The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-20

drawaI OF Free staters, who Are
Fastening Home to Attempt
to stay the Advance of Roberts.
Der OF the cabinet told II. w. Lucy to-
night that the war Office had received
telegram announcing that Gen. Cronje
was hopelessly surrounded.
Mr.. wyndham was beset with anxious
members of the house, but would only re-
ply that the governments news was ex-
tremely satisfactory. The sole explana-
tion Of the governments withholding
good news Is that confirmation and more
details are awaited.
situation Is Tantaiixing.
The situation as disclosed by corre-
spondcnts over the Free state border Is
tantalizing to the public expectation. The
elementary facts are that the Beers are
trekkIng eastward toward BIoemfontein
with sIow-moving baggage trains. and
that they are pursued by Lord Kitchener
with Gen. Kelley-kennys division. Gen.
Macdonald with the highlanders, made
a forced march to Koodoosrand ford and
on Sunday pushed twenty miles east
ward Gen. French left Kimberley Sat
urday, going east along the Modder river.
Lord Kitchener Is trying to outmarch
and to outfiank the Beers, thus checking
their retreat. IL possible. and driving them
back into the hands of Macdonald and
French.
kitchener's Plans Maturing.
The war Office message communicated
to Mr.. Lucy seems to Indicate that Lord
Kitchener has either got ahead of the
Beers or is about to reaiixe MS plan, and
the war ONCE waits to announce de-
cisive result.
DeIarey Seeking TO Delay British.
Meanwhile Commandant Delarey. with
the Beers from Colesherg. is hanging on
TO the right flank of the British pursuing
columns, seeking to delay their movement.
also to assist the Boer wagon trains to es-
cape.
Students Of topography think the Beers
VIII hardly risk fight until they get into
the rough country.
How q Convoy Was Lost.
A Daily Mail correspondent. who was
with the British convoy attacked by the
Beers at Riet river ford. wires:
ultimately the British have abandoned
the convoy In order not to check the ad-
vance. Thus 90 wagons and 80 tons OF
stores fall into the hands Of the Beers.
though IT is doubtful IL they viii he able
TO carry them away
Gen. BuIIer's Success.
Gen. Butler has achieved real success.
seemingly. in capturing the range OF hills
south of the Tugela. II makes more feas-
ible another attempt TO relieve Ladysmith.
The queen has sent a direct message 20
Lord Roberts oongratulating him and his
troops Gen. French and Cot kekewich
have been acquainted with their promo
tions.
Dr. Leyds' Explanation.
DR. Leyds, at Brussels says the Free
State troops who were besieging Ladysmith
have withdrawn In order TO defend their
homes In this way he accounts for Gen.
Buffers success against the weakened
forces lie win foreEo his projected trip
20 Rome. he aays, because decisive event.
are now taking place IN the theater OF
war"
Robert.' Plans secret.
Lord Roberts generaship was conduct
ed with such secrecy. says a telegram
from Nodder river. that even the senior
osficers who took the Sixth division
through the preliminaries Of the opera
tion did not know Nhat they would fnAlly
have 70 do.
The war office al midnight announced
Il had nothing further for publication
from South Africa
Rumors I'm the Iobbtcs
IN the hobbies of the house OF commons
last evening. however was rumoTed
that Gen. Cronje's army was surround
ed that Gen. French had got between
tho Boer forces and Bl6emfontein, ana
that ne was only awaiting reinforce
nenis TO close In on the enemy.
Boer, Expect Mig Battle.
4 dispatch TO the Daily Mail from Lou
rcnzo Marques dated Monday, says
According 70 advises FROM Pretoria,
tho Bosrs ARE expecting q big battle en-
ihe Tugrla. They claim that seventy of
the Nntshires were kircd at Coieshcrg
and that thirty wagons, With forage and
provisions. were captured. but no aiuuu-
ni.ien.
Their story of Kimberley Fight.
They thus describe the nghtiug at Kim
berley; The British came through Blaun-
hank and attacked IN two columns. White
the Beers we're busiiy engaged with Lord
Roberts, Gen. French, with 2Noo cavalry
aud six guns, succeeded in breaking
through the Boer lines, Tho Beers dld
not seriously oppose Gen. Freueh's aa-
vance but confined their efforts tt nre-
venting the provisions ge.;inS through
In this they saeoeeded. espturins 1000
Continued on Page Two.