Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-21

V.
was the sladdest sight which greeted
the eyes of the besieged for four
months.
Geneiai French's march was so rap.d
ana he heat so intense that many of Ii 5
horses died of exhaustion.
BOLTING BOERs.
AT the crossing OF the Modder River
the Boers boiled, leaving tneir ten :
guns, wagons and large quantities of
ammunition il the hands of the Erit 81
MOVING northward. the Beers again at
tempted to stem the advance. but Gen
eral French turned their flank an
reached his goal wi h insignificant loss
es-seven men killed and thirty-tive
wounded during the three days. from
Wednesday, February IA, to Friday,
February l6.
After nights rest at Kimberley
General French's column pursued the
Boers to l3rontveld, surrounded the
Ropes on which they were posted and
shelled them till nigh fail. when the
Boers fled. leaving many dead
General Cronje Lett sun his tents,
FOOD and clothes at Magersfon elm
CRONJE'S RETREAT DESCRIBED.
London, Feb. 21.-A correspondent OF
the Daily Chronicle, teleg aphing sun
day. thus describes General Cronje's re-
treat with the Beers at Magersfont Elm.
on learning of General Frcnchs sue
cess:
Thursday. at midnight. headed by
General Cronje. 5000 Beers. with their
heavy guns and OK wagons. evacuated
me Magersfontein lines. At dawn Fri
day the retreating Boer army was seen
from the British naval gun station on
Kip Drift kopje, trekking eastward
across the British front, at a distance
of 5000 yards. Our guns opened on
them, and n force of mounted infantry
crossing the river made q dashing
charge in the attempt to cut off the
head of the encmys column. But in
half an hour their whole force had
gained shelter under q line of kopjes.
Meanwhile two of our batteries had
come up and also the oxford Bluffs,
West Rulings and Gloucesters Onr
infantry crossed the drift and for three
hours were engaged with the enemy,
while our batteries shellel his position.
Fhe mounted infantry kept hard at
work.
Unable to withstand our CALLING fire.
the enemy retired, disputing every incn
OF the way and took up n second posi-
ton on the kopjes to the eastward. 1t
was Il magnificent spectacle to see the
Boer army thus at bay. Their rear
guard, two thousand strong. fought us.
while the main body trekked further
east, and then brought their guns into
The action lasted through the day
Our infantry fought splend!dly, but The
enemy held his ground under the con-
tinued commandment. Later on tho
Boer commander ventured on a bold
stroke. Leaving two thousand of his
men under cover he withdrew the rest
from his main position and headed for
Klop Kraal Drift, six miles to the
east.
'.1'his movement ,v,S eoo,, <1i.o.,.o,,
Our Infantry came back across the
drift and marched along the south
bank to endeavor to head off the en-
=cr1y. When they reached the neighbor-
hood of Kip Kraal Drift night had
fallen and half the Boers were already
across to the south side. Our mounted
infantry harassed their movements.
Meanwhile the Boer rear guard.
having covered the crossing of the
main body. retired slowly and success
fully passed the drift. The rear guard
fought desperately. and as 1T fell back
to the river it was harrasscd on the
flank and on the rear by the British.
Having thus passed the Modder
under cover of darkness. the Beers
trekked throughout the night in the
direction of Bloemfontein. General
Kelly-l[enny, with the Sixth Division.
pursued them at daylight, General Mac
donald. with the Highlanders following
him. Macdonald reached Kip Kraal
drift by forced marches Sunday. Gene
raj kelly-Kenny. moving from Kip
Kraal drift, was endeavoring to out
flank the enemy and cut them off from
Bloemfontein. so as to drive them back
into General Macdonald's hands. When
left the front General Kely-Kenny
had not come up with the enemy"
BUTLER CONTINUES ACTIVE.
Durham. Feb. 19.-(Evening)-Wh
General Butler is continuing his move
ment on the extreme right and has
made every disposition for the defense
of his position to the left and south Of
the Tugela by maintaining there a force
adequate for that purpose, isolated
parties of Beers some times cross the
river. There is much sniping,
Beers LOSE CATTLE.
Kimberley, Feb. 1s-(By Heliograph
to Modder River. Feb. 19.)-The coun-
try is all free around Kimberley The
Beers have evacuated Dronneld. Salt
Pan. Spytfontein and Scholtz Mex One
of their l2-pounders, with ammunition,
was captured, as was also their lager
at Dronfield. which was abandoned on
Friday night.
Rails are being laid to Modder river.
Several herds of cattle have been cap
tured.
Cecil Rhodes is in excellent spirits.
FRENCHS CASUALTIES.
London. Feb. 2O-The War ONCE
announces the following casualties
among officers during the relief of kim
berley:
Killed-Lieutenan a. p. Hesketh.
Sixteenth Lancers: Lieutenant The
Hon. W. McClintock Bunbury. Second
Dragons.
Wounded-Captain Z. r. Gordon and
Lieutenant P. F. Brassey, Ninth Ian
GERS; Captain G. B. Tuson sixteenth
Lancers; Leutenants r. I. Fordyce and