THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8, 22 February 1900, Page 19

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

On Saturday came the news that General French had succeeded in relieving Kimberley on the previous Thursday. The intelligence it is needless to say, was received with great enthusiasm throughout the Colony. From the particulars to hand, it appears that on the 12th General French crossed the Modder River and captured three laagers, with stores. On the same day Generals Kelly-Kenny and Tucker crossed the Riet River. On the 14th General Kelly-Kenny outflanked the Boers at Jacnb«dal, when the enemy was compelled to retire across the Modder River from his position at Magersfontein where it will be remembered the Highland Rrigade under General Wauchope met with such a severe reverse. Prior to entering Kimberley General French seized the enemy's laager South of Kimberley containing stores and ammunition. From this it is evident that the Boer force, which was commanded by Crcnje, had to make a hurried retreat, and was not able to take away its stores. It is supposed that the larger portion of Cronje's force is retreating towards Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State, and that the smaller is going northward. It is said that the Boers were compelled to cross the Modder in order to avoid starvation. General Kelly-Kenny's troops are harassing Cronje's rear guard, and as the enemy's cattle are dead beat, it is expected that the Boers will be intercepted before beinjr able to get to Bloemfontein, which is about 90 miJes from Kimberley. The whole of these movements were carried out under the direction of Lord Roberts. It was a significant coincidence that the relief of Kimberley— the first real success of the British forces during the war— was conducted by three Irish Generals— Lord Roberts, and Generals French and Kelly-Kenny, representing respectively the counties of Waterford, Roscommon, and Clare