Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-15
Clever Strategic Movement Of Lord
Roberts Toward Kimberley,
II WAS ALL KEPT SECRET.
supposed 20 Have rlisled Even the
hoers, ana Caught Them at
the Weakest Point.
lEarly Dispatched


New York, Feb. ia dispatch to the
Tribune from London says.
The silence at the front has been
broken and whatever occurs anywhere
else Is Of little account Generals Rob-
erts and Kitchener having concentrate
ed full army corps, with a cavalry
brigade and artillery, could be trusted
TO find better employment for It than
that Of lining the railway between
Orange and Modder rivers. They have
done so and their secret Is at last out.
Gen. French's cavalry brigade, which
has been maneuvering around Coles
berg, seized on Monday the crossing OF
Riet river at Dekils Drift and the sixth
and seventh divisions are now en-
camped on the east bank OF the river.
The sixth division Is Kelly Kenny's,
which has been reported to be cooper
ating with French and Gataere for the
clearance Of the country south OF the
Orange river. His division Is now off
cially reported on the Riet river with
the seventh division. fuckers, which
has been believed to be at Modder river.
These two divisions With French's cav
airy brigade and the new infantry bri-
gade made up from battalions lining
The railway from De Aar Junction. and
now cooperating with General Methu-
EMS army IN a great Ranking movement
on the Riet below Kimberley. II Is a
concentration OF British forces on a
large scale In an unexpected quarter,
and the whole movement mas been 50
cleveily concealed that no military
writer In London has been able 20 fore
cast the precise direction OF Lord Rob-
erts' advance,
What Is more important, the Dutch
themselves have apparently been mis-
led for they have weake ned their forces
In quarter where the attack VIII be
made and strengthened them where the
British VIII remain on the defensive.
This general ilanking movement has
been supported by a movement Ok
mounted Infantry from the Orange river
railway crossing to Ramah This was
a strong column, described as a mount
ed infantry brigade. and Col. Hannay,
who commanded IT, had an engagement
with the Beers on the hills and finally
pushed his force through to its desu-
nation Tuesday. with comparatively
slight losses. the casualty list amount
Ing TO SO. This entire movement, with
its concentration Of nearly all the Brit.
ish battalions outside Natal, and slen-
der columns left under Gatacre and
Clements, has been brought about by
scientific strategy under a rigorous op-
Grafton Of the censorship. the utility Of
which has been demonstrated at last.
An army corps and strong auxiliary
forces have been masse1 where the enc
my are the weakest, ana the previous
balance Of forces IN the military prob
lem has been suddenly upset This col
umn on the Riet has a promise OF po-
tency for the relief Of Kimberley and
subsequent advance upon Bloemfontein.
and Is so great q diversion Of military
resources that Ladysmith may yet be
rescued.
ST midnight a report from Lord Rob-
erts described a brilliant cavalry raid
By General French with three brigades
a. cavalry and a strong force OF horse
artillery, in which three Boer laagers
were captured and a supporting move
inert. conducted by General Gordon. by
which two laagers were taken. These
dashlng movements, which recall the
best work Of cavalry raids 10 the Amer
lean civil war, are proofs that the Brit.
ISL campaign has entered upon an en-
urely new phase, The relief OF Kimber-
ley win evidently be the first work of
Lord Roberts. and a march upon Bloem-
fOntein Is the sequel 20 II.