THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 11168, 17 February 1900, Page 4

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

GLORIOUS NEWS FROM LORD ROBERTS. ' KIMBERLEY RELIEVED ON THURSDAY LAST DOES CRONJE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY? 50,000 BRITISHERS ON THE WEST. PLUMER HAS AN ARTILLERY DUEL THE INNSSKILLINGS CHARGE THE ENEMY BOERS ACTIVBjON ' THE TUGELA. BALFOUR AND CHAMBERLAIN DECLARE THEIR . POLICY IN ZULULAND.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. KIMBERLEY ALL WELL. LONDON, February 16. Kimberley has been relieved. Lord Roberts reached Jacobsdal and General French Kimberley on Thursday last. THE AGENT-GENERAL CONFIRMS. WELLINGTON, February 16. The Agent-General cables from London, under date February 16, at 11.40 a.m. ; “ The following cable message was received from Lord Roberts: ‘ General French, with his cavalry and horse artillery, reached Kimberley on Thursday evening.’ ” FURTHER OFFICIAL ADVICE. FRENCH STILL ADVANCES. KIMBERLEY CHEERFUL AND WELL. WELLINGTON, ’ February 17. The Agent-General further cables : General French completely dispersed the enemy from the south side of Kimberley, and is going to occupy their ground. Laager, stores, and ammunition were captured. Kimberley is cheerful and well. Casualties, about twenty. THE RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY. NO DETAILS. LONDON, February 16. Despatches from the front to the War Office do not mention whether General

Commons that Portugal was endeavoring to strict neutrality at Delagot A VALUABLE CORPS, „ LONDON, February 16. ajor Crompton’s corps of volunteer eicctncal engineers have been incorporated with the Army, and will take to the front wo traction engines, engineering train, searchlight, telegraph, and cyclist apparAUSTRALIA’S ROLL OF HONOR. rp, LONDON, February IG. . lbe 'V r office reports that the following members of Victoria’s First Contingont were kiHed at Rendsburgon the 10th and I2th mst ;_Major G. A. Eddy, Lieutenant J. C. Roberts, Sergeant N. Grant Corporals Armrop (? Archer) A ‘ Koss > Privates Stock, Wilson, Po K d? e ’ Williams ; also Lieutenant Powell, of the South Australian contingent. The following were wounded:— nontenants Gamble and Tremearne, Corporal D. M’Oauley, Privates Landorn, Williamson, Wallace, Elms, Bush, Collev Hagon, Peters, and Edwards (the latter dangerously), and Byers (severely). The Victorians also had the following wounded and taken prisoners Corporal Mowley,

Rifles) 6 R ° bertS (all of tbe Victorian MELBOURNE, February 17. iho Government have decided to despatch additional officers to fill tbe vacancies caused by death and disablement. A FLYING COLUMN. DURBAN, February IG. The British flying column despatched to Aululaud was for tho protection of Lshowo, COLONIAL MOUNTED TROOPS. LONDON, February 16. cur A. Cockburn, speaking at' Kind’s College extension dinner, described the mounted troops as of great mobility, and a sure checkmate to the mobility of the Boers. So many colonials had offered

French encountered any opposition on his road to Kimberley. It is also unknown whether the Boer lines of retreat are actually severed. There were indications on Wednesday that the Boers were withdrawing from Magersfontein, leaving behind them some 10,000 men to do the work. Lord Roberts’s force consists of 50,000 men, including General French’s mounted corps of 6,000. AN OMINOUS SUMMONS. LONDON, February 16. Lord Roberts summoned Surgeon Sir William M'Cormac to accompany him prior to his advance to the relief of Kimberley. PLUMER IN ACTION. CAPE TOWN, February 16. Licutenaut-colouel Plumers force has been engaged in a lively artillery duel with 600 Boors at Crocodile Pools. BRITISH RETIRE. CAPE TOWN, February 16. Tho British have retired from Rendsburg to Arundel. The enemy reoccupied the Twibosch Hills. The Inniskilling Dragoons stopped their further advance southwards, charging the enemy and inflicting great loss upon them. BOER CLAIMS. LONDON, February 16. A Reuter’s message reports that the Boers claim having killed thirteen British Lancers at Springfield, besides wounding five and capturing nine, BOERS ON THE TUGELA. DURBAN, February 16. The Boers on Sunday were approaching Potgieter’s Drift. They have constructed trenches and other defences on the north side. BOERS BUSY. DURBAN, February 16. The bombardment of Ladysmith is becoming brisker. BOERS IN ZULULAND. LONDON, February 16. Advice has been received that the

their services that the selection had merged into a competitive examination. The police force at Sheffield are being trained in tho use of tho rifle. JOTTINGS ON THE WAR. [By Colonel Morris.]

