Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-02-23
ROBERTS, OPERATIONS.
Spencer Wilkinson Says There Is NJ
Doubt About the Relief OF
of Kimberley,


London, (By Cable. )-Spencer Wilkinson,
the military expert, reviewing the situation
in South Africa, says:
Lord Roberts has begun this campaign
by striking at the principal Boer forces ID
the western theater of war-that OF Com
mandant Cronje, covering the siege OF KIM
berley.
'In little over three weeks Lord Roberts
had completed the organization Of his force.
He then quietly massed some $4,000 men,
four infantry divisions and a cavalry divl-
sion. near the selected point, reaching Mod
der River Station on Friday. He must have
put his troops in motion with the least posi-
bic delay for on Monday the action began.
1t was an attempt to turn the Boer position
by march round its left, or eastern, nanS.
son Monday General French's cavalry
seized the passages OF the Riet River SOUTH
east OF Jacobsdal, and were at once followed
up by two infantry divisions. On Tuesday
the cavalry moved north, and seized the
crossings of the Modder River, the infantry
following at their heels.
The Relief of Kimberley.
son Thursday, when one division OF infan-
try was on the Modder and tho other close
behind 1t, between the two rivers, the cav
airy moved forward toward Kimberley, dis
persed the besiegers from the southeastern
front, and opened connection with the town.
THE same day the troops from the old
camp at Modder River Station opened up
communication with Jacobsdal, which had
already been taken Thus Lord Roberts had
a semicircle around the Boer position at
Magersfontein. from Kimberley on the north
to Modder River Station on the south. and
possibly the line was prolonged from Mod
der River Station to the northwest, so that
General French might hope by passing
through Kimberley, to complete the circle,
and thus enable Lord Roberts to envelop
and capture Cronje's whole force.
"This was the result hoped for. The plan
was brilliantly conceived and vigorously ex-
ecuted. But Cronje has been able to evade
the blow. When Gen. French reached KIM
berley II was found that CroDje, with the
bulk OF his force, had moved off toward
Bloemfontein, apparently by the Boshof
road, or by shorter route along the north
bank OF the Modder
Cronje Left in Haste.
''The laagers and stores abandoned and
the convoy captured proved that CroDje left
In haste, and one of General Kelly-Kenny's
Erigades was last reported as pursuing and
engaging the Boer rear guard. General
Kitchener is experimenting the pursuit,
which may be effective.
"Of the first and ninth divisions no men.
ton has been made In the kilograms, and the
inference is that part OF the design Is as
vat 1p1i @l,ot- e,,ro ian
to complete the circuit to the west. Per-
haps, too, force Is making to the eastward,
south of the Modder river, to intercept
Cronje, though as the mounted Beers cover
thirty miles q day, no infantry can catch
them. A part Of the Boer forces may have
retreated to the northwest, toward Barkiy,
and will, no doubt, be pursued.
There can be no doubt that Kimberley Is
relieved, and that the railway will soon be
reopened. This Is a success but the moro
valuable result-the destruction OF part OF
the Boer army-has not been secured. 1t
cannot be said, In the circumstances, that
this is attributable to weakness in the Brit
ish generalship, which seems to have been
excellent,
.There are disquieting features in the
news. The capture by Beers, said to have
come from Colesberg, OF large British con
voy may diminish the mobility of the British
force, and is proof OF the judgment and
energy Of the Boer leaders. The vigorous
attack on the British post at Rensburg
shows that the Boers mean to reply to Lord
Roberts advance by striking at his commu-
nications. Until the issue Of the operations
around Kimberley is fully known 1t is use
less to speculate upon the next move OF
Lord Roberts. The fact that Kimberley has
been relieved and that Cronje has to make
lasty retreat are to the good side OF the ac-
count, but the fact that Cronje has not, at
any rate up to the date Of the latest tele-
grams, been we'll beaten in q Eight. is dis
appointment. The opinion is widespread
that the invasion OF the Free State will bring
the Boer army, or at least the Free State
contingent cut Of Natal.