Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-15
ROBERTS TO MOVE.
The British Commander Purposes
Entering the Free State.
KIMBERLEY IS IN sore STRAITS.



has gathered $1,000 men, with whom,
according to The best military opin-
ion in London, he purposes turning
The left of the Magersfontein lines
near ,Iacobsdal, entering the Free
State, compelling Gen. Cronie to raise
the siege of Kimberley and thus max
ing his first step toward Bloemfon-
TEN.
Yesterday Lord Roberts announced
the appointment Of Gen. Sir Henry
Colville, hitherto commander of the
guards brigade, to the command of
the Ninth division, which is being
formed and will consist probably to
great extent of colonial troops.
Gen. Colville will be succeeded by Gen.
Reginald Pole-Carew.
Lord Roberts tells the correspond
ents that when he gets down to bust
ness they shall have ample opportuni-
ties to send news. His chief press
censor yesterday issued new rules and
in future all written communications
are to go unchecked. Only kilograms
will be censored. For the next few
days little news is likely to get
through, but later there will be more
freedom. Thus says the ceusor and
the last clause may be interpreted to
mean that something is about to hap
pen.
Kimberley, 20 miles away from the
Modder river position, is in sore
straits. Details of the December
death rate show that In population
of $4,000 whites and 10000 blacks the
mortality was go whites and 1888
blacks per 1000. The infantile death
rate was gu per 1000 among the
whites and 912 per 1000 among the
blacks Enteric fever was prevalent.
Meanwhile the bombardment by the
Beers has increased and there is i'm
minent danger of the town falling
under the very eyes Of Lord Roberts.
II is believed in circles close to the
war office that he will move at once.
Scouts have approached within 1000
yards of the Boer entertainments at
Magersfontein. They have found
these strong and ascertained that
they are used as dwelling places.
Naval gunners are constantly watch
ing the enemy's lines with strong
glasses and they declare that there is
an appreciate diminution in the Boer
forces.
In Natal the Boer commanders
south of the Tugela occupy Bold's
farm and several mines west of
Chiyely. Two thousand Beers, with
three guns, are advancing through
Zululand toward Natal.
spencer wilkinson on the Situation
London, Feb. 13.-Spencer WiIltin-
son, discussing the military situation
in the Morning Post yesterday, re-
fers to a Cape Town letter dated Jan
uary 30, which asserts that Lord Rob
erts will allow no movement until the
transport organization is complete,
and says: at is probable, therefore,
that the transport is now ready and
that the arrival of Lord Roberts at
Modder river is the signal for action.
It is possible that before beginning
his move he wishes to ascertain from
Lord Methuen how matters stand in
his part of the theater of war and this
would account for pause of a few
days"
Eshowe Likely to BE Besleged.
London, Feb. 13.-The Pietermaritz-
burg correspondent of the Daily Mail,
telegraphing yesterday, says A dis
patch from Eshowe asserts that a
large commando of Beers is en-
camped near Ngutu, with 80 wagons
and nine guns. It is rumored that
this force intends to besiege Eshowe,
the intention probably being to forti-
Nv the Insult hills in order to prevent