The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-13

1y Weakened-PIace May Fall
Under the Guns of Lord Roberts
Censor to Loosen Reins.
LONDON, Feb. 13.-Lord Roberts has
gathered $4,000 men, with whom, accord
ing to the best military opinion in Lon
don, he purposes turning the left of the
Magersfontein lines near Jacobsdahl, en-
tering the Free State compelling Gen.
Cronje to raise the siege Of Kimberley,
and thus making his first step toward
Bloemfontein.
Yesterday Lord Roberts announced the
appointment of Gen. Sir Henry Colville,
hitherto commander of the guards brig
ade, to the command of the Ninth divis-
ion, which Is being formed, and which will
consist probably to a great extent of
colonial troops Gen. Cofville will be sue
ceeded by Gen. Reginald Poly-Carew.
Lord Roberts tells the correspondents
that when he gets down to business they
shall have ample opportunities to send
news. His chief censor yesterday issued
new rules, and in future all written COM
munications are to go unchecked. Only
kilograms are to be censored. For the
u6Al Lew QdyS lllllS 1cWS - .lAhClJ ~ 6Cb
through, but later there is likely to be
more freedom. So says the censor, and
the last clause may be interpreted to
mean that something is going to happen.
KlMBERLEY'S PERIL.
Kimberley, a few miles from the Mod
der river, is in sore straits. November re-
ports show that In a population of 1900
whites and $4,000 blacks, the mortality
was 60 whites and 156 blacks per 1000.
December death rate was 6712 per 1000
among the whites and 1872 among the
blacks. Enteric fever was prevalent.
This frightful death rate in December
cannot have improved If anything, since,
and the lighting power of the garrison
must have been greatly diminished. Mean
while the bombardment among the Beers
has greatly increased, and there is great
danger of the town falling under the very
guns of Lord Roberts. 1t is believed in
circles close to the war Office that he will
move at once.
Scouts have approached within LOCO
yards Of the Boer intrenchments at Mag
ersfontein. They have found these strong,
and ascertained that they are used as
rallying places. Signal officers are con-
stantly watching the enemy's lines with
strong glasses, and they declare there
Is diminishing of the Boer forces.
In Natal the British forces occupy
Bold's farm and several mines west of
Chieveley. One thousand Beers, with
several guns, are advancing through
Zululand to Natal.
MORE TROOPS.
The war office is making preparations
TO continue the stream Of troops for
South Africa -Four large steamers have
been chartered
Japan agrees to let the Armstrong;
transfer to England four naval quick
frers that were built for her, consenting
to wait for the execution of her own
guns until the hostilities in South At
rica are over. Several European powers,
by similar consents, are to yield guns
being constructed for them.
To enable England to secure 100 Max
inns, 1000 men are constantly employed
at WoolWich arsenal and all the gun am
munition factories are working night and
day to execute government orders. The
weekly output of four firms Is 4,00O00O
rounds.
Outside the requirements for South At
rica Great Britain is collecting immense
stores of war material.
Considerable divergence Of opinion ex-
lists as to the governments emergency
preparations even now. Military men
and some of the papers complain that
nothing is said about measures for i'm
mediate emergencies in South Africa. and
say the governments scheme is directed
mainly to a large increase of volunteer,