The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-02-16
RELIEVE KIMBERLEY.
Lord Roberts Proposes to Go TO
the Besieged Garrison.
Beers strongly Entrenched at Mn
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS on the Pro-
posed Relief of Ladysmith Via
ZuEuIand-Other News.

London, FEB. l3.-LOrd Roberts has
gathered $4,000 men, with whom, ac-
cording TO the best military opinion
IN London, he proposes turning the
eft of the Magersfontein lines near
Jacobsdal, entering the Free State.
compelling Gen. Cronje to raise the
siege of Kimberley, and thus making
his first step toward Bloemfontein.
Lord Roberts announced the APP
pointment of Gen. Sir Henry Colville,
hitherto commander of the Guards
brigade, to the command of the Ninth
division, which is being formed and
will consist TO a great extent of CO.
onial troops. Gen. Colville will be
succeeded by Gen. Reginald Pole-Ca-
rev.
Lord Roberts tells the correspond
ents that when he gets down to BUSH
ness they shall have ample oppOrtu-
mites to send the news. His chief
press censor has issued new rules and
n future all written communications
are to be unchecked. Only kilograms
will be censored. For the next few
days little news is likely TO get
through, but later there will be more
freedom. Thus says the censor, and
the last clause may be interpreted 10
mean that something is about to hap
pen.
The war Office has received the fol-
towing dispatch from Field Marshal
Lord Roberts, dated from the Modder
river, Sunday, February IL:
II have received telegram from
Butler. as follows. dated Friday. Feb
ruary 9: 1T was necessary after seiz-
ing Naal Krantz to entrench il as the
pivot of further operations. But L
found after trying two days, that ow-
ing TO the nature of the ground that
this was impracticable. Ii was also
exposed TO the fire of heavy guns in
POSITIONS from which our artillery
was dominated. II is essential TO
troops advancing on Ladysmith by
Harding or Monger's drift, TO hold
Vaal Krantz securely, and accordingly
we are not pressing the advance by
those roads, as. / find we cannot make
it secure"
Kimberley, 90 miles away from the
Modder river position, is in sore
straits. Details of the December death
rate show that in population of a.
300 whites and 10000 blacks the NOR
tality was co whites and 13s blacks
per 1000. The infantile death rate
was OIL per 1000 among the whites
and 9l2 per 1000 among the blacks.
Enteric fever was prevalent. This
frightful state Of things in December
can not have improved much, if at all,
since. and the fighting power of the
garrison must have been greatly di-
minished. Meanwhile the lombard
ment by the Beers has increased, and
there is imminent danger of the town
falling under the very eyes of Lord
Roberts. II is believed in circles close
90 the war office that he will move at
once.
Scouts have approached within 1000
yards of the Boer entertainments at
Magersfontein. They have found these
strong anS ascertained that they are
used as dwelling places. Naval gum
ners are constantly watching the en-
emy's lines with strong glasses, and
they declare that there is an appre-
cable diminution i'm the Boer forces.
In Natal the Beer commanders south
of the Tugela occupy Bold's farm ard
several mines west of Chieveley. Two
thousand Beers with three guns are
advancing through Zululand toward
Natal.
Rensburg. Feb. 12.-Evening-Th
Beers have again driven in the British
outposts on the western flank to-day.
all outposts at Bastards Mex, Hobirks
Wind Mill and other points, retiring
to Maeder's farm. There were several
casualties, but no details have as yet
been received.
Rensburg. Feb. 12.LHobirks and
Bastards Mex, which the Beers took
possession of Saturday, have been re-
occupied by the British. The Roers
were shelled out.
Kimberley, Feb. 9.-There was
heavy bombardment yesterday. and
to-day the fire of the Boer big gun at
Kampersdam has been very trying.
London, Feb. 13.-The Petermaritz-
burg correspondent of the Daily Mail,
telegraphing Monday, says: ~ dis
patch from Eshowe asserts that a
large commando of Beers is encamped
near Ngutu, with so wagons and nine
guns. 1t is rumored that the force in
tends to besiege Eshowe, the inten-
ton probably being 10 fortify the In
sui hills in order 10 prevent the Brit
ish traversing Zu1uland TO relieve La
Jx-spifb -