The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-17
Sharp Fighting In
Orange Free State

IONDON, FEB. lf.-i.i5 a. 1n.-Gencral
Cronje. with start Of day or two
is seemingly In full retreat before Lord
Roberts. moving northward. General
French with the cavalry. simply stayed
over atyht IN Kimberley ana then push
ed on to get In touch with the retiring
enemy \ long Boer train Is moving to-
ward Bloemfoutein. followed presumably
by a large force Of British infantry. In
their hasty departure, the Beers lost a
large quantity OF supple and ammuni-
ton.
Military opinion here Is that Lord Rob
er's will not push far after the Beers inn
mediatcly, because OF transport problems
and the need OF rest for the troops He
has to feed 10000 persons i'm the army
and the whole Kimberley populat on. He
must rebuild the railroad from Modder
river town TO Kimberley and revict al
the latter
General French lost a few men only n
action, but the forced marches and heat
probably made a number ill. Numbers
or remounts must be provided
Lord Roberts has wrought a genuine
prelim nary success ana the impression
is shat he has done enough, for the pres
ent and will need to prepare 70 ranoth-
er strike
All over England tonight there has been
evidence Of public joy. In every theatre
and public meetins around the railway
stations and in the streets there have
been expressions Of gladness and jublla-
ton over the news. The newspapers are
editorialy rejoicing.
Those who read the news closely see
only one disturbing factor in the cape
situation and that is the pressure of the
Beers towards Lord Roberts line OF sup
ply through Deaar. which was never
more important than now. The Beers un-
der Commandants Delarey and GObler
are making a persistent effort to pene-
trate TO the railway. They have pushed
General Clements back to Arundel and
have outfanked him. All are within 60
miles. or two days hard march, of the
central railway. Doubtless Lord Roberts
has left considerable forces alorg the
line and can send back more II necessary.
SEVERE FIGHTING.
LONDON TEB. 17.-The Daily Tee-
graph has the following dispatch from
Nauwpoort. dated February l3, and de-
layed I'm transm' ssion.
Very severe fighting occurred on both
our fianks near Rensberg The enemy
greatly outnumbered our troops, being
about 900 In number. They attacked the
Worceshire regiment on thor hill and
with desperate determination. charged
home. only to experience such heavy
Maxim and rife fire from our men that
have been considerable.
"A patrol OF the Innskilling dragons
was surrounded by some SEQ Beers and
gallantly cut its way through without
losing a man, but company OF New
South Wales infantry was unfortunate
~ annihilated. most Of the mems bayo-
nets however bearing the impress OF SAN
culinary conflict with the foe.
Col. Conynghan was shot through the
heart at the outset Of the engagement
The enemy chose the time Of Tho moons
setting for their onslaught. Out OF FIVE
colonial officers only one returned 30
camp.
A strateg.c and concentratve move
back 20 Arundel has been decided upon.
Our guns from Coleskop have been safe
ly removed. only one Maxim being de-
stroyed to prevent from falling into
the hands OF the enemy. Nine wounded
officers and % men were brought into
the Naauwpoort field hospital. Our death
roll at present IS not known.
STORY FROM LADYsMITH.
LONDON, FEB 1G.-The correspondent
OF the Ladysmith from which place he
escaped, February 7. has arrived n, Dur
ban, February a. sends the following,
written before he left I.adysmith;
Since the furious cannonade in the ear
ly part of the week, quietness has reign
cd The hills on which the relief columns
Lyddite shells were burst ng IN hundreds
a few days previously are now only oc-
cupied by grazing cgi tie. Further away
on the north side Of Splon Kop, the Boel
laagers can be seen. evidently bigger thar
before, showing that they have no idea
at present OF retiring from that pos ltion
Much disappointment n felt az the non
appearance OF General Butler, as from
the severity OF the fire every heart was
glowing with hope and exc tement al th'
prospect OF immediate relief not that W.
are AZ all IN the blues. for every one ca
pahle of shoulderlng n rifle Is confiden
In our ability 20 hold the town agans
any force the Beers are capable Of put
ting in the field Sul. the continued die
Of horse flesh Is getting somewhat monot
Onous although the health OF the caml
taking everything into consideration q
better than could be expected. Enters