The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18
SUCCESS OF LORD ROBERTS.
ENGLAND HAD HOPED FOR CRON-
JE's UTTER DEFEAT.

But she Is Glad That Kimberley Was
Relieved and That Cronje Had to
withdrawals. Spenser Wilkinson
Describes How Roberts Plan Was
Carried Out-Evidence That CrOnje
work Quickly Done.
London, Feb. dispenser Wilkinson,
military expert, reviewing the situation
in South Africa for the Associated Press
at midnight says:
Lord Roberts has begun his campaign
by striking at the principal Boer force in
the western theater of war-that of Com
mandant Cronje, covering the siege of
Kimberley.
I'm little over three weeks Lord Rob-
erts had completed the organization of his
force, He then quietly massed some 5000
men, four infantry divisions and a caval-
ry division near the selected point, reach
ing Modder river station on Friday, Feb.
8. He must have put his troops in motion
with the least possible delay for on Mon
day the action began. 1t was an attempt
to turn the Boer position by a march
round its left, or eastern flank.
ION Monday Gen. French's cavalry seiz-
ed the passage of the Riet river, southeast
of Jacobsdal and were at once followed
up by two infantry divisions. On Tuesday
the cavalry moved north and seized the
crossing of the Modder river, the infantry
following at their heels. on Thursday,
when one division of infantry was on the
Modder and the other close behind it be-
tween the two rivers, the cavalry moved
forward toward Kimberley, dispensing the
besiegers from the southeastern front and
opened connection with the town.
THE same day the troops from the old
camp at Modder river station opened COM
munication from Jacobsdal, which had al
ready been taken. Thus Lord Roberts
had a semi circle around the Boer position
of Magersfontein, from Kimberley on the
north to Modder river station on the
SOUTH and possibly the line was prolonged
from Modder river station TO the north
west, so that Gen. French might hope by
passing through Kimberley to complete the
circle and to enable Lord Roberts to en-
velope and capture Cronjes whole force.
Was a Brilliant Plan.
This was the result hoped for. The
ously executed. But Cronje has been
able to evade the blow. When French
reached Kimberley it was found that
Cronje, with the bulk of his force, had
moved off toward Bloemfonteln, appar-
emily by the Boshof road, or. by a shorter
route along the north bank of the Modder
The laagers and stores abandoned and the
convoy captured prove that Cronje left
in haste, and one of Gen. Kelly Kenny S
brigades was last reported as pursuing
and engaging the Boer rear guard. Gen.
Kitchener is experimenting the pursuit
which may be effective.
"Of the First and Ninth Divisions no
mention has been made in the kilograms,
and the inference is that part of of the
design is as yet undisclosed. Possibly
their function is to complete the circle oil
the west. Perhaps, too a force is MAX
ing to the eastward, south of the Mod
der river, to intervent Cronje, though as
the mounted Beers cover thirty miles a
day, no infantry can catch them A part
of che Boer force may have retreated TO
the northwest, toward Barkly, and viii
no doubt be pursued.
There can be no doubt that Kimberley
is relieved and that the railway will soon
be reopened. This is a success, but the
more valuable result-the destruction OF a
part of the Boer army-has not been se-
cured. 1t cannot be said, in the circun-
stances, that this is attributable to weak
ness in the British generalship, which
seems to have been excellent.
Some Disquieting Features.
'There are disduieting features in the
news. The capture by Beers. said to
have come from Colesberg, of a large
British convoy, may diminish the mobility
of the British force, and is a proof of the
judgment and energy of the Boer leaders
The vigorous attack on the British post
at Rensburg shows that the Beers mean
10 reply to Lord Roberts advance By
striking at his communlca tions.
Until the issue of the operations around
Kimberley is fully known, it is useless to
speculate upon the next move of Lord
Roberts. The fact that Kimberley has
been relieved and that Cronje has to make
hasty retreat are to the good side Of
the account, but the fact that Cronje has
not, at any rate up to the date of the lat
est kilograms l have seen, been wen beat
en- in a fight, Is a disappointment. The
opinion is widespread that the invasion of
the Free State will bring the Boer army,
or al least, the Free State contingent, out
OF Natal Upon this point l am less SAN
guine than most of the English observers
even those whose judgment most deserves
confidence, but the news of Lord Rob-
erts' advance will encourage White and
his men to prolong their defense"