The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-02-23
Beers ARE LEAVING MAdERSFONTEIN.
Lord Roberts Movement May Cut OF
These Troops From Going to
Blomf0nteln.
A Parallel Boer Column In Trying
10 Cut on the British Line TO
Demonstrating Heard
From Buller.

Office from Lord Roberts:
Jacobsdal, Feb. 17.--French, with a
force of artillery, cavalry and mount
ed infantry, reached Kimberley last
Thursday evening"
London, Feb 17.-While there is ire
mendous satisfaction and jubilation
here at Field Marshal Lord Roberts
and Gen. French's success, those best
suited to judge the situation are in.
clined to the opinion that, pending
more definite information, the news
had better be regarded as assuring,
rather than as accomplishing the re.
lief of the beleaguered city of Kim.
berey. A careful study G! ihe anlb
guilty of Lord Roberts dispatch leads
to the belief that the actual relief OF
the place is still matter of time.
Kimberley, it is pointed out, can
scarcely be termed relieved till it is
feasible to take provisions there.
The rapidity of Gen. F'rench's march
Indicates that he was unable to do this
and whether he left his lines behind
him open is only matter of surmise.
1t is considered most probable that
Lord Roberts and Gen. French's brill
liant tactical success, for such it is
lnder any circumstances, resembles
he first relief of Lucknow, when the
dispersal of the enemy's forces was
by no means Immediately effected.
Another remarkable feature of Lord
Roberts laconic cablegam is the fact
that it is dated at Jacobsdal which
was Gen. Comics advance base of sup
plies; yet there is no word explaining
'he British commanders presence
here, nor word of any presence
which he or Gen. French encountered.
Had Lord Roberts inflicted q decisive
defeat on the Beers, it is believed he
would have mentioned it as such a
success would be greatly paramount
the relief of Kimberley, or the
3Towng into that place of a garrison
which could assure it holding out.
However, Gen. French's entry into
Kimberley has been effected, and
doubtless brings Joy to the hearts of
those who have been shut up in the
city for 122 days Their defenders
number about 1000. while Gen.
Erench's force is estimated at between
5000 and 5000 men.
The 9th and 9TH divisions have al
ready crossed the river, and are prob
ably with Lord Roberts at Jacobsdal.
What has happened to Gen. COME and
the whereabouts of his forces puzzles
she experts.
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated
Wednesday, February IA. received Fri
day morning. says: THE Beers are
leaving Magersfontein to reinforce
Dther positions. 1T is estimated that
tetween 1000 and 10000 men remain
.here."
Lord Roberts wide turning move
mcnt, via Jacobsdal, may have cut off
these troops from Biomfontein, but
mhile the British forces are endeavor.
ing to intercept the Boer communica-
lions, there is a parallel Boer column
trying to cut off the British lines to
de Aar, and it is apparently meeting
with some success, though later dis
patches referring to Gen. Clements
retirement to Arundel say the move
ment was undertaken for strategi>
purposes, and that during the course
of the march the Beers were driven
off by heavy fire, the Inniskilling'
charging brilliantly and infictine
great loss on the burghers.
A Boer dispatch from LourenzC
Marques, dated Thursday, February
Is, says the initial attack on Coles
burg February IL resulted in a fedora
loss of men killed, IA wounded ant
prisoners. The British it is added
were driven out of their camp and
one of their Maxims was captured
The news of Gen. French's entry
into Kimberley was received on tn,
stock exchange here Friday with rous
ing cheers. No boom in stocks wa
created, but satisfactory strong un
dertone prevailed DeBeers rose 1M
but subsequently fell IA on a Pari
rumor that Gen French had merel,
fallen into a Boer tr :.
Inc uspaucn reTerrIng 10 the con
dition of Ladysmith is regarded a
reassuring.
There is no further word from Gen
Butler, and nothing startling is ex
peeted to occur in Natal in the imme
date future.
According to a dispatch iron
Chieveley, dated Wednesday, Februar.
il. il has been ascertained that tn
British artillery during last week
fighting rendered two large Boer gun
and one Nordenfeldt ineffective.
A Sterkstroom dispatch of Wedne:
day, February IA. says that Col. Eager
who was wounded and captured a
Stormberg. died February Is. Tn
Boers turned his body over to III
British al Aiolteno.
Outside Jacobsdal. Orange Ere
Sttae. Feb. 1T.-Jacohsdal is now
possession Of the British. Yesterda
a small cavalry patrol entered III
place and found * full OF wounde'
including several British from Rem
burg. The place was occupied b
only a small force, WHICH fell back b