Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-02-15

London, Feb. 13.--Lord Roberts has
gathered $4,000 men. with whom, ac-
cording to the best military opinion
in London, ne purposes turning to the
left of the Magersfontein lines near
Jacobsdal entering the Free State and
compelling Gen. Cronje to raise the
siege at Kimberley, thus making his
first step toward Bloemfonten Yes
terday Lord Roberts announced
the appointment of Gen. Sir Henry
Colyille, hitherto commander of the
guards brigade, 20 the command of the
ninth division, which is being formed
and which will consist probably to a
great extent of colonial troops. Gen.
Colville will be succeeded by Gen.
Reginald Pole-Carew. Lord Roberts
tells the correspondents that when he
gets down to business they shall have
ample opportunities to send news
The chief press censor issued the new
rules, and in the future all written
communications are to go unchecked
Only kilograms 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. Kimberley, 90 miles away
from the Modder river position, is in
sore straits. Details of the December
death rate show that in a population
of $4,000 whites and 10000 blacks the
mortality was 80 whites and 1873 blacks
per 1000, the infantle death rate be-
ing GIL per 900 among the whites and
9l2 per 1000 among the blacks. En-
teric fever was prevalent. This fright
full state of things in December can
not have improved much. if at all
since, and the fighting power of the
garrison must have been greatly di-
minished Meanwhile the bombardment
by the beers has increased and there is
imminent danger of the town falling
under the very eyes of Lord Roberts
1t is believed in circles close to the Of
five that he will move at once Scouts
have approached to within 1000 yards
of the boer entertainments at Mayer
fontein They have found these r,ng
and ascertained that they are used as
dwelling places. Naval gunnerS are
constantly watching the enemy lines
with strong glasses they declare
there is an appreciable diminution in
the boer forces In Natal the boer
commanders south of the Tugela oc-
cupy Bold's farm several miles west
of Chievely Two thousand beers,
with three guns, are advancing through
Zululand toward Natal.
The war Office is making prepare
tions to continue a stream OF troops for
south Africa. Four large steamers
have been chartered. Two thous nd
men are constantly employed at the
Woolwich arsenal and all the gun and
ammunition factories are working
night and day to execute government
orders rhe weekly output OF -four
firms is 1000 600 rounds Outside Of
the requirements for south Afr ca,
Great Britain is accommodating inn
mense stores of war material c n
siderable divergence of opinion exists
as to the adequacy Of the governments
proposals. even now Military experts
and newspapers, while acknowledging
the difficulties to be met. complain that
nothing is said about measures nee s.
sary for immediate emergencies in
south Africa and declare that the gov
ernments scheme is mainly directed
to a large increase Of volunteers, un-
trained, unorganized men, while Meth
ing is being done to prepare la &c,
well organized force, ready TO take the
field.
To Bar Zululand Approved
London, Feb 13-rhe pieteTmarIiz-
burg correspondent OF the Daily Mail
says "A dispatch from Eshowe as
serts that a large commando Of boers
is encamped near Ngutu with 50 wa
CONS and nine guns. II is rumored that
this force intends to besiege Eshowe,
the intention PROBABLY being to f3rtify
the Insult hills in order to prevent the
British traversing Zuluhnd to relive
Ladysmith
Terrible Army in Sight
London. Feb. 15,--The house Of com