The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-03

troops that he hoped to be in Ladyspnith
in a week, and on Feb. he again crossed
the Tugela in a third attempt to relieve
the beleaguered force of Gen. White. BY
the 9Th he had recroSSed to the south OF
the Tugela, being unable to make head
way against the strong Boer position at
Vaal KrantZ.
With the operations leading up to the
relief of Kimberley the whole course OF
the war seemed to change. The fact that
Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener had ar
rived and had gone early, in February,
40 the Modder river seemed a good
omen. From this point a movement Tor
the invasion of the Orange Free State, led
by Lord Roberts, began on Feb. IL. An
expedition under Gen. Macdonald to Koo-
doesberg fifteen miles to the westward
had been made to divert the Beers in
that direction On the 18th force OF
cavalry. led by Gen. French, who had
made a brilliant march from Colesberg TO
ioin Methuen's forces, made a 'dash
across the Riet river, forced a passage
of the Modder river the following day,
and ON the 18th entered Kimberley, where
he was met by Col. Kekewich. who had
forced his way out of the city. The
Roer troops under Gen. Cronje ADAM
doned their trenches at Magersfontein
and retreated eastward toward Bloem-
fontein. The same day Lord Roberts oc-
cupied Jacobsdal, an important base OF
supplies for the Beers, southeast of KIM
berley. To that place he transferred his
headuuarters By this time Gen. Cronje
was in retreat toward Bloemfontein, pur-
SUED by Gen. Kelly-Kenny.
ON Feb, 10 the railway to Kimberley
was open; by this sinle Lord Roberts
force had moved UP to Paardeberg drift,
in the bed of the Modder river where
tsronie made his last stand and was sur
fSh Altar
quest for an armistice had been refused,
reinforcements under Gen. Botha had
been driven off and all other assistance
from the outside proved unavailing, Gen.
Cronie. with 1850 troops, surrendered 70
Lord Roberts on Feb. n.
Meanwhile, on Feb. IA, Gen. Butler be-
gan his fourth advance to the relief of
T.advsmith. Four days later he executed
a flank movement and drove the Beers
ocross the Tugela and occupied Hlwang-
vane hill On the goth Gen. Hart occu-
MEL Coienso, and all the south side of
the Tugela wns held by Gen. Butler. The
next day Gen. Warren crossed the river
az Colenso, after slight resistance. IL APP
nears that, although much Of Buffers
nrogress to Ladysmith was stubbornly
resisted. IL was by diminishing number
NJ Roers since many of them were being
withdrawn to assist Cronje on the Mod
der river.
The Relief of Ladysmith.
On Feb. %, the Beers gave the town
its final bounbardment, for after sharp
engagement at Pieter's Station, on the
oath. the rest of the march northward was
Almost unopposed. On the 2Sth Lord Dun
donald entered .Ladysmith, and on March
/ Cen Butler visited the city; the Beers
raised the siege and hurnedly Withdrew
to the tnorthward, leaving vast amount
of ammunition and supplies. During the
anal ten days Of the Ladysmith campaign
Cen. Buffers losses were about twenty
four hundred, and the entire cost of the
Ladysmith relief from the beginning was
about hfty-hve hundred men.
While these stirring scenes were being
enacted ON the Modder river and at Lady
smith, the British arms were also sue
cessfud in other parts of South Africa. ON
Feb. 1s, Gen; Brabant's horse force drove
the Beers from a strong position. at Dor
drecht, In Cape Colony, after eight hours
of hard fighting, Boer attack on Mafe-
king on Feb. II and Is. were repulsed with
loss TO the attacking party.
on Feb. %, Gen. Gatacre's scouts suf-
fered a severe reverse at the hands of the
Beers, near Stormberg. On Feb 2S, il
Yves reported that Cen. Cronje and his
soldiers were on their way to Cape Town
as prisoners of war. The same day Gen.
Clements entered Colesberg, where he met
with an enthusiastic reception.