The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-15

London, Feb. 1.-THE following dis
patch has been received at the war Of
fee from General Roberts:
"Reit River, Tuesday, Feb. ID
Colonel Hannay, in command Of a brig
ade of mounted infantry, marching
from Orange river to Ramah, had q
slight enga cement Feb. II Sunday
with the Beers holding the hills and
threatening his right flank With a
detached part of mis- force, Colonel
Hannay detained the enemy while he
pushed his baggage and main body
through to Ramah.
''The object of the march was sue
cessfuily carried out. -Four men were
killed, twenty-five wounded and thir-
teen are missing.
Monday. Feb. u. the cavalry division
under General French seized the cross
ing Of the Reit river at Dekils Drift on
the east bank of which the Sixth and
Seventh divisions are now encamped.
The casualties were two troopers killed
and Captain Majesndie Of the rife
brigade wounded. He has since died.
One trooper was wounded.
The general commanding at Rensberg
reports that on Monday, Feb. y, he
was attacked in force by the Beers.
Lieutenant COnyngham of the WOTces-
ter regiment was wounded and has
since died There were ether casual
tie s4=s.-s
1875 p. n.-The war Office has issued
the following message from Lord Rob-
erts, received this evening:
General French's Operations.
.DeHTs Drift, Feb. 14.-S:10 a. M
General French left this point at 1870
yesterday morning with three brigades
of cavalry, horse artillery and mounted
infantry, including several colonial con-
tingents, in order to seize a crossing of
the MOdder about twenty-five miles.
He reports by dispatches dated 5.35
p. m. that he had forced a passage at
Clip Drift and has occupied the hills
north Of the river, capturing three of
the enemy's laagers with supplies.
while General Gordon of the Fifteenth
HuSS2Ts, with his brigade who had
made feint at EOndevaI Drift, four
miles west has seized it and another
drift between it and Clip Drift, to-
gether with two more laagers.
General FTenCh's performance is
brilliant, considering the excessive heat
and a binding dustStOrm which ragged
during the latter part Of the day
Owing to the rapidity of his move
slight opposition, his losses being small
Lieutenant Johnson of the Inniskilling
dragons is the only officer reported
severely wounded.
The Sixth division was last night on
the north bank of the Riet at Water
val Drift and is moving to support
the cavalry. The Seventh division is
here and will so on this afternoon.
-Four officers and ffty-thTee men had
r.1.I e. b.
turning wagons to the railway line,
Frustrated by heat and exhaustion"
Inside the Boer Lines.
Feb. Is, 4:2O a. m-The British army.
for the first time since the war began.
is inside the Boer frontier. Lord Rob-
erts, with at least 10000 infantry. 1000
cavalry ana $50 guns, has turned the
MagerSfOntein lines. before which the
British forces have been cncamped for
ten weeks, and with half Of his corps
he is already operating on Free State
territory. A battle has not yet been
fought, but large tactical advantages
have been gained. The relief of Kim
beTley is within measurable reach. and
the way to BlOamfontein is appreciably
easier.
Lord Roberts dispatches, wired from
inside the Free State, and on the Riet
river, left him Wednesday morning. His
advance had not been opposed by the
Beers in force Their patrols melted
away as the British moved forward.
The BOer army is likely to be felt in a
day or two, and battle is consequent
ly imminent.
As to what forces General Cronje has
now at his disposal, and as to where
he proposes making a stand against
the invaders, no one here connected
with the war Office knows anything.
The data for conceptions are wholly
wanting.
The forces Immediately at the dis
posal of Lord Roberts are placed at
$4,000, in a. general way. These figures
are revealed by the commands men
toned in the dispatches as having been
added TO the divisions known to be with
Lord Methuen. Quite possibly, Lord
Roberts has 10 900 or 10000 more.
Incidents at Rsnsburg.
1t is nov. realized that the incidents
at Rensburg have been seen out of all
proportion. Merely skeleton lines were
maintained there, while troops were be-
ing secretly and rapidly concentrat ted
on the MCdder river. The facility with
which 10000 men have already been
sent beyond the rail terminus shows
that Lord Kitchener has been fully
SUCCESSFUL IN organizing transport
Re is now supposed to be down the
lire. sending forward more troops and
getting together more transport About
FIVE miles Of OK and mule wagon trains
are estimated for each division. 50 that
Lord Kitchener. who is Teputed to have
more skill than a circus manager in
handling field transport, has immense
lahors in hand.
The London morning papers take
rather sober views Of the situation. but
are greatly pleased and hopeful Of what
is 20 come. They have been fed. how
ever, on such q low dlet Ct British sue
cesses shat they are disposed to eau
| ton and given to measuring develop
mn q. iii L. IL.