Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-02-18
A D0ER MOVEMENT 10
isolate ROBERTS.
EMS TO CUT THE BRITISH
LINE OF
COMMUNICATION AT GRASPAN.
DIRECTING THE PURSUIT OF
CRONJE'S RETREAT
In the Orange Free Stat "A Heavy
Battle is Expected If the Boer
Force is Overtaken-Great En-
thusiasm in cape Town Over the
Relief of Kimberley.

ment at midnight that 1t had no
news, but at about the same time
came dispatches from Durham, dated
late Saturday evening, giving re-
ports of the renewed lighting on the
TugeIn where the censor stopped all
kilograms. Arrivals at Durham from
the TugeIa say that important opera
lions are progressing and that fight
ing has occurred daily since the
commencement of the week. In
these engagements the British cas-
uaItfes have been comparatively
light.
According to these unconfirmed
reports Gen. Butler has reoccupied
Wal krantz and the Beers retreated
in the direction of the Free State.
In the meantime wounded officers
and men are arriving daily at Dur
ban and are placed aboard the four
hospital ships now there.
Dispatches from ZuluIand receive
ed MT Durham say the country IL
quieting down, thanks to the APP
pearance of a flying column. The
Beers seem nervous and uncertain,
and have stayed their advance.
LONDON. February 17.-With Gen.
Cronje in full retreat and Gen. Kelly
Kenny harassing his rear, hopes run
high that a decisive action will occur,
If it has not already been fought.
The dispatches from Jacobsdal con-
firm the belief, saying Gen. Cronje
has been obliged to "outspan," in
other words, form lager, or camp,
In order to rest his oxen. This eX-
plains Gen. Kelly-Kenny's latest dis
patch referring to Smelling the lager,
which also brought long-expected word
of Gen. Kitchener's whereabouts That
the general who SO relentlessly pur-
sued the Khalifa to his doom is super
yising the pursuit of Gen. Cronje adds
greatly to the confidence of the ma
ton, now so eagerly awaiting further
news. II Gen. Tucker, with the Sew
enth division, is able to effect the pro-
jected junction with the forces of Gen.
kelly-kenny, while the Ninth division
under Gen. Colville, is rapidly coming
up from the rear, the hero of Khar-
toum should have sufficient force to
decisively engage Gen. Cronje and
prevent him from reaching Bloemfon-
tein with an effective force.
The Chronicles second edition has
the following dispatch from Waterfall
drift dated yesterday morning:
Lord Roberts with the Sixth and
Seventh divisions and the cavalry d.
visions, in marching to relieve Kim
berley, rendezvoused at Enslin and
then marched toward the Free State.
The Sixth division crossed the Riet
river at Watervaal drift and marched
along the right bank. The Beers show
ed fight and we had several casualties.
The division then marched on to ia
cobsdal The cavalry captured Browns
drift on the left flank of the Beers
main position. Both columns are now
marching north parallel with each
other. The British captured many
prisoners, but their casualties were
slight"
The Chronicle also has the following
dispatch from Wegedlies, via Modder
river, February 16, morning:
Gen Kelly-Kenny with the Sixth
division has entered Jacobsdal. The
Beers made a feeble attempt to hold
the eastern ridges, but were outhanked
by the mounted infantry and retired.
There were few British casualties.
The division then evacuated Jacobs
dial, marching north In the track Of
French's cavalry, which crossed the
Modder river and engaged the enemy,
who retired with heavy losses. The
Seventh division crossed the Riet river
east of Koffyfontein and drove the
enemy before them.
Gen. Tucker is now on Col. Kelly
Kenny's right and probably will effect
a junction with his force. The enemy
is retiring north. The Ninth division
under Colville is in the rear of the
Sixth division. The enemy thus far
has made no determined stand. We
have captured thousands of stock"
A dispatch to the war Office from
Lord Roberts says that Gen. Kelly
Kenny's brigade Friday captured rs
wagons of stores and ammunition be-
longing to Gen. Cronje. Following is
the text of Lord Roberts's dispatch:
"JACOBSDAL, February H.
Gen. Kelly-Kenny's brigade captured
yesterday rs wagons laden with stores,
two wagons of Mauser rifles. eight
boxes of shells. 10 barrels of explosives
and large quantity of stores, all be-
longing to Cronje's lager, which was
still being shelled by our artillery
when Kitchener dispatched his mes
senger."
The Beers, though retreating from
Magersfontein, are active elsewhere
A special dispatch from Orange river,
dated yesterday, says they arc attempt
ing to cut the British line OF commun-
ications at Graspan. but it is said they
are not likely to effect a serious re-
suit. They are, however, undoubtedly
making a strenuous effort to cut the
British lines to De Aar. On the other
hand comes the news that Gen. Mac
Donald has again occupied Koodoos-
lerg.
What precautions Lord Roberts has
adopted against counter attacks are
not known, but the war office and the
public are thoroughly convinced that
he is fully able to cope with all con-
tingencies and that, If it is within
human possibility. he will infict the