The sun., 1900-02-15
NENSCONESfRON NAFEAING
British There Say They Can
Hold the Besieged Town
Til June.
THE FOOD SUPPLY LASTING
London Waiting, With Feverish I'M
patience, for News Concerning
Marshal Roberts Progress
in the Move to
Kimberley.
THE FOOD SUPPLY LASTING

London, Feb. 14.-All London waits
with feverish anxiety for news from
Field Marshal Roberts. Nothing is
known here save the simple fuct that his
movement has begun. "On to Kimber-
ley!" is his cry.
A dispatch to The Pail Mall Gazette
from Mafeking, via Gaberones, says:
"The sniping OF the Beers has been less
troublesome lately, and the shell fire is
lighter. Our guns have caused serious
losses to the Beers.
1.-The food supply is lasting well, and
we can hold out till June. The garrison
is very confident. There>were fewer cas-
ualties in January than during any month
since the siege began"
An official dispatch from General Bull
Ter at Chieveley announces a rcconnois-
sance at Springfield, resulting in no gain
of ground on either side, but causing the
wounding of Captain Hamilton Russell
Lieutenant G. Churchill and ten men. In
addition, Lieutenant Pilkington and six
men were captured.
The dispatch contains detailed accounts
of what appear to be unimportant opera
tions They only tend to throw light ON
the situation by proving that the Beers
are actively following General Buffers
every move.
General Buffers dispatch from CEevc-
ley dated Feb. IL says:
"The commanding officer at Springfield
reports this morning that squadron Of
the First dragons moving to the outpost
line covering the right flank of the camp
met party of Beers near Fustenberg.
The Boers, reaching the crest of a hill
first, opened q heavy fire on the squad
ron, which retired. He sent out supports
and the Beers retired"
Reconneissaace by Bunaenaid.
Cenfinsing, the Chieveloy dispatch
says:
"Dupdonald, with 100 mounted men, a
field battery and the First Royal Welsh
fusileers, Feb, II reconaeitered the high
ground which the'enemy has been in the
habit of visiting. The enemy eyacnsted
it, with the loss Of two men, after slight
resistance. When the force retired on
the completion of the reconnaissance,
the enemy returned in considerable num-
ber and kept up heavy rifle fire, wouad-
ing slightly Lieutenant q. Churchill of
the South African Light horse. Five
men are missing"
A Pietermaritzburg dispatch dated
Feb. 13 says: major Brasier- Creagh
the surgeon in charge of the ambulance
train from Frere to Mooi river, brought
% wounded British soldiers here today
Six of this number were officers. He
also brought in three wounded Beers, all
Of whom had been shot in the thigh.
''On the way down the Beers talked
freely to the surgeon. They told him
the Beers were fighting for their indie
pcndence and hoped they would win.
They would make good try anyhow.
The wounded men stated that there
We're only few English, Irish or other
foreigners lighting with the Beers in Ma
tai. The Irish Transvaal brigade, they
said, was on the western border, proba-
bly, with General CrOnje at Modder river.
"The men said they had been in three
British hospitals and had been treated
with the greatest Kindness and considcra-
ton by the officers and men. They were
especially grateful to the British sur
geons. One of the Beers said he had of
fercd his guard $50 to allow him to es-
cape, but the guard refused.
The Bocr Mauser cartridge manufac-
tory at AIodderfontcin has been blown
up. Between 60 and 20 workmcn were
killed by the explosion"