Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-02-16
GREAT REJOICING IN LONDON
Experts Prefer to Await Further
News. Paris Report Says
French Is in Another
Boer Trap.
BOERS MAKE COUNTER MOVE.

ing from Lord Roberts reached the
war Office this morning: "Jacobsdal
16, a. m.-French, with force Of
artillery, cavalry and mounted infan
try, reached Kimberley Thursday
evening"
Arundel, Feb. 14-General Clements
withdrew from Rensberg during The
night, his rear guard arriving at Arun
del early this morning. The Beers
promptly followed, re-occupying theil
old position in Taaibosch Hills
whence they have been shelling the
British cavalry patrols, but ineffect
ually. British guns returned the fire
making fairly accurate practice.
Riet River, Orange Free State Wed
nesday 14-General French, with q
cavalry division and a strong artillery
detachment, left Sunday for Rambam
twelve miles east of Enslin, where the
whole division was concentrated. Next
day he made rapid march to the
Riet river where a party of Beers con.
tested his passage at Delsiel and Wat
erfall Drifts. After some hours of
shelling, the French drove the Beers
away and crossed the river.
Yesterday the column continued it's
march to Kip and Romdaval Drifts,
on the Modder River, where again
short engagement ensued, General
French shelling the Beers vigorously
and forcing passage. The Beers
precipitately retired, leaving FIVE laag-
ers in the hands of the British besides
a great quantity of cattle and 1000
sheep. The rapidity of French's
march, and the overwhelming nature
of his force, enabled him, in spite OF
the difficulties of water transporta-
tion, to thoroughly outwit the sur
prised Beers. The British casualties
were slight.
Col Hannay on the way to Bambam
encountered 500 Beers with two guns
holding a kopje commanding the val
ley leading to the Drift The fighting
lasted all day. The Beers disappeared
during the night. Thirteen men re
ported missing from Hannay's force
are prisoners French now holds
both the Modder and Riet rivers, be
tween the Beers at Magersfontein ant
their base at Bloemfontein. Through
out the march Free State farms were
respected, but the owners almost in
variably fed, taking their effects. The
health of the troops is excellent bu
sickness is prevalent among thu
horses.
Outside Jacobsdal, Orange Free
State, Thursday 15-Jacobsdal is nov
in possession of the British. Yester
day a small cavalry patrol entered th'
place and found it full of wounded, in
cluding several British from Rensberg
The place was occupied by only /
small force, which fell back before tn
patrol after a series of small skirm
ishes. A battery of artillery shellet
the enyirons, and drove out the las
of the Beers. This morning a larg
force of Beers, from Colesberg, wit
ten guns attacked a convoy of 20
wagons at Rdet river, shelling vigol
ously and doing damage. Strong re
Inducements have been sent henc
and it is hoped they will bring in tn
whole convoy safely. General French
division seized three drifts at Modde
River. At the third drift the Boer
were fairly strongly entrenchet
French bombarded. them and drov
them on Today he moved rapid
in the direction of Kimberley. Th
Beers left Alexandersfonfein whic'
the British now occupy. The hard
ship and rapid marching appear t
agree with the whole army, who ar
IN splendid spirits under the. leade
ship of "Bobs."
london, Feb. 16--A corresponder
of the Associated Press at Eadysmitl
from which place he escaped Februar
10th, sends the following:
"Since the furious cannonade in tn
early part of the week, quietness hs
reigned. The hills on which the reli'
columns Lyddite shells were burstin
in hundreds few days previously, al
now only occupied by grazing cattl
Further away. on the north side I
Spion Kop the Boer laagers can
seen, evidently bigger than befor
showing they have no idea at preset
of retiring from that position. Mut
disappointment is felt at the mona
pearance of General Butler. as fro
the severity of the fire, every hea
was glowing with the hope and excii
ment at the prospect Of immediate /
lief. not that we are at all in the blu'
for everyone capable Of shouldering
rife is confident of our ability to he
the town against any force the Boe
are capable of putting IN the iie
The continued diet on horse and MI
flesh is getting somewhat monotono'
although the health Of the camp, t.
ing everything into consideration,
better than could be expected. e
teric fever and dysentery have abate