Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-16

TO 5000 men" Lord Roberts replied
that Ladysmith must be relieved at all
cost.
In England the news OF these repeat
ed reverses had increased the general
disquietude, and further achievements
had been ordered out. In the house OF
lords on February 10 Lord Rosebery
besought the government to face the
possibility that further troops might be
needed, but Lord Lansdowne professed
that all that was necessary was being
zone. The opinion Of the press was
strongly expressed to the effect that the
crisis demanded greater energy.
LORD ROBERTS SPLENDID
STRATEGY.
In Cape Colony Lord Roberts
had been busy all January prepar-
ing for an advance into the Free state
and reorganizing the transport He was
compelled by the sad news from Natal
TO move before he was quite ready,
General French, who had been continu-
ously marrying the Beers In the Coles
berg district. with great success, brok-
en- only by disaster TO the Suffolks,
was quietly withdrawn and placed In
command OF a large cavalry force al
Modder River.
After a feint against General Cronje's
right Lord Roberts began turning
movement against the Boer left, On
February IL General French pushed
rapidly forward to Kimberley, VIII
was relieved on the 18th. The British
infantry followed the mounted column
Cronje, menaced with the risk OF be-
ing enyeloped, hesltated till escape
was almost out Of the question, but
then, swiftly hurrying cast to Paarde-
berg. was brought to a standstill by IN
relentless determination Of Lord Kitch-
ener, who attacked him on February
is. Though the Boer position was not
stormed, In spite Of a British loss Of
1,534. time was secured for the rest OF
Lord Roberts's men to arrive and en-
velop the Boer force. After a protract-
ed bombardment, on February q, Cron-
je surrendered with 1000 men.
LADYsMITH RELIEVED.
Meanwhile, In Natal. at Lord Roberts
order. General Butler had once more
gone forward. From February IA for a
fortnight onwaids ne was continually
marching and fighting. and the fighting
was the severest OF the whole war. The
final effort and the greatest victory was
achieved on February 81 when Pleter
Hlll was captured by splendid assault.
The British loss in this series OF hat
ties was heavy, reaching 1895 men. bn-
the blood was not poured uselessls
away, as the end was achieved, and
Ladysmith was at last relieved, The
retreating enemy were not pursued by
General Butler, and this was the great
blot upon his success.
In the Free State Lord Roberts
pushed forward rapidly 10 Boemfon-
tein. lighting on the way the actions OF
Popular Grove and Driefontein the lat
| ter a fiercely contested battle. on
| March 10 the capital of the Free State
| was entered Then followed long
| halt, In which what was called regret
table Incidents were numerous. AZ
| sanna's Post seven guns were taken by
| De Wet on March 81. and q few days
| later al Reddersburg the same Boer
J general captured detachment OF Brit
| ish troops. numbering i5g small sue
| cess ct Karree did not atone for these
reverses, which marked the first begin
| ming OF that peculiar Boer warfare
against attachments with which We
have since become so painfully famil-
| lar.
PEACE ovERTuREs FAIL.
Tho Beers continued active and actu-
| ally laid siege TO Wepener, but were
beaten on. During the halt at Bloem-
| fontein peace overtures were made. but
as Il appeared that the Beers would be
| content with nothing short Of inde-
| pendence, these had no result.
| on May Lord Roberts resumed The
| advance towards Pretoria, reaching
Kroonsiad on May y without any serl-
Gus fighting. a few days earlier Colo.
nci Mahon had moved out from kim
herley 20 the relief Of Mafeking. where
| rrionH, Baden Powell had been holding
his own against the Beers since the be-
| ginning OF the war. On May 10 the re-
lief column defeated the enemy near