New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
LIVELY DAYS on THE MoDDER.
TREMENDOUS ACTIVITY MARKS THE oPER
ATOMS OF LORD ROBERTS.

ATOMS OF LORD ROBERTS.
London. Feb 17-With General Cronje in full
retreat and General Kelly Kenny harassing his
rear. hopes run high that decisive action will
occur If 1t has not already been fought. The
dispatches from Jacobsda confirm this belief,
saying General Cronje has been obliged to out
span'' in other words form a lager camp,
In order to rest his oxen. This explains Gen
eral Kelly-Kenny's latest dispatch referring to
Smelling the lager which also brought long ex-
pected word OF General Kitchener's whereabouts
That the General who relentlessy pursued
the Khalifa to his doom is supervising the pur-
suit of General Cronje adds greatly to the conf
dence of the nation. so eagerly awaiting
further news. If General Tucker. with the Sew
enth Division. is able to effect the projected
junction with the forces OF General Kelly Kenny,
while the Ninth Division, under General Colvile,
is rapidly coming up from the rear. the hero Of
Khartoum should have sufficient force to en-
gage decisively General Cronje and prevent him
from reaching Bloemfontein with effective
force.
over the whole Modder River district there is
such tremendous military activity that 1t is
hard to realize the covered grasp the
full meaning of the movements.
The Beers, though retreatins from Magersfon-
tein, are active elsewhere. A special dispatch
from Orange River. dated February 16, says
they are attempting to cut the British line OF
communications at Gras Pan, but it is said they
are not likely to effect a serious result They
are undoubtedly making a strenuous effort to
cut the British lines to De Aar
On the other hand, comes the news that Gen
eral Macdonald has again occupied Koodeos-
berg. What precautions Lord Roberts has
adopted against counter attacks not yet
known. but the War Office and the public
thoroughly convinced that he is fully able to
cope with all contingencies, and that If ii is
within human possibility he will inflict the de-
feat on General Cronje that is much more
important than the relief of Kimberley, brilliant
the latter achievement
While General Kelly-Kenny's, rather Cen
eral Kitcheners. dispatch referred to the Boer
rearguard being General CrOnje's IL is still
doubtful If that General is personally with II,
and 1t is possible he may be employing more
than one line of retreat.
The reported capture of large British con-
Voy by the Beers is still not mentioned officially.
Dispatches from Cape Town announce that
enthusiastic demonstra tons followed the
nouncement of the relief of Kimberley The
Government House surrounded by huge
crowds, and the British High Commissioner and
Governor of Cape Colony, Sir Alfred Miner,
cheered The house which Lord Roberts occu-
pied on his arrival at Cape Town deco
rated. there were parades through the city cheer
ing for "Bobs' flag flying and hostile demon
STATIONS outside the newspaper offices SYM
pathetic to the Beers and before the residences
of Ministers supposed to be in sympathy with
the burghers.
The relief of Kimberley was similarly cele-
brated in other towns Of Cape Colony.
The War Office is highly pleased at the receipt
Of cabled congratulations on the relief OF Kim
berley from the Mayor of Toronto Canada in
behalf of the corporation and citizens of that
city.