The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-22
ROBERTS STILL ADVANCES,
Boers Are Checked Both at
Arundel and Dordrecht.
BRITISH PLANS ARE WELL LAID.
FREQ Staters Capture Large Convoy
on Riet Investigating Continues in
the Vicinity of Chievelery Camp
Many Rumors Sent Out

London, Feb. 20.-Further details OF
Gen. Lord Roberts well-planned and
well-executed operations amply prove
that he has really attained large
measure of success, but the points that
were doubtful Saturday remain almost
equally SO today. The general evil
dence, however, is taken to indicate
that Commandant Cronje has his main
force with him going east or northeast
This frees the greater portion of the
troops at Modder river and Kimberley
where couple OF brigades will suffice
OF course, the great thing is the in.
Fiction of crushing blow to Com
mandant Cronje. The dispatches
hitherto do not show that this has been
done, and the rarity of such blow on
retreaters, unless they are retreatins
after being dispersed in battle, Ia
pointed out here.
Both at Arundel and Dordrecht tho
Beers have been checked The British
at Arundel were REINFORCED Friday,
while Gen. Brabant, at Dordrecht, in
three days has driven the Beers back
north Of Dordrecht from the region be-
tween Penhoek and Dordrecht.
The Times correspondent at ModdeI
river says it is expected that the Boer
rearguard will fight all the way to
Bloemfontein. 1t says that telegram
from the Boer commandant was found
complaining that the Beers had been
completely caught The dispatch con-
cludes: 1.-The guns that were pushed
on Saturday out-range the Boer guns
covering the retreat. The well-known
mobility of the Beers has now van
ished."
A dispatch to the Daily News from
Modder river, dated Sunday, says that
the whole of the enemys force is In
flight Their big guns at Magersfon-
TEN and Kimberley were left behind.
Commandant CronJe moved HIS
transport, consisting of many hundreds
OF wagons, along the kopjes north Of
the Modder river toward koffyfontein,
position at which he is said to be
very strong. The transport moved out
at dawn Friday.
Mounted infantry which were dis
patched in pursuit from Kip drift were
repulsed, and the enemy's wagons
passed them. Gen. Knox's Twelfth
brigade attacked the main body. and
there was severe fighting the whole
day along very extended line. The
enemy made desperate effort, and
finally escaped. owing to serpentine
bend in the river.
Chieveley Camp, Feb. 20.-Since
Wednesday there has been severe fight
Ing In the high range Of hills, running
north and south. about ten miles north
east of Chieveley. The northernmost
NIL OF this range is known as Monte
ChriatQ, and the southernmost as Gin
g. Sc " Nm - lGss ostTvtrt.
right angles to Monte Christie is d low
green hill which apparently is un-
named. 1t was important that these
positions be taken before Hlangwane
hill was occupied.
On Wednesday the British took an
eminence called Hussar hill. One force
held the Weenen road, while another
made prolonged march through the
valley of the Blaawkrantz river. The
Beers opposed the irregular cavalry,
who came in contact with them at 8
o'clock in the morning. but they wero
repulsed. On Thursday the troops
rested, being very much fatigued by
their march over the rough country.
On Friday they occupied a position
about thousand yards in advance of
that previously held by them. The
next day, Saturday, the British right
swept the Beers from Cingolo hill, the
burgher's artillery Smelling the hill
side as their rfdemen retired. The
British held the position, bivouacking
there last night. Today they are cross
ing the mex between Cingolo and Monte
Christie hills.
Jacobsdal, Orange Free State, Feb.
1S.-The convoy which the Beers cap
tured on the Riet river on Jan. Is was
large one, but the British casualties,
In view Of the tremendous lombard
ment, were very slight.
At last reports the Beers were in the
neighborhood of Kip drift. They are
undoubtedly disheartened. Gen. KEEL
ly-Kenny has the naval guns with him
These have been splendidly handled.
Cape Town, Feb. 20.-Lord Roberts
has issued proclamation to the
burghers of the Orange Free State, say
Ing that he feels 1t his duty to make
known to all the burghers the cause of
the coming of the British, as well as
to do all in his power to terminate the
devastation caused by the war; and
that he issues the proclamation in or
der that, ii the burghers should con-
tinue fighting, they may not do so ig-
norantly, but with a full knowledge of
their responsibility for the lives lost
in the campaign.
i @
Another Contingent to fail.
Halifax, N. s., Feb. 20.-Three him.
dred and sixteen artillery and cavalry
with 300 horses, from Ontario points
have arrived by military trains to en-
bark with 300 men and horses pre-
viously here on the transport Milwau-
kee for Eonth Africa She NIL, - .,