Gilpin observer., 1900-06-07


the 9Th of February it again had a
foothold on the bank Of the Tugela
nearest to Ladysmith.
Relief, however. was not to be
gained for the starved and fever
stricken defenders of Ladysmith by
the direct efforts of the Butler army.
but rather as the result of far OH
movements directed by Roberts and
Kitchener, which had for their direct
object the relief of Kimberley. On the
10th of February Lord Roberts arrived
at the Modder river and within two
days the river had been crossed at
several points by Generals French and
Gordon. Then came General French
spectacular ride to Kimberley, the
news of which marked Britain's re-
J turn OF happiness. Cecil Rhodes was
among those rescued from the place.
The Beers were forced to fall back
from Magersfontein without battle,
their position having become unten-
able.
Capture of Cropje.
he British advantage was. rapidly
pushed Swift cavalry corps pursued
the Beers under Cronje. Finally they
cornered them at Paardeburg. for
seven days the British poured shot ana
shell into the ravine that hid their
enemy. Then the enemy surrendered.
Cronje was sent to st. Helena. -FOUR
thousand of his men were made prls-
oners.
This left the way open to 'Bloem-
fontein, capital of the Orange Free
State, which the British after two
weeks more of skirmishing entered and
where Lord Roberts made his head
quarters till he was ready to move
once more.
| The rescue of Lady smith had been
made certain then, could the garrison
but hold out few days more. On the
| 10Th the Beers evacuated Colenso. On
| the 23d there was severe fighting be-
tween them and Buffers army while
! the latter were pursuing them toward
| Ladysmith. The last day OF the
month lord Dundonald was able to
get supplies to General White and the
next day General Butler marched in
with his army and ended the four
! months siege.
Death of Joubert.
The month of March was quiet one
when compared with those that had
preceded it. General Gatacre was able
to advance through the cities that had
so long marked the limit of his way
General Buffers army reconnoitered in
Natal and found it clear of enemies
On the 9th General Joubert. the COM
t6n mi n
died, and Louis Botha succeeded him
The inaction of Lord Roberts for sew
eral weeks excited comment in Britain.
although it was admitted that what
he had accomplished showed he knew
his business better than any of the
other officers at the front. There was
some alarm occasioned when in the
early days of April three or four Brit
ish columns were defeated within easy
reach of Bloemfontein, and over u
thousand prisoners were taken.
Relief of Mafeking.
General Roberts predicted about this
time that he could relieve Mafeking. the
last beleaguered British garrison.
about May IS, and 1t was known that
he had fitted out an expedition for the
purpose. The greatest mystery at
tended the movement, however, and
not until after it was successful. the
day before the one he named. was 1t
known who led the relief column. Lon
don had one OF its widest days OF joy
when the relief OF the town was
known, and Baden-Powell, its defend
er, was made ma1or-general for his
work.
Before this time Lord Roberts had
already started his forward march
with a battle line three hundred miles
} long Its progress was steady and al
most uninterrupted. taking Johannes
burg, and then on toward Pretoria.
, Girl NAV he the pictilre of health