The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-02-23
CRONJE IN FULL RETREAT
French's Dash to Kimberley Was a
Big Surprise.

ChSi . Daeh 10 mDerIey Was q
Big Surprise.
London, Feb. 17.-General CroDie. with
start OF day or two, is seemingly in
full retreat from Lord Roberts. moving
Tnorthward. General French, with the
cavalry, simply stayed over night in
Kimberley and then pushed on to get in
touch with the retiring enemy. A long
BOer wagon train il moving toward
Bl0emfonteln, followed presumably by q
large force OF British infantry. Ia their
hasty departure the Beers lost quaDti
ties OF supplies and ammunition.
Military opinion here il that Lord
Roberts will not push far after the Beers
Immediately because Of transport prob
lens and the need Of rest Of the troons
he has to feed 10000 persons in his
army and the whole Kimberley pOpuIa-
ton. He must rebuild the railway from
Modder River town to Kimberley and
revictual the latter
General French lost q few men only in
action but the forced marches and the
heat have probably made manv III,
Numbers OF re-mOunts must be provided.
LORD Roberts has wrought a genuine
preliminary success and the impression
ls that he has done enough for the pres
ent and will need to prepare for another
strike
All over England tonight there has
been evidence OF public joy. In every
theater and public meeting around the
railway stations and in the streets there
have been expressions OF gladness and
Jubilati0n over the news. The news
papers are editorially rejoicing.
Beers Are Threatening.
Those who read the news closely see
only one disturbing factor in the Cane
situation and that is the pressure Of the
Beers toward Lord Roberts line Of sup
ply through DE Aar, which was never
more important than now. The Beers
under COmmandants Delarey and GObler
are making a persistent effort to pene
trate to the railway. They have pushed
General Clemens force back to Arundel
and have outfanked him. All are with
IN 90 miles or two days hard march of
the central railway. Doubtless Lord
Roberts has left a considerable force
along the line and can send back more
ii necessary.
In the lObbies OF the house last night
it was rumOred that General Butler had
again crossed the TugeIa. A special
dispatch dated two days back and lust
transmitted from Cheveley saws that an
important move was then proceeding
there, although contrary indications are
found in the fact that rs ambulance
bearers have been temporarily disband-
ed and the further fact that traction
engines are arriving at Durham from the
front to be sent to Lord Roberts.
-, ~.
Roberts from Cape Town.
Stopped for Dinner.
London, Feb. 17.-The Standard pub
fishes the following dispatch from We'd
rail-, dated Thursday at midnight: col
fetal news has been received here that
General French arrived at Kimberley to-
day and dined at the club this evening"
French's Dash to Kimberley.
Reit River, Orange Free State. We'd
nesday.-GeneraI French with cavalry
division and strong artillery detach-
ment lett Sunday morning for Rambam,
II miles east of Enslin, where the whole
division concentrated. The next day he
made rapid march to the Reit river,
where party Of Beers contested his
passage at Dekil and Waterfall drifts.
After some hours OF ehelling, French
drove the Beers away and crossed the
river.
Yesterday (Tuesday) the column con
tinued it's march to Kip and Romdaval
drifts on the Modder river, where again
short engagement ensued French she'll
ing the Beers vigorously and forcing
passage. The Beers precipitately re
tired, leaving five laagers in the hands
OF the British, besides a great quantity
OF cattle and 1000 sheep. The rapidity
OF French's march and the overwhelming
nature Of his force enabled him, in spite
Of the difficulty of water transportation,
to thoroughly outwit and surprise the
Beers. The British casualties were
slight.
Colonel Hannay, while on his way to
Rambam, encountered 500 Beers with
two guns holding a kopie commanding
the valley leading to the drift Fighting
lasted all day, the Beers disappearing
during the night. Thirteen men, includ-
ing one officer, were made prisoners.
They were captured treacherously during
the fight. They we're informed that an
agreement had been reached between the
British officer commanding the extreme
| LETT and the cOmmandant of the Beer
ambulance that half company OF the
| British should be permitted to fetch
water from a neighboring farm house.
The ambulance then retired and the
Beers rushed out of concealment and
cut off the water party.
General French now holds both the
Modder and Reit rivers between Magers-
fontein and the base at Bloemfontein.
| Throughout the march the Free State