The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-16

| LONDON. Feb. IS. s:51 a. m.-The war
office announces that Gen. French reached
Kimberley Thursday evening.
/ LONDON. Feb. 1e-4:9o a. mas the
wires are closed TO correspondents with
Lord Roberts. and as nothing further
from him has been communicated to the
| public, the military adopts spend their
time in studying maps, topography and
figuring out the possibilities of Lord Rob-
erts' communication and what there is
| left for the Beers to do.
what VIII Cronje Do:
Cen Cronies communications with
| Boemfontein have already been cut. The
best news England could hear would be
| that he elects to give battle among the
low hills and ridges west OF Kimberley
| Should he determine not to do this. he
must raise the siege OF Kimberley and
| retreat to a point where he would prefer
! to fight.
This retirement could be a long detour
around the head OF the British advance
to Bloemfontein. or. as seems to military
students more practicable. he could with
draw TO the north. using the railroads for
his guns and heavy baggage. moving to
Fourteen Streams station and thence into
the Transvaal territory.
Will Not Defend BIoemfontein.
The Beers have made no preparation
TO defend Bloemfontein and there is no
particular reason why Gen. Cronje should
risk battle 10 protect the capital OF the
Free State. Operations elsewhere are APP
parenty suspended
suII Hopeful MT ChieveIey.
A correspondent writing from Chieveiey,
February r. says: I'VE are still hopeful
OF relieved Ladysmith."
PoweIrs Losses.
Col Baden Powell. in dispatch from
Mafeking dated January %. after mem
tioning matters already sent out by cor
respondents. gives his total casualties up
TO January Is as follows: Killed. five Of
ficers and sixty men; wounded. eight Of
ficers and i,5 men; missing. thirty-four
men
No word has been received regarding
Gen. Gataere's i2ooo men at stromberE.
Tho impression is that these forces are
on the way TO Lord Roberts.
Prospect of Natives FighfinE.
Mr.. Chamberain's announcement in the
house OF commons Of the intention Of the
government 10 encourage the Zulns to de-
fend themselves from the Beers is "a con-
tingency the Beers seem to have antici-
pated as they have been doing everything
in their power to win the good will OF
the Zulus. who have thousands OF good
rifles. The Beers gave 2oco Basutos a safe
conduct. II the British let loose one tribe
the Beers will probably let loose an
other.
More Troops Called Out.
The war office has issued orders for the
formation OF tWenty-one new batteries
and three hattalons OF infantry.
Cabinet Council.
The cabinet council was In session yes
tegday for two hours. 1t VIII meet again
today. This is quite unusual.
Have Evacuated Rensberg.
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Daily Chronicle. telegraphiag Wednesday.
says
1T Is reported here that The British
have evacuated Rensberg and retired 10
Arundel"
supplies for rransvaai.
The correspondent of the Times at lou
Tenso Marques. sclesraphing Wednesday,
says;
The republics are nov obtaining sub
stauiial supplies of sugar. coffee and four
through a pelaEos bay hrm ana further
heavy cougiguments are expected within
8 fortnight lt Is believed also that mu-
ritions afe Stil passing"
DamninE Kip River.
Tho pally Man has the following dis
patch from Lourcnxo Marques. dated
Wednesday.
a prominent Pretoria citizen Yust from
Lady SMITH informs me that the Doors arc
@pid'y damnlDe Kip -ivey. TWO thou
sand kaffirs are employed in She work
aud they have deposited loot sand bags
already They arA only able To work al
ntea', as they weOld be Bn3cr British IRE
I@.is eiusea. hcNcvcy, believes that the
operation Wiil De fg}ne"
skIrmish Near the TuEela.
BOER LAGER, Near Ladynnll,h. Feh.
n-Yestsgday Gen Botha. wkh a small
force. crossed The TugeIa 70 deserted
British camp. where he encountered afty
laucers. ct whom thirteen we're Killed. Hvs
wounded and nine taken prisoners. one
Of the prisoners was sent 10 tell he Brit
ish 20 fetch their wounded
Military critic trEes Larger Army.
LONDON, Feb. Spencer Wilkinson.
iu the Morning Post. to-day advocates the
advisah!lity of forming She Tenth. Eiev-
eDth and Twelfth divisions aud sending
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