The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-20

London, Fberuray 1S.-Spencer Will
kinson. the military expert. reviewing
the situation in South Africa for the
Associated Press says:
Lord Roberts has begun his cam
paign by striking at the principal force
in the western theatre of war-that of
Commandant Cronje covering the siege
Of Kimberley.
In a little over three weeks Lord
Roberts had completed the organiza
ton of his force. He then quietly
massed some So 900 men near the select
ed point, reacheing Modder River sta
tion on Friday, February 9Th He must
have put his troops in motion with the
least possible delay, for on Monday the
action began. 1t was an attempt to
turn the Boer position by a march
round it's left, or eastern flank.
''On Monday General F'rench's cav
airy seized the passages of. the Riet
river, southeast 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 fol-
lowing at their heels. On Thursday,
when one division of infantry was on
the Modder river and the other close
behind it, between the two rivers, the
cavalry moved forward toward Kim
berley, dispersed the besiegers from the
southeastern front and opened connec-
ton with the town.
The same day the troops from the
old camp at Modder River station
opened communication with Jacobsdal,
which had already been taken.
Gle around the Boer position of Magers-
fontein, from Kimberley on the north
to Modder River station on the south,
possibly the line was prolonged from
Modder River station to the northwest,
SO that General French might hope by
passing through Kimberley to complete
the circle and to enable Lord Roberts
to envelope and captured Cronje's
whole force.
BRILLIANTLY PLANNED.
This was the result hoped for The
plan was brilliantly conceived and Wig
orously executed: but Cronje has been
able to evade the blow. When French
reached Kimberley it was found that
Cronje, with the bulk of his force, had
moved off toward Bloemfontein, ap-
parently by the Boshof road, or by
shorter route along the north bank Of
the Modder. The laagers and stores
abandoned and the convoy captured
prove that Cronje left in haste, and
one of General Kelly-Kenny's brigades
was last reported as pursuing and en-
gaging the Boer rear guard. General
Kitchener is experimenting the pur-
suit which may be effective.
"Of the First and Ninth divisions no
| mentioned has been made in telegr4ms,
! and the inference is that a part of the
| design is yet undisclosed Possibly
their function is to complete the circle
| on the west. Perhaps, too, a. force is
making to the eastward, south Of the
| Modder river, to intercept CrOnje.
| though as the mounted Beers cover
! thirty miles a day no Infantry can
| catch them. a part of the Boer force
may have retreated to the northwest,
! toward Barkley, and will no doubt be
pursued.
! BUT NOT SUCCESSFULLY Exc
CUTED.
There can be no doubt that Kimber-
Hey is relieved and that the railway will
| soon be reopened. This is a success,
| but the more valuable reSult-the de-
struction of a part of the Boer army
| has not been secured. 1t cannot be
said, in the circumstances, that this Is
attributable to weakness in the British
| generalship, which seems to have been
! excellent.
DISOUIEyTHNG FEATURES.
There are disquietinS features in the
news. The capture by Beers said to
| have come from ColeSberg, of large
| British convoy, may diminish the mo-
| bility of British force, and is a proof
OF the judgment and energy of the Boer
| leaders. The vigorous attack on the
! British post at Rensburg shows that
| the Beers mean to reply to Lord Rob
/ erts' advance by striking at his com
/ munications.
Until the issue of the operat .ons
| around Kimberley is fully known II is
| useless to speculats upon the next move
! OF Lord Roberts. The fact that KIM
! berley has been relieved and that
/ Cronje has to make a hasty retreat
/ are 10 the good side of the account. but
the fact that Cronje has not, at any
! rate up 10 the date of the latest tele-
grams l have seen, been we'll beaten
4 in a fight is disappointment.
! The opinion is widespread that the
Invasion of the Free State will bring
| the Boer army, or at least the Free
State contingent, out of Natal. Upon
this point l am less sanguine thar
most of the English observers, ever
! those whose judgment most deserves
| confidence, but the news of Lord Rob
| erts advance will encourage White and
| his man to uroloup their defence