The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-02-21
BRITISH ASTOUNDED THE DOERS.
ON TO BLO0MF0NTEIN.
Only Fifty British Casualties In Relieving Kim.
berly-Boers Reported Very Strong
al koffyIontoin.

A dispatch from British headquarters
on Modder river, dated Sunday, fcb-
ruary IS, says:
Our sudden appearance seems to
have astounded the enemy and thrown
them into a panic. All their positions
were hurriedly evacuated and the big
guns at Magersioutcin and kimberley
were left behind.
"Gcn, Cronic moved his transport,
consisting of hundreds OF wagons, along
a bank OF kopis north of the Modder
river. near Koffyfontein. 1t goes past
our mounted infantry, but owing TO
WEAKNESS. had TO stop. Thcrcupon our
artillery opened fire upon il. The main
body of the Boer force kept up run
ming fire the whole day, vainly trying
80 escape.
Each time their advance guard
sought TO move off, our mounted in
fantry galoped round and checked
them We never attempted to stop
their main movement, contcnting our
selves with trying to check them.
Their position ct Koftyiontcin is said
20 be very strong. They entertain
wholesome dread of 10000 cavalry NOV
ing more quickly than they do them
selves. We hope to be in Bloemiontein
shortly"
AT dawn on Friday the Boers were
observed moving wagons along the
kopics toward Koifystein. Our mount
cd infantry was sent out IRON NIp
drift. but was driven back and the enc
my's wagons passed.
''Gen. Knox's Twelfth brigade, how
ever, quickly attacked the enemy main
BODY, and severe fighting went on all
day, over a line which was very extend
cd The enemy, making a desperate
attempt finally escaped, owing TO the
mounted infantry suffered from the try
ing nanking movement Our force mas
now been reinforced.
Gen. Cronjc's army OF 10000 men
with a thousand wagons is in full retreat
toward Blocmfontein. hotly pursued by
Gen. Kelly-K Kenny. 1t will probably be
a rear guard fight all the way TO Bloem-
fontein. Our cavalry has already re-
turned from Kimberley to join in the
pursuit"
The London war Office announces
that General French reached kimbcr.
ley Thursday evening. Lord Roberts
message follows: "Jacobsdal, Feb. 10
French with force OF artillery, cavalry
and mounted infantry reached kimber-
ley this evening"
The war office makes public another
dispatch from Roberts, saying: Jacobs
dal, Feb. I6.-Thc following from Cen
eral French was received this mornings:
L have completely dispersed the enemy
from the southern side OF Kimberley
from Alexandersfontein TO Oliphants-
fontein and am now going to occupy
IL. l0NFA ntt IL
emy's lager and store depot supplies
and supplies OF ammunition. Casualties
about 20 of all ranks wounded. KIM
berley cheerful and WE'LL
81 have good reason to believe the
Magersfontein trenches have been
abandoned and that the Bocrs arc en-
deavoring to escape. General French
is securing the country north OF Kim
berley. One OF General Kelly Kenny 5
brigades of infantry is in pursuit OF a
large Boer convoy moving toward
Bloemiontein."
Gen. Cronie, with a start OF a day or
two, is seemingly in full retreat from
Gen. Roberts, moving northward. Gen:
French, with the cavalry, simply stayed
over night in Kimberley, and then push
ed on to get in touch with the retiring
enemy. Military opinion is that Rob
erts will not push far after the Beers
Immediately, because OF the transport
problems and the need Of rest for the
troops. He has to feed 10000 persons
in his army, and the whole Kimberley
population. Roberts has wrought a
genuine preliminary success and the inn
preston is that he has done enough for
the present.
Correspondence from Pretoria gives
an extraordinary account OF 1000 Brit
ish soldiers, who. it is said, arrived
toward the end oi December last during
the retreat from Dundee at the River
Maputa, the boundary between Swazi-
land and Portuguese territory.
According to the narrative they had
lost their way and wandered for weeks
ia Zululand, arriving shoeless, in rags
and dying of hunger. These soldiers,
the correspondent says, were thought
TO have been shut up with Sir George
White in Ladysmith.
A dispatch, dated February IS, says
The British army for the first time
since the war began is inside the Bocr
frontier. Gen. Roberts, with at least
10000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and I5c
guns, has turned the Magersfontein
lines, and with half of his corps is oper-
ating on Free State territory. The re-
lief OF Kimberley is within reach arj
the way TO Bloemsfontein is eas~
Gen. French has fixed himself on G,/
Cronje's main line OF communicated
with Bloemiontein and 10000 infantry
with 72 guns, are being pushed up to
support there. A great battle is expect
ed soon.
Minnssota..Mines Leased.
The National Steel Company has
about acquired the lease OF the Spruce