LORD ROBERTS' SUCCESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1900, Page 5

LORD ROBERTS' SUCCESS.

- THE OCCUPATION OF JACOBSDAL & KIMBERLEY REJOICINGS AT THE CAPE MELBOURNE, this day. Cape files to February lCth are justto hand. News that General French bad entered Kimberley reached the British outside .Jacobsdaal shortly before noon on the ltjth. A convoy guard returned leaving a number of waggon-- in the' hands of the Boers. The casualties were very slight, being one man killed and a few wounded. The loss of waggons will not be felt. The Boer attack on the British convoy had been countermanded, but the order failed to reach them. The Boers opened on the convoy with 15-pouuders and Yickers-Maxims. They had a hot.time. Colonel Ridley, with :.. brigade of mounted men, prevented the enemy from actually approaching the waggons. S The deserted Boer laager was found five miles south-west of Jacobsdaal. Pots were on the fire, extra horses saddled and tethered to Cape earth and blankets littered around, evidently left in a hurry. - At every store in Jacobsdaal there is posited a, British sentry and men purchasing things are only allowed to enter a few at a tin-. News was brought- no .'.icobsdaal from the Modder that the enemy were clearing from Magersfontein in all directions. A remarkable scene occurred at Capetown on the receipt of the news of the relief of Kimberley. Crowds assembled at Government House and cheered the Governor. On the other hand there was n considerable hostile demonstration outside the Premier's office. The rapidity of General French's movement to the relief of"Kimberley nonplussed the Boers, who deserted their positions round the beleaguered town, the garrison occupying them. On the receipt of the news of the relief of "Kimberley, Capetown was decorated with flags, and all tllC, warships hoisted a white ensign in honour of General French's victory. The town of Jacobsdal, which bad been held by four companies of infantry and a battery of artillery during the night, was entered by the main column, at 7.30 a.m. on the 15th. The town was deserted of fighting men, and ail the citizens in the streets wore Red Cross badges. The German hospital was filled with Boer wounded, some from Magersfon•tein. and others from the light- at Koodoosberg. --■The hospital flew the German flag beneath the Red Cross. By some mistake it was hauled down, but was immediately replaced. Private property in flue town' is respected everywhere. The inhabitants, who were in mortal terror, being reassured now, arc very glad to see the English in possession, They had. been told that everything would be confiscated and the house given to the flames. Food is scarce, and from the army stores the people are being fed. On February 14 a small, cavalry patrol, entered Jacobsdal and found the place full of wounded. . A series of small sl_i_"_is'-..<'-3 ensue'!. Next day a battery of artillery drove J Oft the Boers. General French seized three drifts on. the Modder River, and then moved rapidly towards Kimberley. Events followed quickly. Lord; Roberts' force answered gallantly to the heavy marching, under a succession of great heat, rain, and coid~winds. | When the artillerj' drove the enemy

from Jacobsdal the latter had to cross the ridge in order to escape, thus affording an' c'xeellenl mark for Hie guns, showers of shrapnel causing heavy loss.