The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-19
MARCH UPON BLoEMFoNTE1N.
London Estimates That 1t Will Con-
sumo About Six Days.


sumo About Six Days.
LONDON, Feb. 19-Spencer Wilkinson,
reviewing the military position In the
Morning Post. says:
Lord Methuen's army can now be used
to assist the operations of Lord Roberts.
Probably the march from Jacobsdal to
Bloemfontein will occupy SIX days. Tho
British right wing Is acting on the de-
fensive TN the country south OF the
Orange river and is now holding its own.
which is all 1t is required to do for the
moment. The army of Lord Roberts in
pushing through the Free State will prob
ably have the effect of disturbing thH
Esoer army in Natal, because if the enemy
remains there he will run the risk Of
being caught between the armies Of Lord
Roberts and Gen. Butler. .l-s >7.s>'i4', -
while the two British armies are sew
eral days. In marching. apart, 1t Is pos
sible for the Beers to throw the bulk of
their army on one, while acting on the
defensive with a smaller body against
the other. The Boer commanders -chief
must therefore desire to strengthen Gen.
Cronje to the point where he must hope
to check or to delay Gen. Roberts. How
far he can detach troops for this purpose
depends largely upon Gen. Buffers action.
dispatches from Ladysmith Indicate
a movement among the besiegers. Phiz
may mean that they are sending REIN
fcrcements to Cronje, or that they are
preparing new assault upon Ladysmith.
1t Is satisfactory therefore to hear that
Gen. Butler has occupied Hussar HILL"
The Daily News publishes the following
dispatch dated Sunday morning, Feb. Is,
from Modder river:
Our sudden appearance seems to have
astounded the enemy and thrown theiA
into a panic. All their positions were
hurrtedly evacuated and the big guns at
Magersfontein and Kimberley were left
behind. Gen. Cronje moved his trans
ports, consisting of many hundred of
wagons along bank of kopjes, north
of the Modder, toward Koffyfontein. II
got past our mounted infantry, but owing
to WEAKNESS had to stop. Thereon our
artillery opened up on it. The main body
Of the Beer force kept up running fight
the whole day. vainly trying to escape.
Each time their advance guard sought TO
move off, our mounted infantry galloped
round and checked them. We never tried
to stop their main movement. contenting
ourselves with trying to check them.
Their position at Koffyfontein is said TO
be very strong. They entertain q whole
some dread of 10000 cavalry moving more
quickly than they do themselves. We
hope to be in Bloemfontein shortly"
The Daily News has another dispatch
from the Modder River military camp,
dated Sunday morning. which says: At
GAVIN on Friday the Beers were observed
moving wagons along the kopjes toward
Koffyfontein. Our mounted infantry was
sent out from Kip Drift, but was driven
back and the enemy's wagons passed.
Gen. Knox's Twelfth brigade, however,
quickly attacked the enemy's main body
and severe fighting went on all day over
a line which was very extended. Tho
enemy, making g. desperate attempt,
finally escaped owing to the serpentine
bend Of the river The mounted infantry
suffered from the trying fanlSing move,
ment. Our force has now been REIN
forced"
Apparently Gen. Cronje Is retreatins
with the main army and even If he es,
capes altogether he will probably lose all
his baggage.
There are still some things doubtful
about the capture of the British convoy,
According to Daily Mail correspondent
with the convoy division. which consist,
ed Of 200 wagons. each loaded with 6OW
pounls of rations and of forage and each
drawn by sixteen oxen, 1t was quite uns
expectedly attacked by commando supt
posed to come from Colesberg. The ess
cort. consisting of eighty of the Gordon
Highlanders, forty men of the army
service corps and a few of Kitchenere
horse, maintained defense until tho
arrival of reinforcencnts, sustaining in
significant casualties.
The Standard 8 correspondent at Jacobs
dal telegraphing Thursday, Feb Is.
says: "An attack was made yesterday
upon the rear guard of our main body
by force Of 400 Beers who were hur-
ried up from Colesberg. They succeeded
in capturing some of our wagons. but
Lord Roberts did not delay his march
to retake these. There were few casual
ties on our side. The last of our supply
columns arrived from Honey Nest lIloof
today, having met with no opposition. on
the way
Specials from Ladysmith report on ap-
parent movement on the part of Beers
toward the Free State, presumably with
the object of assisting Gen. Cronjs. The
news that Gen. Butler is attempting an
other crossing Of the Tugela, east OF
Colenso, after the capture of Hlandwane
Hill, therefore gives great satisfaction
Buffers losses SO far have been about
twenty in wounded. HIS entire army,
with the exception of'Gen. Harris brigade.
Is engaged in the operation.
1t is announced that the channel squad
ron, instead of going to Gibraltar. has
been ordered to remain in British waters
until March i.
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