The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-21
Victorious Advance of Gen
Roberts Great Army.

London, Feb l6, 9 Is q. m The
war Office announces that Gen French
reached Kimberley Thursday evening
Following is Lord Roberts message
to the war Office:
"Jacebsdal, Feb l6, m-Frency
with force of artillery. cavalry anh
mounted infantry reached Kimberled
this evening. Thursday"
London. Feb l6, 7 AZ p m.-The
war Office makes public dispatch
from Field Marshal Lord Roberts
saying:
"Jscobsdal, Feb 16.--The follow
ing from Gen French was received
this morning.:
eel have compl eteIy dispersed the
enemy from the southern side of
Kimberley, from Alexandersfontein
to Oliphantsfontein and am now 90
ing to occupy their ground. Have
captured the enemy's laager and store
depot supplies and supplies of am
munition. Casualties about 20 Of ali
ranks wounded
80 Kimberley cheerful and well.'"
Gen Roberts has also sent the fol
lowing dispatch
"Jacobsdal. Feb l6 Il have good
reason to believe the Msgerstontein
trenches have been abandoned aud
that the Beers are eudeavoring to
escape Gen French is securing the
country north of Kimberley One of
Gen Kelly Kenny's bridgades of in.
fantry is in pursuit of large Boer
convoy moving towards Bloemfou.
tein 1"
London, Feb II, 4 Asa 10 Gen
Cropje with start of q day or two.
is seemingly in full retreat from Lord
Roberts. moving northward Gen
French, with the cavalry. simply
stayed over night in Kimberley and
then pushed on to get in touch with
the retiring enemy. A long Boer
wagon train in moving toward Bloem
fontein, followed presumably by q
large force of British infantry In
their hasty departure the Beers lost
quantities of supplies and ammuui.
tion
Military opinion here is that Lord
Roberts will not push far after the
Boers Immediately because of trans
port problems and the need of
rest for the troops. he has to feed
10000 persons in his army and the
whole Kimberley population He
must rebuild the railway from Mod
der river town to Kimberley and re
victual the latter
Gen French lost few men onlv in
action. but the forced marches and
heat have probably made many i'll
Numbers of remounts must be pro.
vided
Lord Roberts has wrought q gen
uine preliminary success and the i'm
preston is that he has done enough
for the present He will need to
prepare for another strike
All over England tonight there
have been evidences of public Joy
In every theatre aud public meeting,
around tho railway stations and 10
the streets there have been gladness
and jubilation over the news The
papers are editorially rejoicing
Those who read the news closely
see only one disturbing factor in the
Cape situation and that is the pres
sure of the Beers toward Lord Rob
erts line of supply through DeAar
which was never more important
than now. The Beers under Com
mandants Delarey and GobIer are
making persistent effort to pene.
trate to the railway They haye
pushed Gen Clements back to Arun
del and have outflaDked him. All
are within 60 miles. or two days'
march of the Central railway. Doubt
less Lord Roberts has left forces
along the line and can send back
more if necessary
In the house Of commons last
evening it was rumored Gen Butler
had again crossed the Tugela
OCCUPATION OF JACOBSDAL
Outside Jaoobsdal, D. + S., Thurs.
day, Feb 15 The road between Mod
der river aad Jacobsdal is now open
The distance is only nioe miles. The
road is available for sending reinforce
meO's and supplies.
When the Beers evacuated jacobs.
dal they wcro obliged to pass over a
ridge where they afforded splendid
mark for the British guos. which show
cred shrapnel upon the retreating
enemy.
The convoy which was attacked at
Riet river had been countermauded,
but tho order did not arrive 10 time
and the cynarinnna uaa uaru ua.m