Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-22
BOER lines TURNED.
A British Army Inside Boer From
tier on Free State Territory.
] BATTLE EXPECTED ANY TINE.



Up 10 Last Night
London. Feb. lj.-The British army
for the first time since the war began
Is inside the Boer frontier. Lord Rob
erts, with at least 10000 infantry,
1000 cavalry and $50 guns, has turned
the Magersfontein lines before which
the British forces have been encamped
for ten weeks, and with half of his
corps he is already operating on Free
State territory. A battle has not yet
been fought, but large tactical advan-
tages have been gained. The relief OF
Kimberley is within measurable reach
and the way TO Bloemfontein is appre-
ciably easier.
The dispatches Of Lord Roberts
sketch three days work. The for
ward movement began on Sunday,
when Col. IIannay set out with a
brigade Of mounted infantry for
Ramah on the Riet, eight miles from
JscobsdaI, one Of the Boer supply
bases. On Monday Gen. French, with
the cavalry division, seized the cross
ing of the Riet river ut Dekil's drift,
south OF ,JacobsdaI and is miles east
Of Honcynest kloof. lie skirmished
with the Beers and cleared the way
for 10000 infantry, who followed
across. On Tuesday, with his three
cavalry brigades and the horse artil-
'lery, Gen. French rode to the Modder
river, n distance OF 25 miles, and took
three fords, with high ground beyond
the river and five Boer camps. lie had
- few casualties in brushes with the
I..soer horse. Gen. French has now
fixed himself on Gen. Cronje's main
line of communications with Bloem-
fontein, and 10000 infantry, with "
guns. are being pushed up to support
him there.
Lord Roberts dispatches, wired
from inside the Free State and on the
Riet river, left him Wednesday morn
Ing. His advance had not been op-
posed by the Beers ia force. Their
patrols melted away as the British
moved forward. The Boer army is
likely To be felt in dry or two and a
battle IL consequently imminent
Wilkinson on the Situation.
> London. Feb. l5.-Spencer Wilkin-
son, in the Morning Post yesterday
says; There is good news to-day,
for new campaign has begun, The
movements OF Lord Roberts are a
practical illustration Of the principle
of concentration of action in time and
space. The unexpected presence Of
The Sixth division makes Lord Roberts
stronger by 10000 men than anyone
had ventured to hope, Evidently he
ordered Gen. McDonald's reconnais-
sance to koodoosberg in order to
draw the enemy's attention west
ward, away from the contemplated
move through the Free State The
'Boer army is barred from the direct
route to Blocmfontcin and even on
the road by Boshof il would be OK.
posed to flank attack during the
march,
Sen, Cronje, ON learning of Lord
Roberts dispositions on Tuesday and
yesterday must have had an interest
Ing problem. He had to consider
whether to hold on to his position
at JacobsdaI and Magersfontein and
to seize Kimberley, or to raise the |
siege and move off--and, il so, in what |
direction whether to Bloemfontein
or n0rthward across the yaa. These
events form the brilliant opening of
new campaign which is being
marked by concentration of purpose
and by an energy and rapidity that
angur well for The future, The pub.
lie must wait patiently for the result
Of these operations, remembering that
the distance TO be covered Is consid.
cradle and the heat great. Possibly
enough there may be NO general ac.
ton until Friday"
Tho Times Editorial Comment.
London, Feb. l5.-ILe Times, in All
editorial commenting upon Lord Rob.
erts' "dexterous and brilliant move
ment,' says: "rhe Beers have shown
themselves too wary and too skillful
Tor MS TO assume that the success of
these operations must disconcer, their
scheme of defense or compel them to
raise the siege of Kimberley without
. further struggle, but so far as il is
possible to Judge in the absence of
detailed information aud good mans
the operations should be followed by
strategic consequences of the highest |
vaiuc. me presence VI Il iarvr nm.
ish force inside the Free State borders
and within relatively easy striking
distance of the capital must largely |
ma l,.t x..l. -.