Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-22

London, Feb. 17.-Gen. CrOnje, with
a start Of day or two, is seemingly
in full retreat from Lord Roberts,
moving northward. Gen. French, with
She cavalry, simply stayed over night
IN Kimberley and then pushed on to
get in touch with the retiring enemy.
A long Boer wagon train is moving
toward BlOemfontein, followed pre-
sumahly by a large force of British in
fantry. III their hasty departure the
Beers lost quantities of supplies and
ammunition.
Military opinion here is that Lord
Robe is will not push far after the
Beers Immediately, because of trans
port problems and the need of rest
for the troops, He has to feed 10000
persons in his army and the whole
Kimberley population. He must re-
build the railway from Modder river
down to Kimberley and revictual the
,pttcr. Gen. French lost few men
only in action, but the forced marches
and heat have probably made many
| ill., Numbers of remounts must be
provided.
Lord Roberts has wrought genuine
preliminary success and the impress
sion is that he has done enough for
the present, He will need to prepare
for another strike. All over England
last night there was evidence of pub
lie joy. IN every theater and public
meeting, around the railway stations
and in the streets there were express
sions of gladness and jubilation over
the news. The newspapers are edito-
rally rejoicing
Those who read the news closely
see only one disturbing factor in the
Cape situation and that is the pres
sure of the Beers toward Lord Rob-
crts' line of supply through De Aar,
which was never more important than
now. The Beers under Commandments
Delnrey and Gobler are making
persistent effort to penetrate to the
railway They have pushed Gen.
Clements back to Arundel and have
out h0nked him, All are within 60
miles. or two days hard march,
of the central railway. Doubtless
Lord Roberts has left considerable
t0rccs along the line and can send
back more II necessary,
Decisive Move Likely vt Colsnso.
London. Feb. 1.-THE Pietermar-
itzhcrg correspondent OF the Daily
Mail, under date of February Is, says:
There are indications of a decisive
move at Colenso. hear that the
'0ers rel on their entertainments
aud larbed wire eutanglements along
the principal roads TO check Lord
Roberts progress in the Free State.
The roads to ladysmith are studded
with these formidable barriers. A
british scouting column blew up the
contents Of the magazine at Nkand-
h'a, Iulnland to prevent it falling
into the hands of the Roers. The
magazine contained large supply of
dynamite aud ammunition
The Military situation Reviewed.
London, Feb. l7.-Mr Spencer
Wilkinson. discussing the military
situation IN the Morning Post, says:
"lt may be necessary to wait . day
or Two in order to fill in the details
OF the first act Of Lord Roberts oper-
allons Interest now cen;ers in the
attempt of he Beers to retreat or,
FALLING that in the attempt to pur-
she them, Gen, Cronie has probably
,hos,n to retreat, which, II success.
,ful, would take him across the Vaal
liver The purpose of Lord Roberts
strategy undoubtedly was to surround
ten, Cronje's force and to cut his re-
treat \ few days will clear up the
late of the Rocr commander"
ten buiIer Recrosses the Tugela.
London, Feb l7.--Inst nioht Il was