Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-22
THE WAR IN AFRICA.
Lord Roberts, Combinations FOR
Movement of Corps Works.
GEN. BUTLER PUSHES FORWARD.
Details of Boer Retreat-BOers Near Kip
kraIPs Drift -Brabant's
Horse on the March-Sack s Contained
Gunpowder-CrOnje Escaped.

| GunpOWder-CrOnje Escaped.
Jacobsdal, Orange Free State, Feb.
19.-Lord Roberts combinations for
the movement of the corps dove
tailed with precision, although OBJ
! stacles that had not been foreseen had
to be overcome. The execution of his
| design began at three a. m. Sunday
week. Gen. French rode into Kimber-
ley Thursday afternoon, just when he
was due, according to the field mar
shals timetable, having, in Az days,
marched 90 miles with artillery and
having fought two small engage
ments. The relief of Kimberley was
accomplished with the loss of only so
men. Twenty thousand infantry
made splendid marches under a sub
tropical sun and through dust storm
to hold the positions which Gen.
French took.
| Lord Kitchener was with Gen.
fuckers division. In consequence of
his transport arrangements the four
divisions moving over the sandy veldt
are fed and watered. It is hardly
possible to appreciate adequately the
mathematical precision with which
every part of the transport depart
|
the day, toiling almost sleeplessly
throughout the night, victualling the
army and evolving every hour results
from seeming chaos. Everybody did
what was expected of him cheerfully,
though enduring frightful fatigue.
Few slept more than three hours. The
battalions, hour after hour, toiled
through the heavy sand uncomplain-
ingly, and when now and then man
fell out of the ranks exhausted he
would rejoin his company later after
he had rested. Some so or 60 were
overcome by the heat and had to be
sent to the rear in the backward de-
file of empty wagons.
The position of the Boer army at
Spytfontein being untenable, Gen.
Cronje ordered a retreat. At the mo-
ment this dispatch is written it is
uncertain whether his whole force
or only a portion has gone toward
Bloemfontein. 1t IS possible that
part is going north of Kimberley.
1t is supposed that a aston gun is
still in the neighborhood of Kimber-
| lev The road from Jacobsdal to Mod
der station is now open.
Further Details OF BOer Retreat.
Jacobsdal, Orange Free State, Feb.
19.-Further details of the Boer re-
treat show chat the enemy has been
fighting a good rear guard action and
occupying successive kOpjes in order
to allow the moving of the convoy,
which, however, has been going at
very slow pace, the animals appar-
entity being dead beat. The latest
reports show that the Beers in the
neighborhood of KipkralFs drift are
undoubtedly disheartened. Gen.
Frenchs magnificent march is still
the subject of admiration, especially
| in view of the dust storms and thun-
der storms that all experienced. The
work of Smelling the Beers proceeds
vigorously. Owing to the style of
the action, the Beers are bound to
show in the open whenever they are
/ obliged to leave the kopjes.
Co. Cro~je Escaped.
London, Feb. 1o.-It is now amply
confirmed that Gen. Cronje escaped.
Every detail received, however, proves
how admirably Lord Roberts plans
were conceived and were succeeding.
There is still something doubtful
about the capture of the British con-
voy. According 10 a Daily Mail cor
respondent with the convOy-which
consisted of 200 wagons, each loaded
with 5000 pounds of rations and of
forage and each drawn by Is oxen
it was quite unexpectedly attacked by
a commando supposed to come from
| Colesberg. The escort maintained a
defense until the arrival of reinforce
ments, sustaining insignificant cas-
ualties.
Gen. Butler Pushes Forward.
Chievely, Feb. 19.-Gen. Butler has
established his headquarters on Hus-
sar hill. Heavy artillery firing was
maintained at intervals by both sides
from Wednesday until Friday. The
British slowly pushed the advance
and their infantry occupied en-
trenched new positions in front of
Hussar hill with slight losses. 1t is
believed that the lyddite worked
havoc in the Boer trenches. The
Beers are supposed to have moved
their big guns back over the Tugela
Friday afternoon. The rifle fire has
been heavy at times.
Sacks Contained Gunpowder.
London, Feb. ia dispatch from
February 16. says: THE Boer agent
at Bremersdorp, Swaziland, has been
maintaining regular communication
with Delagoa bay, via Swaziland. Two
coolie carriers have been bearing
sacks, supposed to contain salt
through Tongaland. On examination
it was found that the sacks contained
gunpowder.'
Seven Brick Stores Destroyed.
Clarksdale, Miss. Feb. 19.-Fire
| ;oI, O