The National tribune., 1900-02-22
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
Roberts Brilliant Movement Relieving
Kimberley-Progress Of the War Else
where

| where.
The main features of the struggle be-
tween Britons and Beers during the past 10
days We're the relief of Kimberley and a
counter-advance by the Beers to the south
of Modder River Station. Meantime in
England increased energy was manifested
III preparing more men for South Africa,
| and for getting the navy in shape to resist
I any possible hostile movement by Euro
pean powers. the apprehension being re-
vived that there was danger from that
source. 1t was proposed to call for force
of volunteers for home protection, it being
hoped to bring the number up to more than
100000.
IN PARLIAMENT. -
In Parliament the questions of military
resources and proposals for defense and the
carrying on of the South African war were
much discussed. The Earl of Dunraven
raised a question on the Government IS
military, proposals and expressed doubt
as To whether these Were sufficient, where
upon Lord Rosebery said he fully recog-
.niZed the gravity of the situation and
agreed with the previous speaker in think
ling that the measures adopted were in
adequate in the circumstances. He also
doubted whether the paper force of 100 900
|
tary of State for War had referred, would
stand analysis. For the volunteers Lord
Rosebery said he had the highest respect.
but by no stretch of the imagination could
they be called soldiers, as ii was admitted
that they needed months of training an
nually to render them efficient. If an
other $4,000 men should be asked for
in South Africa he did not know where
they could be gotten. The crisis is urgent
The danger is upon you, and at such a
time you come to this House with proposals
that in the month of May when the weather
permits. you will put volunteers under can
vas. and that then this island and empire
will be safe.
The crisis in South Africa is urgent"
continued Lord Rosebery. but we must
not keep our eyes upon South Africa alone.
Last December the Government made urg
ent overtures to two great powers, Ger
many and the United States, for an alli-
ance. but those overtureS were not received
with such cordiality as to encourage the
Government TO pursue them. 1t does not
appear that the friendship of France would
bear any great strain, and as to Russia.
events have been recently witnessed in
Persia about which England formerly
would have had something to say. but
which now she passes unnoticed. 1t be-
comes the Government TO take a large
grasp of the situation and TO make .ade-
quate proposals"
It was argued by Hon. George Wynd-
ham. Parliamentary Secretary of the War
Office. in the House of Commons, that at
present there were 100. 900 regulars in
the country, and the increase was antici-
pated 70 be 1000. There were now 32S. 600
men in the auxiliary forces. and it was
estimated the increase would be $4,000
men. SO altogether. the country would
soon have at least 81 900 men, and Mr.
Wyndham anticipated that the number
would he nearer 900. 900 than half a million
d u,rf.aG
resulted in the assurance that AZ additional
battleshipS. cruisers and torpedo-boat de-
stroyers could forthwith hoist the pennant
The Admiralty ordered the ships in the
fleet reserve at Portsmouth to be fully
manned and ready for sea. This was re-
garded in some quarters as preliminary 10
putting the whole reserve in readiness for
commissioning.
AROUND LADYSMITH.
The movements reported from the Lady
smith region We're of minor importance,
until the end of last week. Butler. who re-
turned to Chieveley. reported a revised list
of British casualties at Potgieters Drift,
from Feb. ) to Feb. Z as: killed, %; wound
ed, 319; missing. ).
The StdHdGrd'S correspondent with Gen.
Buffers army sent this important informa-
ton: "The force Bulier'sl numbers very
nearly 10000 men. with AZ guns, distri- |
buted among five batteries of royal field
artillery. one mountain battery one how
itzer battery and naval battery of 10
guns under command of Capt. Jones.
The exact proportion of Buffers army has
often been questioned.
AS we go to press news comes that Bull |
Ter has turned the Bocr flank east Of Colen-
so, who occupied strong position.
RoBERTS'S ADVANCE.
1t was well known that Lord Roberts. or |
"Bobs." as he is familiarly nicknamed by |
Tommy Atkins" was preparing for a !
forward movement. as has been suggested |
i'll these columns. and it soon became !
generally understood that he purposed |
turning the left of the Magersfontein lines
near Jacobsdal. entering the Free State. |
Gen. Cronje 10 raise the siege of
and thus making his first step
toward Bioemfontein.
Meanwhile Kimberley. 20 miles away
from the Modder River position, was in sore
straits.
On Sunday. Feb. II, Col. Hannay set out
with a brigade of mounted infantry for
Rambam. on the Riet. one of the Boer sup
ply bases eight miles from JacobSdal,
which is due east from Modder Station.
1t was soon reported that Hannay. on
his way to Rambam. encountered 500 Beers
holding a kople commanding a valley
leading to the drift. The fighting lasted
all day, and the Beers disappeared during
the night. Hannay lost Il as prisoners,
caused by the Beers on one end of the line
truce that allowed two opposing
parties TO get water from Il farmhouse
nearby.
Gen. Roberts reported on Feb II that the
British cavalry division under Gen. French.
Feb. II. seized the crossing of the
Riet River at Dekil's Drift, running south
and at an acute angle TO the Modder River
and joining it south of Kimberley. on the
east bank OF which the Sixth and Seventh
Divisions camped that night. The casu-
llties We're two troopers killed and Capt. I
Ma jendie. of the Rifle Brigade.
Gen. French left Dekil's Drift Tuesday
morning with three brgades of cavalry,
horse artillery, and mounted infantry, in
Guiding several colonial contingents. in
order 10 seize a crossing of the Modder,
lstant about p miles. He reported by
dispatch that he forced passage at Clip
Drift and occupied the hills north of the
liver, capturing three of tie enemy's
aagers with their supplies. while Gen.
Gordon. of the 18th Hussars. with his bri
Sade. who had made a fent at Rondeyal
Drift, four miles west, seized it. and second
irift between that and Clip Drift. together
with two more laagers. Owing to the
rapidity of his movements. Gen. French
met with but slight opposition, and his
losses were small.
Gen. French was now fixed on. Gen.
Cronje's main line of communications with
and 10000 infantry, with -
guns, were being pushed up To support him
tha-s, Tins tLa british army was inSid.