The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-17
B0ERS RUN.
CrOnje With His Army Of Ten
Thousand Men
Reported to Be In Full Retreat
Before the British.
HE LOST HIS WAGONS.
The Western Border Is Now
Considered Cleared.
Relief of Kimberley Carries
Mafeking With It.
French Styled the Sheridan of
the Campaign.
Reported to Be In Full Retreat
Before the British.
HE LOST HIS WAGONS.
Relief of Kimberley Carries
Mafeking With It.


Jacobsdal, Friday, Feb. 16, via Mod
der River.-Gen. Cronje with 10000 men
IS in full retreat towards Bloemfontein.
Gen. Kelly-Kenny is fighting a rear
guard action and harassing the retreat
The Beers are reported to be leaving
Spytfontein, going in a northwesterly
direction.
The British captured a large convoy
as result Of yesterdays CThursday)
fighting at Riet river. The British cas-
ualties were comparatively slight in
view of the tremendous bombardnent.
Less than thirty men were wounded
and but one killed.
Gen. French's division was enthusi-
Rstically welcomed at Kimberley. The
officers dined at the club last evening.
The news of the entry into Kimberley
has greatly cheered the troops who are
working splendidly.
BOERS OUTFLANKED.
London, Feb. 1.-THE Chronicles sec
ond edition this morning has the fol-
lowing dispatch from Watervaal drift
dated February Is, morning:
Lord Roberts with the sixth and
seventh divisions and the cavalry
division in marching to relieve Kimber-
ley rendezvoused at Enslin and then
marched toward the Free State. The
sixth division crossed the Riet river al
EVatervaaI drift and marched along the
right bank. The Beers showed fight
and we had several casualties. The
division then marched on to JacObsdal.
The cavalry captured Browns drift on
the left flank of the Beers main posi-
ton.
parallel with each other. The British
captured many prisoners but their cas-
ualties were slight
The Chronicle also has the following
WpOP61ipG
Moo der river. Feb. IS, morning:
Cen Kelley-Kenny with the sixth
division has entered. -JacobsdaI. The
Beers made a feeble attempt to hold
the eastern ridges but were Outhanked
by the mounted infantry and retired.
There were few British casualties.
The division then evacuated Jacobs
dal, marching north in the track of
F'rench's cavalry which crossed ths
MOdder river and engaged the enemy
who retired with heavy losses.
THE seventh division crossed the
Feiet river east of Koffyfontein and
drove the enemy before them
Gen. Tucker is now on Col. Kelley
Kenny's right and probably will effect
q junction with his force. The enemy
is retiring north. The ninth division
under Gen Colville is in the rear of the
sixth division. The enemy thus far has
made no determined stand.
We have captured thousands of
stock"
A dispatch to the war office from
Lord Roberts says that Gen. Kelley
Kennys brigade Friday captured IS
wagons OF stores and ammunition be-
longing to Gen. Cronje
Following is the text of Lord Rob-
erts' dispatch:
'Jacobsdal, Feb. 17-5:50 D.. m.-Gen.
Kelley-Kenny's brigade captured yes
terday IS wagons laden with stores, two
wagons of MauSer rifles. eight boxes of
shells, ten barrels OF explosives and
large quantity OF stores, all belonging
to Cronje's laager which was still be-
ing shelled by our artillery when
Kitchener dispatched his messenger
WESTERN BORDER CLEAR.
New York, Feb IA London dis
patch to the Tribune says The west
ern border has been cleared by Gen.
Roberts first stroke since the relief of
Kimberley carries AIafeking with it
and secures British control of the West
Barkley district and Bechuanaland.
Gen French, by leading the way to
Kimberley, has become the Sheriden of
this campaign, while "BObs" halting in
triumph at JacObSdal before turning
eastward is in fair way to win
dukedom if he gets on without check
or reverse to Bloemfontein and Pre-
toria.
Nor ought Kitchener be left out of
view. He has transformed an immobile
British force, which was tied up to rail-
ways, into an army remarkable for mo-
bility, with a system of flying trans
port. If all goes well, he seems des-
tined at the end of the campaign to sue
ceed Lord Wellesley as commander in
chief and to reorganize the military
forces of the British empire. Lord Sal
isbury's intimate friends assert this is
what he intends as the sequel to a sue
cessful war and that this was in the
prime minister's mind when he sent
Kitchener to South Africa. Lord Sal
isbury has considered Kitchener the
greatest organizer in the military ser
vice and expects that he viii ultimately
revOlutionize both the war Office and
the British military system.
Various suggestions are put forth as
to the movements of Con. Cronje and
Or. Leyds. who has been interviewed
with respect to the situation has ex-
pressed the opinion that the slim
Boer commandant has deliberately al
lowed Gen. French to enter Kimberley
so as to cut him off from communica-
ton with his commander-in-chief.
London is fairly ringing with praises
of Gen. French. A very distinguished
officer said:
1T is a suspicious thing to prophecy
after an event, but johnny French
was under me seven years go in India
and when he was only a chubby lieu
tenant in the 18th Hussars I saw
enough of him to know that there was
in him the making of such a cavalry
officer as would have delighted the soul
of Stonewall Jackson"
Every mounted officer will now want
to serve under him. 1t is learned that
the young Duke of Westminster, who is
1ein French's division when he arrives
at the Cape and not serve on Sir Al
fred Miners staff.
Kimberley has been invested 123 days.
The garrison consisted Of $500 men. in