The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-28
GOOD WORK BY FRENCH.



LONDON. Feb. 27-General Kitchener.
telegraphing from Middleburg lin the
Transvaal, on the railroad between Pre-
toria and Portuguese East Africa, under
date of Feb. "a. says: 1.-THE following ad-
ditional captures are reported by French
up to Feb. 25: Three hundred Beers sur
rendered, with nineteen-pounder Krupp.
one howitzer. Maxim, 10000 rounds Of
small-arms ammunition. 153 rifles, 1888
horses, S34 trek oxen, $500 cattle, $500 sheep
and 2S7 wagons and carts. The Beers
casualties were four killed and five
wounded"
General French's most recent success.
combined with the other advantages gained
by the British forces in South Africa, have
created, representative of the Associated
Press learns, most hopeful feeling in the
War Office here Lord Raglan, under Sec
retary for war, described it to-day as be-
ing 1.-THE thin end of the wedge" and this
also is the opinion of the military critics.
who reiterate that, while the war cannot
be expected to end with a sudden stroke
this constant capturing of men, guns and
supplies and horses. means that the opera
tions will soon be reduced to a Dacoit
stage. General French is quite the hero OF
the hour on Pail Mall, though, of course.
General Kitchener's controlling hand is
recognized under every circumstance 1t is
felt by Mr.. Brodrick and Lord Roberts
that SO long as the British forces are doing
something to diminish the Beers supply OF
men, mounts and ammunition, they are
achieving the only possible objective at
present in sight 1t is not believed to be at
armistice as a preliminary to peace. or, If
he does, he will not let the War Office know
of it until he learns the result. In fact,
small reliance is placed on such an offer,
for even If General Botha gave in the War
Office is inclined to consider that this action
would only affect the force under his i'm
mediate individual command, and that the
same policy that is now being pursued
would have to be continued against the
other Boer forces operating in vicinities far
removed from the Boer commanGer-in-
chief.
A private message received at Port Eliza
beth, Cape Colony, says Scheiper's laager,
near Willowmore, has been captured by the
British. The main body of Beers was abb
sent, but forty burghers and the whole of
the supplies were taken.
Thornycroft's column. when last heard
from, was a few hours march behind De
Wet The other columns have seemingly
lost touch with him. Hertzog. the Boer
commander. is reported to have crossed the
Orange river and appears TO be still inside
the rectangle formed by the railroads and
river.
The War Office selected the double anni-
versary of the battle of Majuba hill and
General Cronje's surrender TO publish Gen.
Kelly Kenny's dispatch to Lord Roberts
dealing with the events Immediately pre-
ceding the surrender at Paardeburg The
dispatch contains no news. but IL threatens
to reopen the discussion regarding the re-
sponsibiity for the attack on the Boer
lines at Paardeburg, which proved so costly
TO the British. Only last evening, I'm the
House of Commons. Mr.. Brodrick. the war
secretary, said that General Kelly-Kenny
was in command. Presumably he was, al
though his dispatch concludes as follows:
Lord Kitchener, the chief of staff, was
present all the time In accordance with
the instructions conveyed TO me In your
note of Feb. IL. / recognized his suggestions
as conveying to me your lordships orders,
and acted thereon"