Since last writing we have received further details of Lord Roberta’s advance into the Free State, and though it is too soon to codgratulate ourselves on the turn of the tide, yet a consideration of onr position i i calculated to raise our hopes. Lord Roberts, after gathering quietly and unostentatiously a force of what, i ? estimated at 45,000 troops at Modder River, including a very large and mobile division of cavalry and mounted in.antry, with Horse Artillery and machine guns, under General French, and the Sixth and Seventh Divisions uuder Generals Kelly-Konny and Tucker, on tbe 12th eent General French with this division seme 25 miles to the east into Free State territory. He foiced the passage of the river and occupied the hills to tho north of tho river, capturing three Boer laagers, with supplies. He was followed by Gordon’s brigade and Hussars, who seized anotherdrift in a westerly direction—that is, between General French anti Modder Rivsr camp, capturing two more laagers. In the meantime General Kelly-Kenny's and General Tucker’s divisions, protected by General French’s advance, followed and crossed to the east bank of the Riet River on the evening of the 12th. Owing to the rapidity of the movements of General French’s mobile -force the Boers offered but slight opposition, and on the 13:h the Sixth Division also crossed to the north of the Riet River (which here must mean the Modder) in support of French’s cavalry and General Tucker, with the Seventh Divio-

sion, was expected to be in the same poaition on the 14th. By the 14th, then, the whole force would bo north of the Modder River, and well to the eastward of the Boer forces nnder Cron je at Magersfontein, and right between him and Bloemfontein, from which he draws his food supplies, as proved by the seizure of several laagers escorting supplies. On the 11th, the day before General French made his advance a brigade of mounted infantry, under Colonel Hannay, made a flesh from Orange River twelve miles into the Free State, and fongbt an engagement with the enemy there, about fifty miles south of the place where Lord Roberts entered their territory, creating thereby a diversion which probably drew the Boers from Jaoobsdal and assisted in making the way open for our advance. The British also have again seized Zoutapan Drift, on the Orange River, from which a road runs that cuts the direct road from Colesberg via Funresmith to Jaoobsdal. Now to consider the future steps likely to follow. The Boers at Magersfontein occupy a short range running north-west to southeast, with an isolated hill (Shotz Kop) to the north, and west of the rail another hill (Spy(fontein). The British camp under Lord Methuen faces the western slopes of Magersfontein, and, anticipating an attack from this direction, the enemy have long lines of entrenchments, mingled with barbwire entanglements, on the plain in front of the slopes, their guns being placed in carefully masked positions higher up the slopes to command the plain before them, whilst their laagers and camps are over the brow of the range on the eastern slope furthest from the British position at Modder River. Lord Roberts has now gained a position north of the Modder and twenty-five miles east of the British camp at Modder River, and consequently directly behind Magersfonteiu and between it and Bloemfontein, cutting off all retreat of the Boers in that direction. I thiuk that General French will be sent at once north to cut off the elreat of the Boers should they attempt to hreak away towards Boshof, whilst Lord Roberts will attack them on the east side, which has probably been left entirely unprotected by entrenchments, and Lord Methuen bombards them on the west. With the 45,000 troops on one side and Lord Methuen’s 20,000 on the other, I do not think Cronja’s 30,000 Boers will be able to hold their position, and if they try to break away the cavalry under French should give a good account of them. This morning brings absolutely no fresh news, but I think before the day is out we shill hear of the total defeat of the Boers and the way open to Kimberley. There is only one thing that might frustrate that object, and that is that Cronje may have already taken the alarm and cleared out from Magersfontein towards Boshof, which it is devoutly to be hoped is not the case, for if Cronje can be crushed now and his force destroyed, then General Joubert must at once retreat for the defence

magistrate and Addison’s column have reached Isandlwana, Zululand, they having retired from Ngatu in order to avoid a strong Boer division. On several occasions the small force were nearly surrounded by the enemy. IMPORTANT DECLARATION. BOERS, TAKE NOTICE! LONDON, February 16. Mr Chamberlain stated in the House of Commons that the Natal Government could not be held responsible for the Zulus maintaining peace. Since the Bocte had invaded Native territory belonging to Cape Colony the Natives would be on cauraged and assisted to defend their lands. Mr Balfour said that if the tacit compact that the war should bo limited to whites were infringed then Great Britain would reconsider her decision respecting the employment of Natives, Sikhs, and Goorkas. MEDICINE FOR THE BOERS. DURBAN, February 16. Captain Scott, of H.M.S. Terrible, has mounted several six-inch wire guns for General Buller. CLERY’S SUCCESSOR. LONDON, February 16. Major-general Lyttelton has succeeded to General Clery’s command. ANOTHER TRANSPORT,

LONDON, February 16. The Government have chartered the Orient steamer Austral to convey troops to the Cape. HOW THE “EMBATTLED FARMER” PREPARED. LONDON, February 16. It has transpired that General joubert ordered over a year ago the printing at Zurich of 5,000 ordnance maps of South Africa. ‘ DE LAGOA BAY. LONDON, February 16. Mr Erodrick, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire, stated in the House of

of Pretoria, as there would be absolutely no other force to interpose between Lord Roberts and the capital of the Transvaal. On my way to town after writing the above 1 was met with jubilant cries of “Kimberley is relieved by General French,” and my reply was : “ I am sorry to bear it, for l am afraid it indicates that Cronje has slipped between our fingers.” It appears to me most important that' Cronje’e force should have been disported so that nothing remained for Jouherc bat to withdraw his men for the defencs of Pretoria. So important does this eecm to me that, while all are jubilant, lam not so. However, we are not sure that Gronje has got off scot free yet —no details have been received—and we may still hope that our cavalry had the chance of a cut in as the Boers streamed off to the north. a Later. A London cable states that it is not known whether French encountered any opposition in getting into Kimberley. It is also stated that it is not known whether the Boer lines of retreat are actually severed, but there were indications on Wednesday that the Boers were withdrawing from Magersfontein, leaving 10,000 men to hold the place. I am afraid they did manage to withdraw on the Wednesday night, and I very much doubt if the wily Cronje would leave 10,000 men bebiud him to certain defeat or canitulation.

