New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-13
PLAN TO RELIEVE KIMBERLEY.
HEAVY DEATH RATE-CENSORSHIP LESS


London. Feb, 13.-Lord Roberts has gathered
thirty-five thousand men. with whom, accord
ing TO the best military opinion in London, he
purposes turning the left of the MagersfOntein
lines near JacobsdaI, entering the Free State.
compelling General Cronje 10 raise the siege Of
Kimberley. and thus making his first step tow
ard BIoemfontein
Yesterday Lord Roberts announced the ap-
pointrnent Of GearaI Sir Henry CoIviIe, hitherto
commander OF the Guards Brigade 10 the COM
rnand Of the Ninth Division. which is being
formed and viii consist probably TO great
extent Of colonial troops General Colville VIII
be succeeded by General Reginald Pole-Carew.
Lord Roberts announces 70 the correspondents
that when he gets down to business they shall
have ample opportunities TO send news His chief
press censor yesterday issued new rules. and IN
the future all written communications are 10 go
unchecked. Only kilograms will be censored
For the next few days little news is likely TO
get through but later there viii be more free
dom The last clause nav be interpreted 10
mean that something is about 70 happen
Kimberley, twenty miles away from the Nod
der River position. is in sore straits Details OF
the December death rate show that in popu-
lation Of 1900 white and 1900 blacks the
mortality was 60 whites and 13s blacks thou
sand The infantile death rate was GIL thou
sand among the whites and 912 a thousand
2
Tbfg frightful state Of things in December can
not have improved much If al all since and the
fighting power OF the garrison must have been
greatly diminished
MORE TRANSPORTS CHARTERED.
The War Office is. making preparations to con
time the stream Of troops for South Africa.
Four large steamers nave been chartered
japan agrees 10 let the Armstrong; transfer TO
England four naval quick hTers that were built
for her. consenting 10 walt for the execution OF
her own order until the hostihues IN South
Africa are over Several European Powers, by
similar consents as 70 guns being constructed
bv yickers' Sons and Maxim, enable England 10
secure 100 Maxims.
TWO thousand men ara constantly employed al
Tooiwfch Arsenal and all the gun and aTaHlunl-
ton factories are working night and day to exc
cute Government orders The weekly output "a
four firms is 100000 rounds
outside OF her requirements for South Africa
Great Britain is accumuIating immense stores of
var material Considerable divergence Of opin-
,on exists as 10 the adequacy Of the Govern
r7ent's military proposals even now. The mill
-a-v experts and newspapers. while acknoWledG-
,rg the difficulties 70 be met, complain that
nothing is said about measures necessary Tor
Immediate emergencies in south AFRICA ana de-
oI.ra mat rhe Governments scheme is mainly
fVaGr pd q
+rsirad and unorganized men, while nothing is
being done TO prepare large. well organized
force. ready to take the held.
cprrrc7sAf OF LANsDOwNE's PLAN.
The onI, noint that meets with universal ap-
-, - +be announceruent OF the creation Of
s--+,-tbre4 batteries, which Lord Lansdowne
has explained are 70 consist OF fifteen Founders
: ~. ,ev,As- and most modern type, and the
-, a-,,,c,,vcAr1ent that the reserves OF stores
80 sn7rnuuition, which Lord Lansdowne has ad-
r,,+ted have been kept far too low are TO be
.,sre6 70 the level required by modern improve
and maintained there The Times"
ls,o- -Lls,l tbtnks the scheme not unsatisfactory
says:
- r,,o,,nr NJ searching through Its intricacies
70 -sa-ssct1,res can lead TO the discovery Of any
anu ost,L 80 nrfnciple or definite object This is
guloaiS gu.niz the way TO meet great emergency.
So -, ~ nrfncipIe and fine dlspLay OF irnagina-
Lack ol tbe leading characteristics Of this dis
appointing scheme
.arbe Daily Chronicle sASs-
...,srd,v critic might call tbs scheme a
continued On fourth Sa~s-