THE BRIDGE OVER THE VAAL RIVER AT FOURTEEN STREAMS.
NORTH OF. KIMBERLEY. TO WHICH IT IS SAID GENERAL CRONJE
HIMSELF, iwiTH A LARGE .PORTION, OF HIS ARMY FROM MAGERS
FONTEIN. IS' NOW HASTENING. ' ;-....
THE POINT IS A MOST IMPORTANT ONE; COMMANDING THE
RAILROAD TO MAFEKING, AND THE NATURE OF THE COUNTRY IS
SUCH AS TO MAKE IT EASY OF DEFENSE AGAINST A LARGE FORCE.
Kitchener Be
lieved to Have
Cut Off the
Retreat of the
Fleeing Com
mander-in-
Chief of the
Orange Free
State Forces.
LONDON, Feb. 20, 3:45
a. m. — A member of the
Cabinet told H. W. Lucy
to-night that the War Office had
received a telegram announcing
that General Cronje was hope
lessly surrounded.
Mr. Wyndham was beset by
anxious members of the House,
but would only reply that the
Government's news was ex
tremely satisfactory. The sole
explanation of the Government's
withholding good news is that
confirmation and more details
are awaited.
The situation as described by
correspondents over the Free
State border is tantalizing to the
public. The elementary facts are
the Boers are trekking eastward
toward Bloemfontein, with slow
lnoving baggage-trains, and that
they are pursued by Lord
Kitchener, with General Kelly-
Kenny's division. General Mac-
Donald, with the Highlanders,
made a forced march to Koo
doosrand ford, and on Sunday
pushed twenty miles eastward.
General French left Kimberley
Saturday, going east along the
Modder River.
Lord Kitchener is trying to
outmarch and outflank the
Boers, thus checking their re
treat, if possible, and driving
them back into the hands of
Mac Donald ar.d French.
The War Office message com
municated to Mr. Lucy seems to
indicate that Lord Kitchener has
either got ahead of the Boers or
is about to realize his plan, and
the War Office waits to an
nounce a decisive result.
Meanwhile Commandant De
larey, with the Boers from Coles
berg, is hanging on the right
flank of the British pursuing
columns, seeking to delay their
movement and so to assist the
Boer wagon-trains to escape.
Students of topography think
the Boers will hardly risk a fight
until they get into the rough
A Daily Mail correspondent,
who was with the British convoy
attacked by the Boers at Riet
River ford, wires:
"Ultimately the British aban
doned the convoy, in order not
to check the advance. Thus 200
wagons and 600 tons of stores
fell into the hands of the Boers,
though it is doubtful if they will
be able to carry them away."
General Buller has achieved a
real success seemingly in captur
ing the range of hills south of the
Tugela. It makes more feasible
another attempt to relieve Lady
smith.
The Queen has sent a direct
message to Lord Roberts con
gratulating him and his troops.
General French and Colonel
Kekewich have been acquainted
with their promotions.
Dr. Leyds, at Brussels, says
the Free State troops who were
besieging Ladysmith have with
drawn in order to defend their
homes. In this way he ac
counts for General Buller's suc
cess against the weakened forces.
He will forego his projected trip
to Rome, he says, because of
"decisive events now taking
place in the theater of war."
from Honey Nest Kloof arrived to-day. It
appears that the captured supplies are a
white elephant to the Boers, since they
are unable! to clear them away. There is
considerable probability that they will be
recovered. '
COMMONS VOTES
MONEY FOR THE WAR
LONDON. Feb. 19.— 1n the House of
Commons to-day during the discussion of
the report of the Committee on Supply
on the vote for the addition of 120,000 men
to the army, William Redmond opposed
the. measure on the ground that the Gov
ernment's proposals were largely of a
permanent character. He denounced the
scheme as a "miserable makeshift."
Other Irish members opposed the meas
ure. I .'.¦
The report was finally adopted by 164
votes against 32.
Michael Joseph Flavin, Nationalist
Series of Suc
cesses on the
Tugela That
Might Lead to
the Relief of
Ladysmith if
Properly Fol
lowed Up by
British Forces.
/^\ HIEVELEY, Monday
\^y morning, Feb. 19. — The
Boers' line of fortresses i 3
broken. The British have
achieved a decided success in
capturing the enemy's position
on Monte Cristo. The Beers,
however, effectively executed a
retreat, removing their guns and
convoy wagons. The British had
comparatively few casualties.
