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

hOI4uOI, eOFudry 10, i:3O a mas
the wires are closed 10 the correspond
ents with Lord Roberts. and as moth
ing further from him has been commu-
nicated 10 the public. the military
- adopts are spending their time in
studying maps. topography and figur-
ing out the positions of Lord Roberts
communications, and wha there is left
forthe Beers 70 do.
General Cronje's communications
with BlOemfOntein have already beer
cut. The best news England could
hear would be that he elects TO give
battle among the low hills and ridges
west Of Kimberley. Should he deter
mine not 20 DO this. he must raise the
siege Of Kimberley retreat to a
point where he would prefer TO fight.
This retirement could be a long detour
around the head of the British advance
to BlOemfOntein, or, as seems TO mil
1tary students more practical. he could
withdraw ITO the north, using the rail-
road for his guns and heavy baggage.
moving TO Fourteen Streams, and
hence into the Transvaal territory.
The Beers have made no preparation
to defend BlOemfOntein and there Is
no particular reason why GeneraI
CrOnje shOuld risk a battle 10 protect
the capital of the Free State.
OPERATIONS ELSEWHERE SUS-
PENDED.
Operations elsewhere are apparently
suspended. a correspondent writing
from Chievelrey February 18th, says:
w are still hopeful of relieving
Ladysmith."
Colonel Baden-PoweIl, in a dispatch
from Mafeking, dated January 29th,
after mentioning matters already sent
out by correspondents, gives his total
casualties up to January 25th as fol-
lows: Killed. . officers and 60 men;
Wounded, 8 officers and 123 men; miss
ing, "a men.
No word has been received regard
ing General Gatacre's 1000 men at
~StOrmberg. The impression is that
, these forces are on the way to Lord
Roberts.
The waq, office has issued orders for
the formation of twenty-One new bat
taliOns Of infantry.
The cabinet council was in session
yesterday for two hours. 1t will meet
again today. This is quite unusual.
BOer Lager. Near Ladysmith, Tues
day. February 13.-Yesterday General
Botha, with a small force, crossed the
Tugela to a deserted British camp,
WnSre ne "cOOntefe nfly LdnCSTS, VI
whom thirteen were killed, five wound
ed and nine taken prisoners. One of
the prisoners was sent to tell the Brit
ish TO fetch their wounded.
Since Friday everything has been
quiet. The English, with their can
non. have moved towards Chievelrey.
They found the Boer position unassail-
able on the upper Tugela. ,
London. February 15.-The official
list Of the British casualties at Rens-
burg from February 10th ITO February
18th shOys: Killed-Four officers and
seven men: wounded, six officers and
fourteen men; missing, two officers and
ten men. The officers killed were Colo
mel Cunningham. of the Worcester reg
iment. and Major c.. r. Eddy. and
Lieutenants ]. Powell and j. c. Rob
erts, all of the Australians
BRITISH PUBLIC GAINING CON
FIDENCE.
London, February 15.-Intense salts
faction continues dOminant in cOnse-
quence of Field Marshal Lord Roberts
plan of operations in South Africa. A
feeling of quiet confidence prevails
that the strong hands of "Bob's Bahia.
duer' and the hero of Khartoum are
shaping matters towards a much need.
ed decisive victory.
h St. James Gazette says: Lore
Roberts, with his own line we'll guard
ed and having little reason to fear only
a defence which would be deadly, viz.
a counter-strOke attacking his Ions
line as il swings round, will be able
to force the Beers to fight under very
unfavorable conditions, or abandon
their heavy guns and stores"
A special dispatch to The Times from
Chievelrry, Natal, dated Tuesday, Feb.
ruary 18th, ays General Lyttletor
has succeeded to the command of tht
CZNA.1 l;-;-;D, ,rIn Tho il1n3Cc ~
General Clery. who is suffering from
blood poisoning.
TO PROTECT ZULULAND.
The fears regarding a Boer attack OF
Zululand are somewhat allayed by
special dispatch from Durham which
says that a column of colonial scouts
after a forced march. has arrived a
EshOwe, in splendid fighting form
They were pursued several times dur
ing the march by the Beers. but sue
ceeded in TepulSing them.
DAMMING kip RIVER.
London, February 16.-The Dali,
Mail has the following dispatch from
Lorenzo Marques. dated Wednesday
"A prominent PretOrian citizen, jus
from .Ladysmith. informs me that tn
Beers are rapidly klmming Kip river
Two thousand Kaffirs are employed /
the work and they ave deposited 10.
tpD Sanu DagS Already IneS are OHI
able To work az high as they wOul
be under British fire. This either
believes that the operation
will be futile.
BOERS lGETTING SUPPLIES.
The correspondent of The Times a
Lorenzo Marques, t~elegraphing Wed
nesday says: The republics are nov
obtaining substantial supplies of su
gar. coffee and fiOur through a DelagO
bay firm and further heavy conSign
ments are expected within a fortnight
In is believed also that munitions ar
still passing"
RENSBURG EVACUATED.
The Cape Town correspondent of TIL
Daily Chronicle 'telegraphing Wednes
day. says: 1T Is reported here that III
British nave evacuated Rensburg an
retired to Arundel"