The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-13
BOmbardment Of
Beers Increased

bObTS AUcEehSeo.
LONDON. FEB. 14--4:15 a. m.--LOrd
Roberts has gathered $4,000 men with
whom, according TO the best military
opinion in London. he purposes turning
the left OF the Magersfontein lines near
Jaobsdal, entering the Free state, COM
pelling General Cronje to raise the seige|
Df Kimberley and thus making this first
step toward Bloemfontein.
Yesterday Lord Roberts announced
the apolntmet of General Sir Henry
Colvile hitherto commander OF the
guards brigade. to the command of the
ninth division, which is being formed
and viii consist probably to a great ex-
tent. Of colonial troops General Col
vile will be succeeded by General Regi-
maid Pole Carew.
Lord Roberts tells the correspondents
that when they get down to business
,hey shal have plenty OF opportunities
20 send news. His chief press censor
has isued new rules, and in future all
written communications are TO go un-
checked. Only kilograms will be cen
sored. For the next few days. little
news is likely TO get through. but later
there viii be more freedom. Thus says
the censor, an dthe last clause may be
interpreted to mean that something is
about TO happen.
Kimberley, twenty miles away from
the Modder river position. is in sore
straits. Details Of the December death
rate show hat In a population OF 1900
whites 10000 blacks, the mortality was
so whites and l3S blacks per thousand.
The infantile death rates was 671 per
thousand among the whites and 912
per thousand among the blacks, Entric
fever was prevalent.
This frightful state Of things in De-
cember cannot have improved much IL
ait all since. and the fighting power Of
the garrison must have ben greatly
diminished.
Meanwhile the bombardment by the
Beers has Increased, and there is inn
minent danger OF tine town falling un-
der the very eyes of Lord Roberts. II
Is believed in circles close 70 the war
office that ne Will move at once.
Scouts have approached with a thou
sand yards of the Boer entrenchment
at Magersfontein. They have found
these strong and ascertained that they
are used as dwelling places. Naval
gunners are constantly watching vhe
enemys lines with strong glasses, and
they declare ha here is an appreci-
able diminuition in the Boer forces.
In Natal the Boer commanders south
OF the Tugela occupy Bolds farm ant
several mines west OF Cheieveley. two
thousand Beers, with three guns, are
advancing through Zululand toward
NaAal
LONDON, FEB. 13.-Spencer Wnkin.
son, discussing the military situation
in the morning Post today, refers to Z
Capetown letter dated January @
which asserts that Lord Roberts vii
allow no movement until the transpor
organization Is complete, and says:
1T rs probable therefore, that tn
transport is now ready and that the ar
rival of lord Roberts at Modder Rive
is the signal for action. II Is possibl
wishes TO ascertain from Lord Meth
uen. how ma ers and in his par O
the theatre OF war, and this would ac
count for a pause Of a few da-N'
Mr Wilkinson then discusses tn
question tents basing his obesrvaiio
upon a letter from Wintson Churchill
in the course Of which the written ex
plains that the immobllhy Of the Brit
ish army IN Natal Is due TO the FAC
that IL drags after II huge traiI
mainly OF tents.
FThis question says Mr.. Wilkinson
is mainly one OF climate and IN
choice lays perhaps between hrOw move
ments and enteric fever, but a protes
against TOO much comfort, coming frol
an experienced campaigner like Wins
ton Churchill, deserves consideration
LONDON. FEB. l3--rhe Pete marit
burg correspondent Of the Daily Mail "a
egraphing yesterday, says;
A dispatch from EShowe asserts tha,
large command Of Beers is encAmpcl re
Ngutu, with eighty wagons ant nine gtu
I, Is rumored that this for e intends
beseige EshOwe. the intention being pro
ably 20 fortlfy the Insuzi hills In order
prevent the British traversing the Zul
land 20 relieve Ladysmith.