Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-20
KlMBERLEY'S JOY
People There Were Having a Hungry
Time and Could Hardly Believe
French Was Coming.
THESITUATION HAS CHANGED
The Beers Appear to Be DESERVING Theil
Positions In Natal and Going Toward
the Transvaal Country Very
Rapidly.

Cape Town, February 2O.-Repairs to
the railway have sufficiently advanced
to enable the dispatch tonight of the
first train to Kimberley laden with
coal. After that, military requirements
will be the first consideration; second,
foodstuffs. then passengers, who. 1t is
anticipated, will start Wednesday or
Thursday.
THE QUEEN PLEASED.
London, February 20.-The queen, pri-
ing on her return to Windsor, inspected
the fourth battalion of the Lincolnshire
militia. Her majesty announced with a
gratified smile that good news had been
received this morning from the seat of
war.
CECIL RHODES HAPPY.
Kimberley, February 18 (By y-Helio-
graph to the Modder River) The coun-
try is all free around Kimberley. The
Beers have evacuated Dronfield, Salt
pan, Spitfontein and Sholtz Mex. One
of their 12-pounders, with ammunition,
was captured also their laager at
Dronf1eld, which was abandoned Fri
day night. Rails are being laid to the
Modder river. Several herds Of cattle
were captured Cecil Rhodes Is in excel
lent spirits.
BRITISH CASUALTIES.
London, February 20.-The war office
has announced the following casualties
among officers during the relief of
Kimberley Kflled-Lieut. A. B. Hes
kith 10th lancers; Lieut. w. McClin-
took Huntsury, I'd dragons. Wounded
Capt. E. r. Gordon, Lieut.. D. F. Bras
sey, 9Th lancers; Capt. G. B. Tuson, 18th
lancers; Lieuts. R. I. Fordyce, w. Long,
I'd dragons.
SHIPPING THE ENGLISHMEN.
Durham, February 19.-General Butler
is continuing his movement on the ex-
treme right, and made every DISPOSE
ton for the defense of his position to
the left and south of the Tugela by
maintaining a force adequate for that
purpose. But isolated parties Of Beers
sometimes cross the river. There is
much sniping.
KIMBERLEY WAS SURPRISED.
Modder River, February 19.--Al-
though the rapid march Of General
French's division was marked by a
number of conflicts, the entry to Kim
berley was unopposed. When the Brit
ish were still eight miles off signalling
corps intercepted a heliograph message
from the beleaguered garrison to the
Modder river, saying: "The Beers are
shelling the town." The advancing col
umn replied: "This is General French
coming to the relief of Kimberley" The
garrison was incredulous, and thought
the message was a Boer ruse, and
flashed the query: What regiment are
you" The reply satisfied the defenders
of Kimberley that the anxiously await
ed succor was at hand. A few hours
later General French, at the head of
the column, made triumphant entry,
the people surrounding the troops and
cheering wildly, grasping the soldiers
hands, waving flags, hats, handker-
chiefs, and exhibiting in hundred
ways intensely their joy.
The inhabitants had been short on ra-
tions for some time, eating horse flesh
and living in burrows under heaps OF
mine refuse. Diminishing rations were
served daily in the market square un-
der shell fire from the enemy. No horse
food was left. Throughout the siege
Cecil Rhodes provided the natives with
food and thus kept them quiet.
General Frenchs march was so rapid
and the heat so intense that many
ing OF the Modder river the Beers bolt
ed, leaving tents, guns, oxen, wagons
and large quantities of ammunition In
the hands of the British. Moving
northward the Beers again attempted
to stem the advance, but General
French turned their flank and reached
his goal with insignificant loss-seven
men killed and thirty-f1ve wounded dur.
ing the three days. After nights rest
at Kimberley French's column pursued
the Beers to Brontveld, surrounded the
kopjes on which they were camped and
shelled them till nightfall, when the
Beers fed leaving many dead.
BuLLER's CAMPAIGN.
London, February 20, 2:5S p. m.-The
war Office has issued dispatch from
Lord Roberts, the main Importance o1
which is the fact that it is dated al
Paardeberg at 7:05 p. m. Monday. Paar.
deberg Is thirty miles east of Jacobs.
dahl. The dispatch announces that the
railroad to Kimberley is open, and thai
General Methuen will proceed there
with re-enforcements for them forth
with. and with large supplies to be for
warded to the town. Whatever impor
tant news may have been received from
the front Is carefully guarded. Unon
cially 1t is rumored that Kitchene
brought Cronje to standstill and en-
gagged him. In any case, confident hop
that General Cronje has been cut OF
from Bloemfontein continues to prevail
in London, especially in view Of the de
tailed dispatches saying that the Ere
Staters, when they saw the extent o
the British forces, were in favor of sur
rendering. er
Butler Is apparently contenting him
self with shelling the Beers from hi
newly gained position at Monte Chris
to. which. according to good opinion. 1
likely to form his base for another at
tempt to relieve Ladysmith.
The Westminster Gaxette's militar
critic says he believes the Beers hav
started northward In Natal ana VA