Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-19
Delay Placed British Forces
One Day In the Rear.
PLANS OF GEN. ROBERTS
Have Been Carried Out to the Minute
Beers Are Moving From the
Vicinity Of Ladysmith to the Orange
Free State.

London Feb. 1850 a. NIT Is now
amply confirmed that General Cron1e
escaped. Every detail received, how
ever, proves how admirable Lord Rob-
erts' plans were conceived and were sue
ceeding. But for the unexpected delay
at Dekiels drift, which was almost nm
passa BILE for agons the whole Boer
force would ave been surrounded. The
delay of one day gave them their chance
for a llasty retreat.
All the either movements of Lord Rob-
erts were executed exactly to time. APP
parent1y. General Cronje is retreating
with the main army, and even if he es-
capes altogether, he will probably lose
all his baggage.
There is still something doubtful about
the capture of the British convoy, which
consisted Of 200 wagons, each loaded with
5000 pounds of rations and of forage, and
each drawn by IS oxen. 1t was quite un-
expectedly attacked by a sup
posed to come from Colesburg. The es-
cort, consisting of so Of the Gordon High
landers. 40 men of the army service corps
and a few of kitchener's horse, main
tanned a defense until the arrival of re-
Inducements. sustaining insignificant
casualties.
The Standards correspondent at ia
cobsdal. t~eIegraphing Thursday, Febru-
airy Is, says: An attack was made yes
terday upon the rear guard of our main
body by a force of l, 400 Beers. They sue
ceeded in capturing some of our wagons,
but Lord Roberts did not delay his march
to retake these. There were few casual
tics an ci1,, ci1n Tho locf of INV nm
columns arrived from Honey Nest kloof
today, having met with no opposition on
the way.
Specials from Ladysmith report an
apparent movement on the part of the
Beers toward the Free State, presuma-
bly, with the object of assisting General
Cronje. The news that General Butler is
attempting another crossing of the Tu-
gela east of Colesburg after the capture
of Hlandwane hill, therefore. gives great
satisfaction. Buffers losses so far have
been about 20 in wounded. His entire
army, With the exception of General
Harris brigade. is engaged in the opera
tion.
1t is announced that the channel squad
ron. instead of going to Gibraltar, has
been ordered to remain in British waters
until March.
Jaccbsdal, Orange Free State. Friday,
Feb. 16.-Lord Roberts combinations for
the movement Of the corps dove-tailed
with precision, although obstacles that
had not BEEN foresean had to be over
come. The execution of his design begar
at 3 a. m. Sunday. General French rode
into Kimberley on Thursday afternoon
just When he was due, according to tht
field marshals time table. having in fm1,
and a. half 13VG ms Ych c6 on ~oiloc ,p;+l
artillery, and having fought two small
engagements.
The relief of Kimberley was accom-.
pIshed with the loss of only SO men
twenty thousand infantry made a splen.
did march under a sub-tropical SIM a mr.
through a dust storm to hold the posi-
lions which General French took.
Lord Kitchener was with Genera
fuckers division. In consequence off hi
expert arrangements the four division,
moving over the sandy veldt are fed ant
Watered. 1t is hardly possible TO annra
ciate adequately the mathematical pre-
clsion with which every part of TIL,
transport department has worked
marching through the day, toiliug alnnos
sleeplessly throughout the night, yictual
ing the army and evolving every hour re
suits from seeming chaos. Everyhod
uid what was expected of him cheerfuuI
tnough enduring frightful fatigues. Fey
siept more than three hours. The ha :
,a1lohs hour after hour toiled throueh N
neaNs sand uncomplainingly, and whe,
nov ana then a man fell out of the ra n1
rAiauseea ne would rejoin his compan
lalef after he had rested. Some 20 nv g
We're overcome by the heat and had to =
sent 10 the rear in the backward def1
on empty wagons. o
The rapidity of Lord Roberts, novo
niehts away from his base has remove
one Of the problems, perhans tho 49,
y 0IlI u ina a
hllcaealer have created a mobile rorc.
apie 10 make2 in exterior lines and :
outIank the Beers, themselves sn Won
d6ffully mobile, "on
fo nhe position OF the Boer army at spyt
1ehteln being u%ntenable, General rrpn
n!oered a retreat. At the moment hi
uspatch is written it is uncerta !
Whether his whole force or only a M,
.on mas gone toward Bloemfontein
IS possible that a part is going north
Kimberley, e W. !
IT is supposed that a tw%enty-nine Ia
gun Is stllli in the neighborhood of Kin
psriey, The road from Jacobsdal
Modder station is now open.
shou urther details of the Boer retres
snow that the enemy has been fightin
5000 rear guard action and occupyin
successive kopjes in order to allow II
moving OF the convoy, which. howeve
mas osen gong at a very slow pac
the animals apparently being dead hea
The latest reports show that the Boo,
IN the neighborhood of %Sslipkraals dri
are undoubtedly disheartened.
General French's magnificent marc
Is still the subject Of admiration, espec
ally in view of the dust storm ar
thunder storms that all experienced.
The work of Smelling the Beers mr.,
ceeds vigorously. Owing to the style
action. the Beers are bound to show
the open whenever they are obligad
leave the kopjes.
London, Feb. 19.-The Daily New
published a dispatch, dated Sunds