Lord Roberts’s entire force is said to number 50,000, including General French’s mounted troops, 6,000 strong, and he is stated to have reached Jacobsdal on Thursday-. If this is true it confirms me in the opinion that Magersfontein has been evacuated hy the Boers. .Lord Roberts wonld hardly have left his position' north of the Modder River and on the east of Magersfon tein to go South to Jacobsdal if the Boers still held that post in any strength. From Jacobsdal onr force will ‘p r "hah!y advance direct on. Bloemfontein, distant some 75 miles from Jacobsdal, whilst poasibiy Lord Methuen’s force, now that the road is open, will push oh repairing the line as he goes to the relief of Mafekmg, and remain there until it is time for him to advance due cast on Pretoria.

Down South on the northern frontier of Cape Colony wo learn that our troops have retired from Rendeburg to Arundel. The removal of General French’s cavalry division and of the Sixth Division of General KellyKoncy has very considerably reduced our strength in this part of the soene-of war, and I think it possible that our advanced ttoopa may have to retreat back to N-iau-poort once more. The fact is their work is purely defensive ; ad that they have to do is to prevent the Boers pushing south, which will not be a difficult task when beyond the mountain ranges, more especially as the Boers will look anxiously backwards when thry hear of Lord Roberts’s advance upon Bloemfontein.

la Natal the enemy are becoming mare brisk in their bombardment of Ladysmith. They c’aim to have defeated a patrol of t wenty-eightßriush Lancersal Springfontein, and are constructing trenches and approaching Potgiater’s, where General Lyttleton commands a brigade, but I think this but the Hire up of the dying fire and nothing to alarm any one. When Lord Roberts reaches Bloemfontein General Joubert willnay, must—clear cut of Natal.

The week thus cloaca with every sign of the tide having turned, but great activity m ?.V be next week, and it will be with difficulty that we can restrain our impatience for Monday’s cables. HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED. The news of the relief of Kimberfcy, which we were able to announce throughout the length and breadth of the province of Otago at 9.45 this morning, was welcomed with the ringing of the Town Hall hells, tho flying of flags, the cheers of our men in camp, the clapping of bauds wherever it was heard, and, we hope, the permanent extinction of the wailing pessimists who have made life miserable during the past four weeks, and whose opinions of British generals and the conduct of military affairs have scared the timid and filled the sensible with disgust and indignation. A moat enthusiastic scene was witnessed at the sitting of the Otago Stock Exchange. Upon the chairman announcing the relief of Kimberley by General French, the members rose in a body and vociferously cheered. Then, headed by the chairman, who stood ca his chair, and undertook the role of musical director, there arose a huge volume of sound, culminating in the National Anthem, with a distinct “metallic” ring from voices long since grown rusty on all notes save one—the call-over note.

During the service at tho Synagogue Mr J. Hyman, the president, informed tho rabbi of tbe relief of Kimberley. The Rsv. Mr Chodowski immediately offered up a special prayer of thanks for tho glad tidings, and in the course of a few well-timed remarks stated that the Jews throughout the world had every reason to be thankful for the kindly consideration shown to them by the British Empire. Aa soon as the ‘ Star ’ extra was received on the wharf, the harbor-master’s flag was hoisted, and in less than ten minutes afterwards there was a fine display of bunting from all the ships in the harbor. The Naval Artillery, who break up camp to-day, fired a 21-gun salute from their G-inch gun. Lieutenant-commander Allen made a patriotic speech, and the proceedings altogether were of an enthusiastic character.

TAPANUI, February 17. There was great jubilation and a display of bunting here at the news of Kimberley’s relief.

WELLINGTON, February 17. The news of the relief of Kimberley was received here with much enthusiasm, and has been the sole absorbing topic of the day. INVERCARGILL, February 17. When the glad tidings were announced at the proceedings in connection with the departure of the local section of the Fourth Contingent, the scene was one- of unparalleled enthusiasm.

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb rnary 17. There was a scene of wild enthusiasm at Hagley Park to-day in connection with tie Third Contingent departure proceedings when Lord Ranfnrly read a telegram received by him in reference to the relief of Kimberley. Cheers were given for General French and Lord Roberts, and when tie Premier later on mentioned the probability of the First Contingent being with General French the cheering was renewed.

STRATFORD, February 17. Great enthusiasm was shown here over the relief of Kimberley, and flags are flying everywhere.

AUCKLAND, February 17. On receipt of the news the flags were hoisted in town. The W.C.T.U. sang the Doxology.