The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-18
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.
Roberts's Plan to Capture Cronje'a
Army Has Probably Miscarried.

LONDON, Feb. 1S.-Spencer Wilkinson,
the military expert, reviewing the situa-
ton in South Africa for the Associated
Press. at midnight says:
Lord Roberts has begun his campaign
by striking at the principal Boer force in
the western theater of war-that Of COM
mandant Cronje, covering the siege of
Kimberley. In little over three weeks
Lord Roberts had completed the organiza-
ton OF his force. He then quietly massed
some fifty thousand men, four infantry di-
visions and cavalry division, near the
selected point reaching Modder river sta
ton on Friday, Feb. 8. He must have put
his troops in motion with the least possible
delay, for on Monday the action began. 1t
was an attempt to turn the Boer position
by O march round its left or eastern flank.
ION Monday General French's cavalry
seized the passages Of the Riet river,
southeast of Jacobsdal, and were at once
followed up by two infantry divisions. On
Tuesday the cavalry moved north and
seized the crossings of the Modder river,
the infantry following at their heels. On
Thursday, when one division Of infantry
was on the Modder and the other close be-
hind 1t, between the two rivers, the cav
airy moved forward toward Kimberley
dispersed the besiegers from the southeast
ern front and opened connection with the
town.
1.-The same day the troops from the old
camp at Modder river station opened COM
munication with Jacobsdal, which had al
ready been taken. Thus Lord Roberts had
of
the Magersfontein. from Kimberley on the
north to Modder river station on the south,
and. possibly. the line was prolonged from
Modder river station to the northwest. SO
that General French might hope by pass
ing through Kimberley. 20 complete the
cirIce and enable Lord Roberts to envelop
an. capture Cronje's whole force.
This was the result hoped for. The plan
was brilliantly conceived and vigorously
executed, but Crouje has been able to
evade the blow. When General French
reached Kimberley IT was found that Gen.
eral Cronje. with the bulk of his force.
had moved off toward Bloemfontein. ap-
parently by the Boshof road, or by a
shorter route along the north bank of the
Modder. The laagers and stores aban-
doned and the convoy captured prove that
Cronje left In haste. and one of General
Kelly-Kenny's brigades was last reported
as pursuing and engaging the Boer rear
guard. General Kitchener is superintend-
ing the pursuit. which may be effective.
"Of the First and Ninth divisions no
mention has been made in the kilograms.
and the inference is that a part of the de-
sign Is as yet undisclosed. Possibly their
function is 10 complete the circuit on the
west. Perhaps, too. force is making to
the eastward, south OF the Modder river.
to intercept Cronje, though as the mounted
Beers cover thirty miles day no infantry
can catch them. A part OF the Boer force
may have retreated to the northwest, to-
ward Barkly, ard will no doubt be pur-
sued.
There can be no doubt that Kimberley is
relieved and that the railway will soon be
reopened. This is success. but the more
valuable result-the destruction of a part
of the Boer army-has not been secured II
cannot be said. in the circumstances, that
this Is attributable 10 weakness In the
British generalship. which seems to have
been excellent.
There are disquieting features in the
news. The capture by Beers. said to have
come from Colesberg. OF a large British
convoy may diminish the mobility of the
British force and is a proof of the judg-
ment and energy OF the Boer leaders. The
vigorous attack on the British post at
Rensberg shows that the Beers mean to
reply to Lord Roberts's advance by strik-
ing at his communications.
Until the issue of the operations around
Kimberley is fully known. 1t is useless to
speculate on the next move OF Lord Rob-
crts. The fact that Kimberley has been
relieved and that Cronje had TO make a
hasty retreat are 10 the good side OF the
account. but the fact that Cronje has not.
at any rate up to the date of the latest
kilograms have seen. been well beaten In
CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE.)