BULLER'S MODEST
REPORT OF SUCCESS
LONDON, Feb. 19.— The War Office has
received the following dispatch from Gen
eral Buller:
"CHIEVELEY CAMP. Feb. 19.— 1 yes
terday moved around the enemy's flank.
The Queen's, who had bivouacked on the
northern slope of Cingrolo. crossed the
Nek and, supported, by the rest of the
Second Brigade, under Hlldyard, assault
ed and took the southern end of Monte
Christo.
"The Fourth Brigade, on the left or
western slope, and the Welsh Fusileers.
supported by the rest of the Sixth Bri
gade, assaulted the eastern flank of the
enemy's position, while the Second Bri
gade cavalry, on the extreme right,
watched the eastern slopes of Monte
Christo, and drove back those of the en
emy attempting to escape there from our
artillery fire. Assaulted by the heavy ar
tillery fire on their front and flank, and
attacked on their flank and rear, the en
emy made but slight resistance, and
abandoning their strong position were
driven across the Turela. I have taken
several camps, a wagon load of ammuni
tion, several wagons of stores and sup
plies and a few prisoners.
. "The weather has been Intensely hot
and the ground traversed was exceedingly
difficult, but the energy and dash of the
troops have been very pleasant to see.
They have all done splendidly. The work
of the irregular cavalry, the Queen's, the
Scots Fusileers and the Rifle BrlgayC. was
perhaps most noticeable, while the excel
lent practice of the artillery and naval
guns and the. steadiness of the gunners,
under at times very accurate fire, was re
markable. The accurate fire of the naval
guns from Chieveley was of great assist
ance.
"Our casualties are not, I think, many."
GENERAL BULLER NOW
HAS A GREAT CHANCE
LONDON. Feb. 20.— Spencer "Wilkinson,
reviewing the military situation in tha
Morning Post, dwells upon the importance
of the operations of Sir Redvers Buller
and says:
"Now Is General Butter's great chance.
Now is the time to throw himself with all
his might Into the task before him and t«»
hit hard without counting losses too
closely. He will then probably defeat the
Boers and relieve Ladysmith this week.
Failing that, he will at any rate prevent
them from sending reinforcements to tha
Free State.
"From the comparative ease of the ope
rations so far. however. It looks as though
the Natal Boers had sent reinforcements
to General Cronje, who may be delaying
a fight by retreating until those reinforce
ments shall have had lime to reach him."
In conclusion Mr. Wilkinson reiterates
his statement that victories are more Im
portant than positions, adding: "No doubt
Lord Roberts has done the best that was
possible, but the essential thing still U to
destroy the Boer army."
TO ANNIHILATE THEM LATER.
BERLIN. Feb. 19.— The latest news
from South Africa is regarded here as of
the greatest importance. The Berliner
Tageblatt says that the war Is doubtless
now in the decisive stage and this view
is corroborated by the utterances of most
of the German newspapers, although tho
Agrarian organs continue to affect to
believe that the Boers have permitted
the British to penetrate the Free Stata
only to annihilate them later on.
member for North Kerry, moved to r
duce the vote of £13.000,000 to £12,000,C00.
Various other members raised protests
from different points of view. against the
war, John Dillon protesting against the
threatened 1 employment of natives In the
hostilities. Mr. Wyndham, replying, said;
"The .Government Is doing Its best In
the circumstances of great difficulty to
preventany such horrible occurrence, but
if;the Boers attack any other nation we
are not going to prevent that nation from
defending Itself."
; John Redmond, ; the . Nationalist leader,
declared that the principal European na
tions were against Great Britain in this
war, and that the great mass of the pub
lic opinion In the United States was in the
same direction. (Ministerial cries of "No,
no.") '"--;.,"'¦ ; ¦
Mr. Flavin's motion was rejected by 233
votes against 31. ";
.'After further discussion the .debate was
closed on" motion- of Mr. Balfour and the
vote was carried ; by 207 against 31. -
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
'. LONDON. ; FebV\ 19.— Replying to a Ques
tion in the House of Commons to-day, Mr.
formerly soldiers in the army of Japan,
for service with the British forces In
South Africa. The : Japanese . are eager
to go. to the front and all the volunteers
have made themselves eligible for] service
by taking out papers of. British citizen
ship. ' . . ¦¦
FIGHTING PROCEEDING
NORTH OF KIMBERLEY
LONDON. Feb.. 20.— This, dispatch from
its special correspondent is published by
the Daily Mail:
JACOBSDAL.,Feb. 18.— General Cronje :
Is dodging away to the eastward and
fighting as he retreats under our; harass
ing attack.. , Flghtingls.stlll^prbceedlng to
the north of Klmberley^at Dronfleld. The
enemy has been located -by local troops,'
and General French ¦. has .vigorously 'at
tacked .them, surrounding *? their : laager.
