The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-15

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LONDON, Feb. 15.-The British army
for the first time since the war began Is
inside the Boer frontier Lord Roberts,
with at least 4O,eee infantry, 1000 cavalry
and $50 guns, has turned the Magersfon-
TEN lines, before which the British forces
have been encamped for ten weeks, and
with half of his corps he is already
operating on Free State territory.
A battle has not yet been fought, but
large tactical advantages have been
gained. The relief of Kimberley is with
in measurable reach, and the way to
Bloemfontein is appreciably easier.
The dispatches Of Lord Roberts sketch
three days work. The forward move
ment began on Sunday when Col. Han
nay set out with brigade of mounted
infantry for Ranah, on the Riet, eight
miles from Jacobsdal, one of the Boer
supply bases. On Monday, Gen. French,
with the cavalry division, seized the
crossing of the Riet river, at Devil s
drift, south Of Jacobsdal and eighteen
miles east of Honey Nest Kloof. He
the way for 10000 infantry, who followed
across On Tuesday, with his three cav
airy brigades and the horse artillery.
Gen. French rode to the Modder river, a
distance of twenty-five miles, and took
three forts with high ground beyond the
river and five Boer camps. He had
few casualties in brushes with the Boer
horse.
Gen. French has now fixed himself on
Gen. Cronge's main line of communication
with Bloemfontein, and 10000 infantry,
with seventy-two guns are being pusiieo
up to support him there
BOERs MELT AWAY.
Lord Roberts. dispatches, wired from
inside the Free State, and on the Riet
river. left him Wednesday morning.
His advance had not been opposed by
the Beers in force. Their patrols melted
away as the British moved forward
The Roer army is likely to be felt IN
day or two, and battle Is consequently
imminent.
AS to what forces Gen. -CronJe has new
at his disposal and as to where ne pur-
noses making a stand against the III
vaders, no one here connected with tue
war Office knows anything. The data ZOE
conceptions are wholly wanting.
The forces Immediately at the disposal
of Lord Roberts are placed at So,0Oc, In d
general way. These figures are reVeadeo
nv the commands mentioned in the as
matches as having been added to the oi-
visions known to be with Lord Methuen'
C,,ite probably Lord Roberts mas Io'oVo
or Il, 900 more.
KITCHENER HEARD FROM.
II &c now realized that incidents at
Rensbers have been out OF all propor-
tion Merely skeleton lines were main
tanned there, while troops were oelhg Sc
cretly and rapidly concentrated oi ING
Modder river. The facility with Wh1ch
% ooO men have already been sent pc
yond the rail terminus shows that Loro
Kitcbener has been fully successIul III
organizing transport. He Is now sup
nosed to be down the line, senolhs loi-
ward more troops and getting toeelies !
moro transports Four miles of OK ana
r,,,le wagon trains are estimated for each
di,ricion so that Lord Kitchener, who Is
ranufed to Aiave more skill than circus
manager In handling field transport mas
immense labors in hand.
The London morning papers take rdtlier
sober views of the situation, put al g
greatly pleased and hopeful OF What IS
10 come. They have been fed, however
such a low diet Of British successes
that they are disposed to caution ana
given to measuring Developments WIN
considerable reserve. They fully reaiize
that serious fighting is yet to come.
Lord Roberts announcements make the
r. ", nfh
field shrink.
MASTER STROKE.
Tbe Times, in an editorial commenting
unon Lord Roberts "dexterous and ofA-
liant movement" says:
."The Beers have shown themselves TOO
wary and too skillful for us TO assume
that the success of these operations niuse
disconcert their scheme of defense or
comnel them to raise the siege of KIM
harlav without further struggle; but, SO
far as it is possible to judge, In the ao-
.sence of limited information and good
maps. the operations should be Followed
hv strategic movements Of the highest
order The presence Of large body Of
british troops in the Free State border
and within easy striking distance OF the
capital must give taste OF war TO the
Beers. Lord Roberts movements show
that he is following with all his old-time
skill a plan of operations cleverly mapped
out. News of his next move is awaited
with profound interest, but with great
hope"
LORD ROBERTS DISPATCH.
The following dispatch has been receiv-
ed at the war office from Gen. Roberts:
"REIT RIVER, Tuesday, Feb. 13-Col.
Hannay, in command Of a brigade of
mounted infantry, marching from Orange
river to Ramah, had a slight engagement
Feb. IL Sunday with the Beers holding