The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-17
HOW TT WAS DONE.
French Pushed on to Kimberley
Relief.

French Pushed on to Kimberley
Relief
Riet River. Orange Free State Friday.
February iG--Gcneral French. in command
OF the cavalry division and with a strong
force OF horse artillery left Modder river
Saturday morning for Rambeu, twelve
miles east Of Enslit. where the whole dlvi-
sion concentrated. The next day he made
rapid march TO Ret river, where party
OF Beers contested his passage at DeKiel
and Waterfall Drifts, After game hours
Smelling General French drove the Beers
away and crossed the river Yesterday
tThuTsdayl the column continued It's
march to Kip and Romdaval Drifts on the
Modder river. where again q shsrt engage
ment ensued General French shelied tho
Beers vigorously aud forced d passage
me Beers precipitately reiterated leaving
hYe laABers IN the hands az The British be.
sides great quantity Of cattle aud 5000
sheep' Inc rapldity OF General French's
march and the overwhelming nature OF HIS
lorce enabled him IN spite OF difficulties
OF water transportation TO thoroughly out
Wit ana surprise the Beers The British
casualties were slight.
Coionel iannoy while on his way 10
hamoan, encountered 500 Beers and two
guns holding a kople commanding the
valley leading 10 the drift The fighting
lasted all day long aad the Doors disap-
peared during the night, Thirteen men
reported missing from Hanney'g force are
prisoners. They were captured treacher-
ously during the Hght. They were in
formed that an agreement had been
reached between the British officer COM
handing the extreme left and the com
mandant Of the Beer ambulance that half
company OF British should be permitted
10 fetch WAFER from a neighbDring farm
hcuse The ambulance then retired and
the Beers rushed out OF concealment and
cut off the water party. The prisoners in
cluded an officer
General French now holds both the Mod
der and Riet rivers between the Beers at
MaEersfon'ein and their base at Boom-
fontain. Throuchout thn march the Free
State farms are respected. but their own
ers almost Invariably fed, taking their
stock. The health OF the troops Is excel
lent, but sickness is prevalent among the
horses and a plentiful supply Of remounts
viii be required
Outside Jaeobsdal Orange Free STATE,
Thursday, February 1.-THE road between
Modder river and Jacobsdal is now open.
The distance is only nine miles. The road
is available for sending reiDf.rcements and
supplies. When the Bosrs evacuated
Jacobsdal they were obliged to pass over
o ridge, where they afforded splendid
mark for the British guns, which shOwsred
shrapnel upon the retreating enemy. The
convoy. which was attacked az Riet river
had been countermandcd, but the order did
net arrive In time and the experience was
a very warm one, although the Bosrs did
little material damage. AS General French,
with the strengthened diYisl a. pushed tor
ward toward Kimberley he found the be-
leaguering Beers deserving their position
at Acknowledgement. thus allowing por-
ton OF the Kimberley garrison TO oecnpy
the pace
Outside Jacobsdal. Orange Free State,
Thursday. February Is. --Jacobsdal is now
in possession Of the British. Yesterday
cavalry patrol entered the place and found
II full Of wounded, including several Brit
ism, from Rensberg The place was oeca-
pied by only a small force, which fell % X
before the patrol after series Of small
skirmlshes. battery Z artillery she ID
the euyirons and drove out the last OF
Tho Beers.
Early this morning a large force Of
Beers from Colesberg, with ten guns, at
tackled Convoy OF 200 wagons az the
Riet river, she!liug vigorously and doing
damage. but strong reinforcemenis have
been sent hence, aud it Is hoped they VIII
bring IN the whole convoy in safety.
General French's division seized three
drifts on Moider river Al one drift the
Bosrs were fairly strongly entrenehed.
General French hombarded them aad
drove them on. To-day ne moved rap
idly In che direction OF Kimberley.
The Beers have lsft Alexandersfontcln.
which the British uow occupy General
Reberts rs IN excellent health and spirits.
The hardshipz and rapid marching appear
20 agree with the whole army. who ara
iu splendid spirits under the leadership o.
"Bobs.