Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-17

Boer commander.
London, Feb. 16.-9.5l a. M-The wal
office announces that General French
reached Kimberley. Thursday even
ing Following is Lord Roberts mes
sage to the war office:
'Jacobsdal. Feb. 16.-2 A. M-Frcncl
with a force of artillery, cavalry and
mounted infantry reached Kimberley
this evening, Thursday"
Gen. Roberts also sent the following
dispatch:
"Jacobsdal, Feb. 16.-I have good rca-
son to believe the Magcrsfontcin
trenches have been abandoned and that
the Beers are cndcavoring to escape
Gen. French is securing the country
north of Kimberley. one Of Gen. kcl-
lykennys brigadcs of infantry is in
pursuit of a large Bocr convey towards
Bloemfontcin"
$40 p. M.-The following dispatch
from Gen. Roberts fills in the gaps in
the earlier dispatches:
"Muddcr River. Feb. 16.-The sixth
division left Waterfall drift early yes
terday morning. ana march here.
going on the same evening to Rondr-
val drift to hold the crossing of the
Modder river and leave Gen. French
free to act.
shortly after arriving here tn"
mounted infantry visited Jacohsdal
and found it fun If women and chill
dren, with four of our wounded men,
doing well.
ION the way back the mounted infan-
try was attacked and nine men wound
ed. Col Henry and Major Hatch"ll
and 10 men were missing. Both Off
GERS were subsequently found at
Jacobsdal slightly wounded.
THE cavalry division is moving in
Il northerly direction and has appar-
emily already reduced the pressure on
Kimberley. as Kckrwich signals the
enemy has abandoned AleXandersfon-
TEN and that he has occupied it.
French has advanced as far as
Abonsdam with slight loss and is push
ing on the posts. his rear being held by
mounted infantry
Gen. Roberts adds: "Clcmcnts, hay
ing been pressed by the Beers, has re
tired to Arundel to cover NaauW-
poOrt.'
The war office points out that the
word Here" in the above dispatch
means some point on the Modder river
other than the Modder river station.
1155 p M.-The war office has JUS
issued the following from Lord Rob
erts:
.Jacobsdal. Feb. 16-7.45 F. M.-Much
gratitied on arrival here to find admir-
able hospital arrangements made by
the German ambulance corps under
Doctors Faeltner and Hildebrand. who.
with their staffs, have shown the great
est kindness to our wounded. they
Dt
our wounded have been here since De
cember Some wore brought in, ycster-
day"
The following dispatch has been re
ceived from Cape Town: Gen. French
with cavalry relieved Kimberley, last
night"
The significance Of the Cape Town
dispatch announcing the relief Of Kim
berley lies in the word relieved, y
which seems to set all doubts at rest
Outside Jacobsdal. Orange Free
State, Thursday, Feb. 15.-The road be
tween Modder river and Jacobsdal is
now open. The distance is only nine
miles. The road is available for send
ing reinforcements and supplies. Who
the Beers evacuated JacobSdal they
We're obliged to pass over a ridge where
they afforded splendid mark for the
British guns, which shoWcred shrapncl
upon the rrtreating enemy
The convoy which was attacked at
Rict river had been countermanIcd
but the order did not arrive in time
and the experience was Il very warm
one. although the Beers did little ma
terial damage
As Gen. French. with the strength
tned division. pushed forward toward
Kimberley. he found the hrIragurcd
Beers deserving their position at Alex
andcrsfont.in Tins allowing a portion
of the Kimberley garrison to occupy
and cntrench the place.
Pretoria Thursday F"h l'.-Th"
Transvaal government has made publ
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