The Bowbells tribune., 1900-02-23

an Assault by Buffers Forces.
London, Feb. PA member of the
cabinet told H. w. Lucy last night that
the war office had received caDlegram
stating that Gen. Cronje was hopeless
ly surrounded. Mr.. Wyndham was
beset by anxious inquirers, but would
only reply that the governments ad-
vices were extremely satisfactory The
sole explanation Of the government
Withholding good news is that confir-
nation and more details are awaited.
The situation as disclosed by cores
pondents over the Free State border is
tantalizing to the public expectation.
The elementary fact is that the Beers
are treking eastward toward Bloem
fontein with slow moving baggage
trains, and that they are pursued by
Lord Kitchener, with Gen. Kelly-Ken-
ny's division. Gen. Macdonald, with
the Highlanders, made a forced march
to Koodoers Rand ford, and on Sunday
pushed twenty miles eastward. Gen.
French left Kimberley Saturday. going
east along the Modder river. Lord
Kitchener is trying to outmarch and
outflank the Beers, thus checking their
retreat, if possible, and driving them
back into the hands of Macdonald AMI
French. The war Office message COM
municated to Mr.. Lucy seems to indi-
cate that Lord Kitchener has either
got ahead of the Beers or is about to
realize his plan and the war office
waits to announce
A Decisive Result.
Meanwhile Commandant Delary,
with ths: Beers from COlesberg, is
hanging on to the right flank of the
British pursuing columns, seeking to
delay their movement and to assist the
Boer wagon trains to escape. Students
Of topography think the Beers will
hardly risk a fight until they get into
the rough country. Gen. Butler has
achieved real success, seemingly, in
capturing the range of hills south of
the Tugela. 1t makes more feasible
another attempt to relieve Ladysmith.
The queen has sent direct message
to Lord Roberts congratulating him
and his troops Gen. French and Col.
kekewich have been acquainted with
their promotions.
DR.. Leyds, at Brussels, says that the
Free State troops who were besieging
Ladysmith have withdrawn in order to
defend their homes. In this way he
accounts for Gen. Buffers success
against the weakened force. He will
forego his projected trip to Rome, he
says, because Of decisive events now
taking place in the theater of war;"
Lord Roberts generalship was con-
Quoted with such secresy, says tele-
gram from Modder River, that even the
senior officers, who took the Sixth di-
vision through the preliminaries of the
operation, did not know what they
would finally have to do.
Driven Across the Tugela.
London, FEB. 21-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. Butler from Chieveley Camp,
dated Feb. 10:
II yesterday moved around the enc
my's flank. The Queens crossed the
mex and, supported by the rest of the
Second brigade, under Hildyard, as
saulted ard took the southern end of
Monte Cristo. The Fourth brigade on
the left, or western slope, and the
1,xv% 1,n
Of the Sixth brigade, assaulted the
eastern flank of the enemys position,
while the Second brigade cavalry on
the extreme right, watched the eastern
slopes of Monte Cristo and drove back
those of the enemy attempting to es-
cape there from our artillery fire. AS
saulted by heavy artillery fire on theil
front flank and attacked on their flank
and rear the enemy made but slight re-
sistance and, abandoning their strong
position, were driven across the Tu-
gela. l have taken several camps, a
wagon load Of ammunition, several
wagons of stores, supplies and a few
prisoners"
The Daily Mail has the following
dispatch, dated Monday, from Pieter-
maritzburg: "It is reported that Gen.
Butler mas captured dlanSWane FILL.
Large numbers of Free Staters have
left to meet Lord Roberts force. 1t is
believed that a number of Boer big
guns have been taken back across the
border"
Expect a Big Battle.
London, Feb. 21.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from LourenZo Marques,
dated Monday, says: According to
advices from Pretoria the Beers are
expecting a big battle on the Tugela.
They claim that seventy of the Wilt
shires were killed at Colesberg and that
thirty wagons with forage and pro-
visions were captured, but no ammuni-
ton They thus describe the fighting
ut Kimberley: "'The British came
through Blaunbank and attacked in
two columns. While the Beers We're
busily engaged with Lord Roberts,
Gen. French, with 1900 cavalry and
six gums, succeeded in breaking
through the Boer lines. The Beers did
not seriously oppose Cen. French's ad
vance, but confined their efforts to pre-
venting the provisions getting through.
r. t. +l,ax, oo nfrrino mn