Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-02-16

ing Ladysmith the evening Of Feb
10th. guided by a native. he soon
encountered the Boer patrol who fired
upon him. Escaping the patrol he
crawled over twenty-five miles Of the
toughest and stoniest paths, hiding in
the native huts and kraals during the
day and proceeding at night. Once
a Boer patrol came to the door Of the
hut where he was hiding under blan-
kets. He swan the Tugela river and
reached Chieveley Feb 18th. where
he took the train for Durham.
London, 1:45 p. m.-While there is
tremendous satisfaction here at Field
Marshall Roberts and General
French's success, those best suited to
Judge the situation are inclined TO
the opinion that pending more def
mite information. the news had better
be regarded as assuring. rather than
accomplishing, the relief of the belea-
guered city of Kimberley.
The rapidity of French's march in
dicates that he was unable to take
provisions, and whether he left the
lines behind him open is only mat
ter of surmise. A remarkable feature
of Roberts laconic cablegram is the
fact that it is dated Jacobsdal. which
was General Cronje's base of supplies
Had Lord Roberts inflicted decis-
i've defeat on the Beers it is believed
that he would have mentioned it, as
such success would be paramount to
the relief of Kimberley, or the throw
ing into that place of garrison that
would insure of its holding out
| French's force is estimated at be-
tween 5000 and 5000 men. What
happened to Cronje and the where
abouts of his forces puzzles the ex-
perts.
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated
Feb. 14th, received this morning, says:
"The Beers are leaving Magersfon-
tein to enforce their other positions.
1t is estimated that between 1000 and
10000 men remain there"
Lord Roberts wide movement, via
Jacobsdal, may have cut off these
troops from 3loemfontein, but while
the British forces are endeavoring to
intercept the Boer communications.
there is parallel Boer column trying
to cut off the British from De Aar,
and it is apparently meeting with |
some success, though later dispatches |
referring to Clements retirement to |
Arundel say the movement was under
taken for strategic purposes, and dur
ing the march the Beers were driven
orr by a heavy fire, the Inniskillings
charging brilliantly and infiicting
great loss on the Burghers
A Boer dispatch from Lorenzo Mar
ques, dated Feb. 18th, says the ini-
tial attack on Colesberg, Feb. 18th, re-
suited in a federal loss of nine men
killed, fourteen wounded and five
prisoners. The British were driven
out of their camp and one of their
maxims was captured
The news of Frenchs entry into
Kimberley was received on the stock
exchange here with rousing cheers.
DeBeers rose 7-S, but subsequently
fell / IA on Paris rumor that Cen
eral French had merely fallen into a
Boer trap.
London, Feb. 16-A mutilated dis
patch from Cape Town, dated Feb.
IA, says that some Grenadiers went
through body of eighty Beers four
times and only seventeen of them
escaped. AS the Grenadiers form a
part of the Modder river column, this
bayonet charge may be connected
with Lord Roberts movement
Cape Town, Feb. 16-General
French with cavalry, relieved Kimber-
ley last night.
Cape Town, Feb. 16-There is con-
siderable alarm at Naauwpoort, ow-
ing to the report that Boer force
had occupied position on a hill eight
miles off from that town.
London, 7::44 p. m.-The war office
makes public a dispatch from Field
Marshal Lord Roberts. saying: Jacobs
i dal, Feb 16-The following from Gen
eral French was received this morn
ing: I completely dispersed the enc
my from the southern side of Kimber-
ley from. Alexandersfontein to OIL
phantsfontein, and am now going to
occupy their ground. Have captured
the enemy's laager, store of supplies
and supplies of ammunition. Casual
ties about twenty, all ranks, wounded.
Kimberley cheerful and we'll"
London. Feb. 1850 p. m.-Gov--
ernment leader A. ]. Balfour, Just an
nounced in the house of commons that
the war office has no further news
from the seat of war
New York, Feb. 16-The commercial
cable company, this afternoon. sent
out the following notice: I'VE are ad
vised that kilograms can now be ac-
cepted for Kimberley, South Africa
at sender's risk. not exceeding twelve
words"
BUYERS make more than Ilfeld's does thii