Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-02-21
KIMBERLEY IS RELIEVED.
ARE FIGHTING ON TUGELA.
Gen. Boiler Activc-LOrd Roberts Re-
pOrts-List of Casualties-Ofneer
PromOted-kruger Teiegraphs.

the usual statement that it had no news
but at about the same time came dis
patches from Durham dated late Saturday
evening, giving reports OF the renewed
fighting on the Tugela, where the censor
stopped all kilograms. Arrivals at Durham
from the Tugela say that important op-
erations are progressing and that fighting
has occurred daily since the commence.
ment of the week. In these engagements
the British casualties have been compar.
atively light. According to these uneon-
firmed reports, General Buner has re-occu.
pied Vaal Krantz and the Beers retreatel
in the direction of the Free State. In
the meantime wounded officers and men
are arriving daily at Durham and are
placed aboard the hospital ships there.
Dispatches from Zululand, received at
Durham, say the country is quieting down,
thanks to the appearance of flying col
umn. The Beers seem nervous and un-
certain and have stayed their advance.
The following dispatch has been received
at the war office from Lord Roberts:
'Jacobsdal, Feb. lS.-General Kelly
kenny's brigade captured rs wagons laden
with stores, two wagons of Mauser rifles,
eight boxes of shells, 10 barrels Of ex-
plosives and large quantity of stores,
all belonging to Cronje's lager, which wds
still being shelled by our artillery when
Kitchener dispatched his messenger"
With General Cronje in full retreat and
General kelly-Kenny harassing his rear,
hopes run high that decisive action will
occur ii it has not already been fought.
Lord Roberts reports the British casu,
aties during the fighting at Jacobsdal as
follows: One killed, IA wounded and
three missing.
The queen has promoted General French
to be major general. French hitherto has
only ranked as colonel in the army,
" th the local rank of lieutenant general.
Lieutenant Colonel Kekewich has been
promoted colonel for services in the de.
fense OF Kimberley.
A special dispatch from Sterkstrom says
that the Beers with artillery commenced
an artillery attack on Molteno, near that
place, occupied by the troops commanded
by General Gatacre.
Arundel, Feb. lS.-The retirement of
the British from Rensberg was most order
ly. The railway had withdrawn the stores
on the previous day and the baggage
wagons left before the evacuation took
place.
A part of the two companies of the
NI.Itah;ra ,.,htnh p,ts m 4
the members of which were presumably
asleep after being on outpost duty have
since arrived. The other members of the
companies have probably been taken pris-
Oners.
The western border has been cleared
by General Roberts first stroke, since the
relief of Kimberley carries Mafeking with
it and secures British control Of the West
Barkley district and Bechuanaland. Gen.
eral French, by leading the way to Aim
berley, has become the Sheridan of this
campaign, while "Bobs" halting in tri'
umph at Jacobsdal before turning east
ward, is in fair way to win kingdom
If he goes on without check or reverse to
Boemfontein and Pretoria Nor ought
Kitchener to be left out OF view. lie has
transformed an immobile British force,
which was tied up to railways, into an
army remarkable for mobility with a sys-
TEN of flying transport, and If all goes
well, he seems destined at the end Of the
campaign to succeed Lord Wolsley as
commander-in-chie and to reOrglnize the
military forces of the British empire.
Various suggestions are put forth as to
the movements of General Cronje, and
DIR. Leyds, who has been interviewed with
respect to the situation, has expressed the
opinion that the Boer commandant has
deliberately allowed General French to
enter Kimberley so as to cut him of from
communication with his commander-in.
chief.
London is fairly ringing with praises
of General French. Every mounted of
ficer will now want to serve under him.
1t is learned that the young duke OF
Westminster, who is step-son OF George
Wyndham, will join French's division
when he arrives at the Cape and not serve
on Sir Alfred Miners staff.
Kimberley had been invested 1913 days.
The garrison consisted Of $500 men.