The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-02-21
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

has relieved Kimberly.
LONDON, Feb. 16.--London was cleo
tri6ed to-day by the posting of the fol-
lowing notice at the war office:
"From Roberts to Secretary of War,
dated at Jacobsdal, February 16, A.
M: French with horse artillery, cav
airy and mounted infantry reached
Kimberly this evening (Thursday.)"
From the fact that there is no men
ton of battle, and that Roberts him
self wires from Jacobsdal, which was
previously the Boer base of supplies for
Magersfontein, it is supposed the Beers
retired into the Free State without of
fering battle.
The news comes like ray of sun
shine from a dark cloud. Public re-
joicing is widespread and unrestrained.
Roberts is praised to the skies. The
relief of the besieged city is due, in the
public minds, to his brilliant strategy.
Kitchener and French are not forgot
ten, the former for organizing, the
latter for executing, bold dash.
French led movement, beginning on
Monday.
CAPE Town, Feb. 16.-The news
that French has relieved Kimberly is
received with rejoicing and regarded as
the turning of the tide. The report
that Cronje did not contest French's
advance is a great surprise. A de-
spatch from Modder river yesterday
said the Beers bad been moving from
Magersfontein, but their object is not
known. 1t looks as though the Beers,
learning Roberts turning movement,
abandoned both Magersfontein and
Kimberly in order to take a position
better suited to attack the main line of
the British advance into the Free State.
The Importance of the relief of Kim
berly as a part of the British general
plan, cannot be estimated until Cronie's
new position is known.
LONDON, Feb. 16.--Great excitement
in stock exchange is the result OF
French's relieving Kimberly. All Sc
curities doomed. Debeers shares rose
three points.
LONDON, Feb. 16. - The evening
papers were singularly moderate in
in their account of the relief of Kim
berly. Westminster Gazette says eve
have relieved one of our major anx-
ieties. 1t is to be hoped Cronje can be
isolated by Roberts force" st. James
Gazette: cit is we'll to remember that
the Beers seizure of Kimberly was an
erratic operation; that the failure to
hold it does not injure their real pow
er." Pail Mall Gazette thinks the re-
lief of Mafeking is now probable in the
near future.
LONDON, Feb. l6,-A study of the
wording of Gen. Roberts despatch
leads to the belief that the actual relief
of Kimberly is still matter of time.
Kimberly can scarcely be relieved IN
til it is feasible to take provisions there.
The rapidity of French's march indi-
Gates that he was unable to leave an
open line of communication.
Had Roberts inflicted a decisive de.
feat the Beers, it is believed, would
have mentioned lit. Roberts brilliant
tactical success resembles the first re-
lief of Lucknow when dispersal Of
the enemy's forces was by no means
Immediately effected.
LONDON, Feb. 17.-General Cronje,
with start of day or two, is appar-
emily in full retreat from Lord Roberts,
moving northward. General French,
with the cavalry, simply stayed over
to get in touch with the retiring enemy.
A long Boer wagon train is moving
toward Bloemfontein, followed pre-
sumably, by large force of British in-
fantry. In their hasty departure the
Beers lost quantities of supplies and
ammunition.
LONDON, Feb. 17.-Gen. Roberts
cables the war Office from Jacobsdaal
under today's date, as follows:
"Kelly- Kenny yesterday captured rs
wagons of stores, 2 wagons of Mausers,
s boxes of shells, 10 barrels of explos-
ives, besides large quantities of general
supplies belonging to Cronje's lager
which was being shelled when Kitch-
ener despatched the messenger.
This is the first intimation of Kitch-
ener's whereabouts. From the above
it appears that the Sidar himself, is af-
ter ,Cronje and will probably be the
general to lead the British against him
in battle. This also confirms the re-