The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-20


Roberts has done the best that was possi-
bic. but the essential thing still is to de-
stroy the Boer army"
The situation as disclosed by correspond
ents over the Free State border is tantaliz-
ing to the public expectation. The elemen-
tary facts are that the Beers are trekking
eastward toward Bloemfontein, with slow
moving baggage trains. and that they are
pursued by Lord Kitchener. with General
Kelly-Kenny's division.
General Macdonald, with the Highland
ers, made a forced march 10 Koodooes
Rand ford. and on Sunday pushed twenty
miles eastward.
General French left Kimberley Saturday,
going east along the Modder river. Lord
Kitchener is trying to out march and out
flank the Beers. thus checking their re-
treat. IL possible and driving them back
into the hands of Macdonald and french.
The War Office message. communicated to
Mr.. Lucy, seems TO indicate that Lord
Kitchener has either got ahead of the
Beers or is about TO realize his plan, and
the War Office waits to announce a decisive
result.
Meanwhile Commandant Delarey, with
Beers from Colesberg. is hanging onto the
right flank of the British pursuing columns.
seeking to delay their movement and so to
assist the Boer wagon trains to escape.
Students Of topography think the Beers
will hardly risk fight until they get into
the rough country, north of Bloemfontein
A Daily Mail correspondent, who was
with the British convoy attacked by the
Beers at Riet River ford. wires: ultimate
ly the British abandoned the convoy, in or
der not to check the advance. Thus 2oc
wagons and 600 tons of stores fall into the
hands Of the Beers. though it is doubtful if
they Will be able to carry them away"
The Queen has sent direct message to
Lord Roberts congratulating him and his
troops. General French and Colonel Keke-
wich have been made acquainted with their
promotions
Lord Roberts's generalship was conduct
ed with such secrecy, says telegram from
Modder river. that even the senior officers
who took the Sixth Division through the
preliminaries of the operation did not know
what they would finally have to do.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News. telegraphing Sunday. says:
Lord Methuen's force. learn. has arrived
at Kimberley having got through from
Magersfontein without fighting"
The Standards correspondent at Modder
river. under date Of Sunday, Feb IS. wires
as follows: ''The magnificent success of
the plan of campaign of Lord Roberts
must be ascribed in great part, after full
credit has been given for careful and bril-
liant strategy, to the extreme mobility of
the newly organized forces employed; but
this mobility has to be paid for. 1t in
wolves a great expenditure in horses Those
of the Beers, for instance. are nearly fin
ished- If we to retain our advantage
there must be an unstinted drawing upon
every possible source of supply throughout
the empire. Otherwise We shall soon be
without enough horses of suitable kind to
furnish the necessary remounts. The in
fantry under Lord Roberts have done some
marvellous marching. mostly at night. Their
pluck and endurance have gone very far
toward insuring the safety and success of
the cavalry operations.
General Butler has achieved a real suc-
cess seemingly in capturing the range of
hills south of the Tugela. It makes more
feasible another attempt to relieve Lady
smith,
DIR. Leyds, at Brussels. says the Free
State troops who were besieging Ladysmith
have withdrawn In order to defend their
homes. In this way he accounts for Gen.
Buffers success against the weakened
forces. He will forego his projected trip to
Rome. he says. because of decisive events
now taking place in the theater of war"
An order issued last night invites the
reservists to join the colors for a year for
home defense, and offers s22 bounty to
those who do so.