Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-02-15
TRUSTING N ROBERTS
British Hopes of Victory in South
Africa Placed in "Bob's' Strong
Hand.
Feeling of Quiet Satisfaction Pre-.
walls in England Since Advance
Has Begun.
Now Confident That Fortunes Of War
Will Favor the Imperial
Troops.

Continue; dominant ii conssauelcs Of
Lord Roberts plan of operation in
South Africa, as revealed by the dis
patches this morning. There is no fur
ther news of the British advance into
the Orange Free State or of activity at
Modder river, but a feeling of quiet
confidence prevails that the strong
hand of "Bobs Bahadul ard the hero
Of Khartoum are shaping matters
towards the much needed decisive vic
tories.
The ST. James Gazette says: Rob
crts, with his own lire we'll guarded and
having little reason to fear the only de-
fense which would be deadly. viz: a
counterstroke attacking his long line as
it swings around. will be able to force
the Beers to fight under very uncom-
Portable conditions or abandon their
heavy guns and stones.
a special dispatch To the Times from
Chievely, dated Feb. l3, says: Gen.
Lyttieton has succeeded to the COM
mand of the Second division. during the
illness of Gen. clery. Who is suffering
from blood poisoning. Col Northcott,
OF the rifle brigade. temporarily COM
mands the Fourth division.
Fears regarding a I5oer attack on Zu-
luiand are somewhat allayed by u
special dispatch from Durham. which
says column OF colonial scouts. after
forced march. arrived at Eshowe in
splendid fighting form. They We're plr-
sued several times during the march
by Beers, but succeeded in repulsing
them
London, Feb. l5.--Tord Roberts has
begun the attack upon the Beer army
between Modder river and Kimberley
by initiating u thanking movemen;
which up to the present has proved sue
cessful. The drifts referred 10 III Lord
Roberts official message are marked or
but few of the maps They are all Il
the east of the BRUSH camp on Moddei
river, within Orange Free STATE terri
tory. The first move was made by th'
mounted infantry brigade under Col
Pannay marching TO lsasndari Monday
The same day Gen. French took De
kiels drift. clearing the way for The CT!
and eth divisions. Tuesday Cen. Frenci
forced the passage of Riet river Il
Kip drift occupying the hills to tn,
north, while Cen Gordon seized Ron
deval drift and another between II am
Kip drift. Meantime the Sixth divls
ion, whoch was supposed to be in III
neighborhood of kilsburg. on the nostl
bank of Riet river. at Waterfall drift
was moving to support the cavalry.
Shortly before midnight the war offic
issued the following message from Lore
Roberts:
..Dekiel's Drift, Feb. 14-S:1o a. M
Gen French left this point at 1l:3
o'clock yesterday morning with thre
brgades OF cavalry, horse artillery am
mounted infantry, including ssvera
colonial contingents. in order To seize
crossing of the Aodder. distant abou
twenty-five niles lie reports by dis
patch. dated 5.35 D. M. that ne ha
forced a passage at Kip DRIFT ana ha
occupied the hills north OF the rivei
capturing three OF the enemy's aager:
with their supplies. while Gen. Gordoi
of the Fifteenth hussars, with his brig
ade, who had made a fcint At Rondevs
drift four miles west. has seized ii an
second drift between that and XII
drift, together with two more laage.s.
Gen. Frenchs performance is bri
liant, considering the excessive hea
and a binding dust storm which rage
during the l3ttef part o. the das. wv
ing to the rapidity Of his movement
Gen. French met with but slight OF
position ard his losses We're small
Lieut.. Johnson, of the Inniskiiln
dragons. is the only officer repoue
severely wounded.
The Sixth division was last night {
the north bank of the Riet at Wateryi
drift and is moving to support Il
ra,..alf-,- v,bf. Seventh division Is hpl
and will go on this afternoon
-Four officers and af,y-three men HI
to be sent last evening in the returnit
OK wagons to the railway line. pro
trated by heat and exhaustion.