumer is moving to the relief of Mafe-
king from Bechuanaland. He is now IN
command of less than 1900 men. Mafe-
king is in a bad way; the siege is being
pressed with determination and the
Kaffirs are deserting because of pinch
ed ratiOns and the necessity Of eating
horse meat.
The Standards vivid account of the
assault upon Ladysmith shows that the
garrison was surprised and that several
times the situation was critical Out
of a detachment of thirty Gordon High
landers who surrendered, every man
was wounded says the correspondent.
CuriouSly enough, this is the first men
tion of the capture of Highlanders. The
BOer repulse at LadySmith was the
heaviest counter stroke of the war.
The government is relaxing it's effort
undecided as to when the Eighth di-
vision will be shipped. The war office
declines the offer of a third battalion
of fNOrthamptOnShire militia, saying that
no more militia will be sent abroad. It
seems probable that only 5000 instead
of 1000 yeOmanry will be modified.
The war office sent for Lord Strath-
coma yesterday and he had long inter
view with the officials, particularly Gen
eral Sir Evelyn Wood. The details of
his force have been arranged and ca
bled to Canada.
J. J. Van Aliens offer to give a field
hospital section to consist of three
wagons, twenty-five cots and twenty
transport animals, with all the appli-
ances has been accepted by the war
office The section will be called the
American section of the hospital to
which it is attached.
The ministers are gathering for a
cabinet council which win probably
meet Friday.
INTENSE ANXIETY.
New York, Jan. 1S-A despatch to
the World from London says; The anx-
iety in regard to Gen. Butler is intense
and increasing every hour. The pub
lie and most of the war experts are
inclined to take a gloomy view of the
situation.
Mr.. Williams, the Leaders war cor
respondent, says in this (Thursday)
mornings issue:
Floods in the Tugela river may have
postponed action We mentioned
Thursday as the day upon which the
news of it would be officially prOmul-
gated Our own Information goes only
till Monday night. It is to the effect
that Gen. Warren holds the Tugela
passages
sThe war office will probably commu-
1foota this statement TO the recorders