The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-19
BOer war Situation.

casts regarding the enure phase of the
war. but closes with the relief Of, KIM
berley and the general belief that the
turning point OF the campaign has been
reached, scarcely admits OF any other
topic. Quite naturally the news from the
front Is jubilantly told and retOld until
subsidiary matters Of interest, such as
parliamentary proceedings. secure but
passing notice or these the most not
able was Lord Roseberry's vivid analy-
sis OF Great Brita.n's isolation.
The new military program which was
born this week has droned along toward
enactment being accepted more I'm the
light Of makeshft than anything else
and is quite overshadOwed by the former
premjer's remarks, though his pesslmis-
tic views we're discouraged by the almost
simultaneous publication of Lord Roberts
success. The manner In which Lord
Boseberry delivered this remarkable ora
tion was unusually theatrical and other
respects savored Of an appeal TO ,he gall
lery giving Mr. a. j. Belfour, the gov
ernment leader in the house Of commons.
the opportunity TO jibe the ex-premier
with unusual bitterness upon his tones
OF trembling emotion" etc.
BoERs Nervous AND UNERTA1N.
LONDON. Feb. 1880 n. m.-The war
office made the usual statement at m d.
night that 81 had no news but at about
the same time came dispatches from Dur
ban, dated late Saturday evening, giving
reports OF the renewed fighting on the
Tugela. where the censor stopped al the
telegrams. Arrivals at Durham from the
Tugela say that important operations are
progressing and that fighting has occur
red daily since the commencement Of the
week. In these engagements the Brit sh
casualties have been comparatively light.
According to these unconfrmed reports
General Butler had reoccupied Vaal
Krantz and the Beers had retreated in
the direction OF the Free state.
In the meantime wounded officers and
men are arriving daily at Durham and
are placed abobrd Fhe four hospital
shdps now there.
DISPATCHES from Zuiuland received at
Durham. say that the country is quiet'ng
down. thanks to the appearance Of a
flying column. The Beers seem nervous
and uncertain.
wILKNsON HAPPY.
LONDON. Feb. 1s.-spencer Wilkinson,
the military expert, reviewing TIE sttua-
iioa in South Africa for the Associated
Press says:
Lord Roberts has begun his campaign
by striking at the principal Boer forces
sn the western theater os war-that oi
Commandant Cronje covering the seige
of Kimberley In little over three
weeks Lord Roberts had completed the
organization of his force. He then quiet-
~ rnassed some $1,000 men, four infantry
divisions. and a cavalry division, near
the selected point, reaching Modder river
station on Friday February 8. He must
have put his troops in motion with the
least possible delay, for on Monday the
action begun. 1t was an attempt 10
turn the Boer position by a march around
its left or eastern flank.
FRENCH'S VICTORY.
con Monday General Frenchs cavalry
ssazed tne passages of the ReIt river,
southeast Of Jacobsdal. and were at once
Followed up by two infantry divisions. on
Tuesday the cavalry moved north and
sefZs.f the crossings Of The Modder river,
the infantry following at their heals. on
Thursday when one division of infantry
was on the Modder and the other close
behind II between the two rivers, the cav
airy moved forward toward Kimberley
dispensing the besiegerrs from dhh south
western front and opened connection wi h
the town
SEMI CIRCLE ABOUNT BOEHs
''rhe same day the troops from the old
camp al Adodder river station conmuni-
cation with Jaoobsdal which had already
been taken. Thus Lord Roberts had a.
semi-circle around the Bcer position OF
the Magersfont@n, rom Kimb, -'ey on
the north. 70 Modder river staf'1d on
the south. and possibly the line was pro-
iOnged from Modder river station 20 the
northwest 80 that eneral French might
hope by passing through Kimberley. COM
plete the entire semi-circle and TO en-
able Lord RoSerts 10 envelope and cap
fure Cronies whole force.
This was the result hoped for The
plan was brilliantly conceied and vis-
orously executed but Cronje has been
able 10 eyade the blow. When General
French reached Kimberley It was found
that the Crorie with the bulk Of his
foreN had moved on toward Bloemfon-
dein- apparently by the Boshof road,
or by "a shorter route along the north
bank OF the Modder The laagers and
stores ah3n ,oned and convoy captured
prove that Cronie left Ia haste, and one
of General Kelley Kennys brigades was
last reported as pursuing ana engaging
r1