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

Inert was no BOer loss. The British
attacked Fort Eloff, south of Gaberones
at daybreak, February 18th. but the
johannesburg men under Von Delweig
forced the British to retire, leaving six
dead and wounded on the field. Cap
tain Friend was among the killed. The
Beers suffered no casualties"
FRENCH'S RAPID ADVANCE.
Riet River, Orange Free State, Wed
nesday, February 14.-General French.
in command Of the cavalry division
and with a strong force OF horse
artillery left Modder river Sunday
morning for Rambam, twelve miles
east of Enslin, where the whole diyis-
ion concentrated. The next day he
made a rapid march to Riet river.
where a party Of Beers contested his
passage at Dekiel and Waterfall drifts
French drove the Beers away and
crossed the river.
Yesterday (Tuesday) the column con-
tlnued its march to Kip and Romdayal
drifts, on the Modder river, where
again a short engagement ensued. Gen
eral French Smelling the Beers vigor-
ously and forcing a passage. The Beers
preclpltately retired, leaving five lag
ers In the hands of the British, besides
a great quantity of cattle and 1000
sheep.
The rapidity of General French's
1L0ANh III ~ owe" nelI1lnR nature OF
ms force, enabled him, in spite of the
Of water transportation. to
thoroughly outwit and surprise the
Beers. The British casualties were
slight.
COLONEL HANNAY'S SKIRMISH.
Riet River. February 14.-ColoneI
Hannay, while on his way to Rambam.
encountered 500 Beers with two guns.
holding a kOpje commanding the valley
6i 70 thn I-i<r IT. G1t-s- I--.
ed all day long. and the Beers disap-
peared during the night. Thirteen men
reported missing from H~annay's force
are prisoners. They were captured
treacherOUsly during the fight. They
were informed that an agreement had
been reached between the British Off
Ger commanding the extreme left and
the c-Ommandant IF the Boer ambu-
lance that half a company of the Brit
ish should be permitted to fetch water
from Il neighbOring farm house. The
ambulance then retired and the Beers
rushed cut Of coEcealment and cut of
the water party. The prisoners in
cluded ar officer.
General French now old both the
MOdder anG the Riet rivers between
the Beers at Magersfontein and their
base at BloOemfontein. Throughout
the march the Free State farms were
respected, but their owners almost in
Variably fled.
Outside JacObsdaI, Thursday. Feb
ruary 15.-JacObsdal is now in posses
sion of the British. Yesterday a small
cavalry patrol entered the place and
found it full of wounded, including
several British from Rensburg. The
place was only occupied by a small
force which fell Jack before the patrol,
after a series of small skirmishes. A
battery of artillerSOshelled the envi-
rons and drove out the last OF the
Beers.
Early his morning a large force of
Beers from Colesberg with ten guns,
attacked a convoy of 200 wagons at the
Riet river, Smelling vigorously and
doing damage. But strong reinforce
ments have been sent hence and it :
hoped they will bring in the whole con-
vOy in safety.
Modder River, February 16.-The
Sixth division left Water Fall drift
early yesterday morning and marched
here, going on the same evening to
Reondeval drift to hold the crossing
of the Modder river n leave General
French free to act.
Shortly after arriving here, the
mounted infantry visited J~acobsda.
and found it full of women and chill
dren. with four of our wounde men,
doing we'll. On the way back the
mounted infantry were attacked and
nine men were wounded. Colonel
Henry and Major Hatchell and ten
men were missing. Both officers We're
subsequently found at ~JacobSdal
slightly wounded.
Cape Town, February 15.-There is
considerable alarm at ~Naauwapoort,
owing to the report that a Boer force
has occupied a position on a hill eight
miles off that town.
JUBILATION IN LONDON.
London, February 16.-While there is
tremendous satisfaction and jubilation
here at Field Marshal Lord Roberts
! and General French'S success, those
best suited to judge the situation are
inclined to the opinion that, pending
more definite information, the news
had better be regarded as assuring
rather than as accomplishing the re-
lief of the beleagured city of Kimber-
ley. a careful study of the ambiguity
Of the wording of Lord Roberts dis
patch eadst to the belief that the actu-
al relief of the place is still a matter
of time. Kimberley, it is pointed out
can scarcely be termed relieved unit
it is feasible TO take provisions there,
The rapidity OF General French's
march indicates that he was unable tc
do this, and whether he left his lines
behind him open is only a matter OF
Surmise.
SOME MYSTERY.
1t is considered most probable thai
Lord Roberts and General French
brilliant tactical success. for such i
is, under any circumstances, resembles
the first relief of Lucknow, when thu
dispersal of the enemy'S forces was by
no means Immediately effected. An.
other remarkable feature of Roberts
laconic cablegram is the fact that i
is dated at ~JacobSdal, which was Gen
eral Cronje'S advance base of supplies
yet there is no word explaining tn
British commanders presence there
nor word of any opposition which h
or General French encountered. Ha(
Lord Roberts inflicted a decisive de
feat on the Beers, it is believed h,
would have mentioned it, as such
success would be nearly paramount t
the relief of Kimberley, or the throw
ing into that place of a garrison which
could assure it holding out. However
General French's entry into Kimberle.
has been effected and doubtless bring
Joy to the hearts OF those who LAY
been shu up in the city for 10 days
Their defenders number about 4,O0(