The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-13
ROBERTS WILL SOON FIGHT
EXPECTED TO TURN THE LEFT OF
 BOER POSITION.
Has Now mn Army of 35 1000 Men-Kim- berley in Such u Critical Condition trenchments at Magersfontein Very Strong-EngIandG Gets 100 Maxims.

London, Feb. 13-4:15 q. m.-Lord Roberts has gathered 3500O men, with whom, according to the best military opinion in London he purposes turning the left of the Magersfontein lines near Jacobsdal, entering the Free State, com polling General Cronje to raise the siege of Kimberley and thus making his first step toward Bloemfontein. Yesterday Lord Roberts announced the appoint ment of General Sir Henry COlville, hitherto commander of the guards brig ade, to the command of the Ninth, di- vision, which ie being formed and will consist probably to a great extent of colonial troops. General Colville will be succeeded by General Reginald Pole Carew.
 Kimberley, twenty miles away from the Modder river position, is in sore straits. Details of the December death rate show that in population of 14.000 whites and 19,0O0 blacks the mortality was sixty whites and 13S blacks per thousand. The infantile death rate was 671 per thousand among the whites and 912 per thousand among the blacks. lIIlC lSNSI WaS plCNolGills hlo u i5lAI- ful state of things in December cannot have improved much, If at all since, and the fighting power of the garrison must have been greatly diminished. Meanwhile the bombardment by the Boers has increased and there is immi- nent danger of the town falling under the very eyes of Lord Roberts. It is be- leved in circles close to the war office that he will move at once.
 Scouts have approached within thousand yards of the Boer entrench- ments at Magersfontein. They have found these strong and ascertained that they are used as dwelling places Ma val gunners are constantly watching the enemy's lines with strong glasses, and they declare that there is an ap- preciable diminution in the Boer forces
 In Natal the Boer commanders south of the Tugea occupy Bolds Farm, sev- era1 miles west of Chieveley. Two thou- sand Boers with three guns are advance ing through Zu1uland toward Natal.
 The war office is making preparations to continue the stream of troops for South Africa. Four large steamers have been chartered. Japan agrees to let the Armstrongs transfer to England four naval QUICK 1lrerS that were punt for her, consenting to wait for the exc cution of her own order until the hos tilities in South Africa are over. Sev- cral European powers, by similar con- sents as to guns being constructed by Vickers Sons and Maxim, enable Eng land to secure one hundred Maxims. Two thousand men are constantly em- | ployed at Woolwich arsenal and all the gun and ammunition factories are working night and day to execute gov- erllment orders The weekly output of four firms is 100000 rounds.
 Lord Roberts tells the correspondents that when he gets down to business they shall have ample opportunity to send news. His chief press censor yes terday issued new rules and in future all written communications are to go unchecked. Only the telegrams will be censored. For the next few days little news Is likely to get through, but later there will be more freedom Thus, says the censor, and the last clause may be interpreted to mean that something is about to happen.