Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-17
STIRRING NEWS
FROM TIE FRONT
Continued from Page 1.

berley. from Acknowledgement to Oil
phantSfontcin, and am now going to oc-
cupy their ground. Have captured the
enemy laager and store depot-supplies
ana supplies of ammunition. Casualties
about twenty OF all ranks wounded.
Kimberley cheerful and well'"
ENDDAvORING TO ESCAPE.
General Roberts sent the following
disLatch:
"Jacobsdal, Feb. 1s.-I have good rea-
son to believe the NIagersfontein
trenches have been abandoned, and that
the Beers are endeavoring to escape
General French is securing the country
north of Kimberley. One OF General
kelly-Kennys brigade of infantry is in
pursuit of large Boer convoy moving
towards Bloemfontein"
OCCUPANCY OF JACOBSDAL.
Outside Jacobsdal. o. +. S., Thursday,
Feb. 15.-Jacobsdal is now In possession
of the British Yesterday q small cav
airy patrol entered the place and found
1t full of wounded, including several
British from Rensburg. The place was
only occupied by small force, which
fell back before the patrol, after
series OF small sklrmishes. A battery
OF artillery shclled the lenvirons and
drove out the last of the Beers
BOERS ATTACK CONVOY.
Early this morning large force Of
Beers from Colesberg. with ten guns,
attacked Il convoy of two hundred
wagons at the Riet river, Smelling
vigorously and doing damage. But
strong reinforcements have been sent
hence and it is hoped they will bring in
the whole convoy in safety.
General French'S division seized three
drifts on the NIodder river. AT the third
drift the Beers were fairly strongly en-
trenched.
General French bombarded them and
drove them off. To-day he moved rap
idly in the direction of Kimberley.
The Beers have left AleXandersfon-
TEN. which the British now occupy.
General Roberts is in excellent health
and spirits. The hardships and rapid
marching appear to agree with the
whole army, who are in splendid spirits
under the leadership of "Bobs.''
NEWS OF LADYSAIITE.
London, Feb. 16.-The correspondent
: from which place he escaped February
10. sends the following, written before
he left Ladysmith:
"Since the furious cannonade in the
early part of the week quietness has
reigned. The hills on which the relief
columns lyddite shells were bursting in
hundreds few days previously arc
now only occupied by grazing cattle.
Further away on the north side of
Spion Kop the Boer laagers can be
seen, evidently bigger than before.
showing they have no idea at present
OF retiring from their position.
Much disappointment is felt at the
non appearance of General Butler, as
from the severity of the fire every heart
was glowing with hope and excitement
at the prospect of immediate relief, not
that we are at all in the DlIes, for
every one capable of shouldering n rifle
Is confident In our ability to hold the
town against any force the Beers are
capable of putting in the field.
MoNOToNoUs DIET.
Still. the continued diet of horse and
mule flesh Is getting somewhat monot-
onous, although the health of the camp,
taking everything into consideration Is
better than could be expected Enteric
fever and dysentery have abated. The
camp fever is not virulent, but is
slightly increased.
The scarcity of vegetables Is very
trying to the troops and they are Iuxu-
res beyond the means of majority
Eggs are thirty-six shlllings per dozen,
small FOWL is eighteen shillings. six
pence, pumpkins twelve shillings each
TIN or lam twelve shillings, six pence
boX or sardineS three shillings. tobacco
ninety shillings pound; a case Of
whlskey was rallied for e145.
The Beers are smuggling tobacco into
camp through natives. a local factory
IS turning out excellent horse sausage,
and another is making nourishing SOUP
which Is much appreciated nv the
troops. who certainly have increased in
strength since these We're served out
The escaHe of the Associated Press
correspondent was most adventurons
and ardous. Leaving Ladysmith the
evening OF February 10th, guided by a
patrol. who fired upon him. Escapinp
the patrol, he crawled twenty-five miles
over the toughest and stoniest paths
hiding in native huts and kraals durinr
the day. and proceeding at night. Once
a Boer patrol came to the door of the
hut where he was hiding under blan
kets. He swan the Tugela river sSsv5
rsached chieveley the morning OF FOB