, 1900-02-19

sued by General K~elly-Kenny. 1t viii
probably by a rear guard night all the
way to Bloemfontein. Our cavalry has
already returned from Kimberley tc
join in the pursuit"
London, Feb. 10, 4:5O a. NIT is
now amply confirmed that Genera.
Cronje escaped.
London, Feb. 19.-Fighting in South
Africa is apparently becoming general
General Kelly-Kenny's division Of
Lord Roberts forces is fighting the re-
treating General Cronje from kopje to
kopje, and General French has gone to
his aid.
General Butler began on Wednesday
his fourth attempt to relieve Lady
smith, moving northeast from Chievely
and taking two hills toward Hang
wane.
Brabant's Horse, 1000 strong, a part
of General Gatacre's forces, has moved
~northward from Dordrecht, driving the
Beers from their positions. A report
comes from Naauwpoort that the Beers
are falling back from Colesberg.
With General Butler about to at
tempt, If he has not already begun, for
the fourth time, to advance on Lady
smith, and General Kelly-Kenny pur-
suing the Boer forces toward Bloem-
fontein, there is likely to be a week oil
heavy fighting.
While there is no confirmation al
hand, persistent reports indicate that
General Butler intends to move by
way of Colenso. On Wednesday
he began his preparations by seiz,
ing Huggar hill. Ladysmith reports
that the Beers are moving from the
n~eighborhood of Colenso and hat the
investing force is diminished.
Lord Roberts strategy up to the pres
emit has been remarkably successful. AT
present the situation seems to be that
General Methuen is at Magersfontein.
General Tucker at Ja%cobsdahl. and
Generals Kitchener and Kelly-Kenny,
aided by the Highland brigade, press
ing the Boer army on its flight toward
Emmaus and Patrusberg. General
French has come southwark to join in
this move.
There are still many obscure points
in this military operation. 1t is not
known whittier the Boer garrison from
%spytfontein has gone, what kind of a
force General French found north OF
Kimberley before he turned to join
General Kelly-Kenny, whether General
Cronje, with his force, has been
arrested in his retreat on Bloem-
fontein or has retired northeastward.
The Boer commander was undoubted-
ly aware several days before Lord Rob-
bilization below the Modder river, and
it is believed that one of his chief oc-
equations was to remove the heavy guns
which had been mounted around Kim
berley and Ma~gersfontein, holding ia
cobsdal with a few men and keeping
a sparse body to line the M~agersfontein
trenches. He probably tent off the
Creusots and Long Toms to the
north. The difficulties of transport,
which have been one of the drawbacks,
initiating against British mobility, ap-
pear to a large extent to have been ov-
ercome by the genius Of General Kitch-
ener.
AS to reports of the Beers from
Colesburg capturing a British convoy
of 200 wagons, the Daily Mails CORE
%spondent says that the Beers were held
at bay until reinforcements arrived.
For the first time since Ladysmith
was invested the situation is regarded
in London as distinctly favorable to
the British. In the west, the British
right wing is acting on the defensive
south of the Orange river, holding its
own, while the British left wing be-
yond the Orange river has raised the
siege Of Kimberley, compelled the re-
treat of the Boer right, and undertaken
its pursuit.
The primary objective Of Lord Rob-
erts is still to cripple the Boer army
under General Cronje, because to Grip
pie that force is the best preparation
for his principal task. His movement
eastward into the Orange Free State
| will also have for its object to disturb
A.. L. Ay-t,I 1.y 1a,Yeyn~ Lhn