Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1900-02-23
KIMBERLEY IS RELIEVED.
ARE FIGHTING ON TueELA.
GEN. Butler Active-LOrd Roberts Re-
ports-List of Casualties-Ofhcer
Promoted-Kruger Telegraphs.

Il london, Feb. l9.-The war office made
the usual statement that it had no news
but at about the same time came dis
patches from Durham dated late Saturday
evening, giving reports of the renewed
lighting on the Tugela, where the censor
stopped all kilograms. Arrivals at Durham
from the Tugela say that important OPP
erations are progressing and that fighting
has occurred daily since the commence
ment of the week. In these engagements
the British casualties have been compar-
atively light. According to these uncon-
firmed reports, General Buner has re-occu-
pied Vaal Krantz andAthe Beers retreatel
in the direction of the Free State. In
the meantime wounded officers and men
are arriving daily at Durham and are
placed aboard the hospital ships there.
Dispatches from Zululand, received at
Durham, say the country is quoting down,
thanks to the appearance of a flying col
umn. The Beers seem nervous and I'M
certain and have stayed their advance
The following dispatch has been received
at the war Office from Lord Roberts:
"Jacobsdal, Feb. l8.-General Kelly
Kenny's brigade captured 70 wagons laden
with stores, two wagons of Mauser rifles,
eight boxes of shells, 10 barrels Of ex-
plosives and large quantity of stores,
all belonging to Cronje's lager, which was
still being shelled by our artillery when
Kitchener dispatched his messenger"
NN;+b Gono,al (tron;a full ratraat q nd
General Kelly-Kenny harassing his rear,
hopes run high that decisive action will
occur if it has not already been fought.
Lord Roberts reports the British casu-
alties during the fighting at Jacobsdal as
follows: One killed. IA wounded and
three missing.
The queen has promoted General French
to be major general. French hitherto has
only ranked as a colonel in the army,
with the local rank of lieutenant general.
Lieutenant Colonel Kekewich has been
promoted colonel for services in the de-
tense of Kimberley.
A special dispatch from Sterkstrom says
that the Beers with artillery commenced
an artillery attack on Molteno, near that
place, occupied by the troops commanded
by General Gatacre.
Arundel, Feb. l8.-The retirement of
the British from Rensberg was most order
ly. The railway had withdrawn the stores
on the previous day and the baggage
wagons left before the evacuation took
place.
A part of the two companies of the
Wiltshire regiment which was missing and
the members of which were presumably
asleep after being on outpost duty have
since arrived. The other members OF the
companies have probably been taken pris-
oners.
The western border has been cleared
by General Roberts first stroke, since the
relief of Kimberley carries Mafeking with
it and secures British control of the West
Barley district and Bechuanaland. Gen
eral French, by leading the way to him-
berley. has become the Sheridan of this
campaign, while "Bobs" hating in tri'
umph at Jacobsdal before turning east
ward, is in fair way to win kingdom
if he goes on without check or reverse to
Kitchener to be left out of view. He has
transformed an immobile British force
which was tied up to railways, into an
army remarkable for mobility with sys'
tenn of flying transport, and if all goes
well. he seems destined at the end OF the
campaign to succeed Lord Wolsley as
commander-in-chief and to reorganize the
military forces of the British empire.
Various suggestions are put forth as to
the movements of General Cronje, and
DIR. Leyds, who has been interviewed with
respect to the situation, has expressed the
opinion that the Boer commandant ha:
deliberately allowed General French to
enter Kimberley so as to cut him off from
communication with his commandment
chief
London is fairly ringing with praises
of General French. Every mounted OF
fieer will now want to serve under him
It is learned that the young duke o
Westminster, who is step-son OF Georg
Wyndham, will join French's division
when he arrives at the Cape and not serv
on Sir Alfred Miners staff.
Kimberley had been invested l23 days
The garrison consisted of $500 men.
| The Beers Tell of JacObsdal.
Pretoria, Feb. ls.-It appears from fur
Their reports of yesterdays fighting
,Jacobsdal that 1000 British troops go
through the federal position at Modde
river and entered Kimberley. The federal
intercepted the rear guard of the Births
anu captured many oxen and a numbe
of prisoners.
British Seized a steamer.
Port Elizabeth, Feb. l9.-The Dritis
steamer Sabine, Captain Taylor, from NeN
York, January 4, with miscellaneou
cargo, has been seized by the British gur
boat Thrush and brought to Algoa bay
on suspicion of having on board artlele
contraband of war. Before the Sabln
,nA h