The enemy has _ evacuated '¦¦ Kanif erdam.
The reason why the supply wagons were"
abandoned at Rletßlver~Drlft was , that
an attempt to ¦ retain them would mean
a'delay of advance. , Another wagon train
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
CERTAIN OF SUCCESS
Will Be Favorably Reported to ths
House With Objectionable
Features Removed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.— Senator Han
na to-day had a conference with tho Re
publican members of the House Mer
chant Marine Committee respecting the
ship subsidy bill, and as a result of thla
conference the whole aspect of the case
has been changed and the passage of the
bill is practically agreed upon. Another
conference will be held to-morrow night,
when the bill -is likely to be complete
and made ready for reporting to tha
House.
The objection heretofore had to tho
original bill has been partly overcome,
and certain features will be eliminated
when It Is reported to the House. Ona
great objection to the Hanna-Payne
measure was it would allow a subsidy to
many old hulks and tank steamers, and
this will be avoided in some manner, pre
sumably by providing that ships applying
for a subsidy shall be examined by an
inspector and only first-class vessels al
lowed upon the list. Senator Hanna said
he felt certain the bill would be agreed
upon and that the amended document
would suit all Republican*. MS**
British Cavalry Attacking Gen. Cronje's Wagon Train.
THE RAPIDITY OF THE MOVE MENTS *OF THE BRITISH FLANK
ING COLUMNS BROUGHT THEM TO THE LINE OF. RETREAT OF THE
BOERS FROM SPYTFONTEIN AND MAGERSFONTEIN BEFORE THEIR
LONG WAGON TRAINS HAD GOT SAFELY; BY. ON - THEIR -WAY TO
BLOEMFONTEIN, AND GENERAL KELLY-KENNY'S DIVISION CUT
OFF AND CAPTURED SEVENTY-EIGHT . TRANSPORT WAGONS IN
ONE BODY. AND LATER SOME THIRTY. MORE. THE LARGE PIC
TURE GIVES A FAIR IDEA OF THE OPERATION.
Lord m Roberts' generalship
was conducted with such se
crecy, says a telegram from
Modder River, that even the
senior officers who took the
sixth division through the pre
liminaries of the operation ,did
not know what they would
finally have to do.
BIG BATTLE ON
THE TUGELA EXPECTED
LONDON. Feb. 20.— A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Lourenzo Marquez, dated
Monday, says:
"According to advices from Pretoria,
the Boers are expecting a. big battle on
the Tugela. They claim that seventy of
the Wiltshires were killed at Colesberg
and that thirty wagons with forage and
provisions were captured, but no ammu
nition. They thus describe the fighting
at Kimberley:
" 'The British came through Blaunbank
and attacked In two columns. While the
Boers were busily engaged with Lord
Roberts. General French, with 2000 caval
ry and six guns, succeeded In breaking
through the Boer lines. The Boers did
not seriously oppose General French's ad
vance, but confined their efforts to pre
venting the provisions getting, through. In
this they : succeeded, capturing 2000 head
of cattle. 100' wagons of provisions and
100 men.' "
The Chieveley correspondent of the
Daily News, telegraphing yesterday, sa>'s:
"We now : occupy all . the hills to the
right of Colenso.-on this side of the Tu
gela, including Hlangwane, which the
Boers evacuated last (Sunday) night. This
capture of Hlangwane hill is of great
strategical importance, as -the hill com
mands the flank of the Boer defenses at
Colenso'. A successful advance and the
recapture of the railway may be ex
pected."
The Daily Mall has the following dis
patch, dated Monday, from Pietermaritz
burg:
"It Is reported that Sir Redvers Buller
has captured Hlangwane hill. Large
numbers of Free Staters have left to meet
Lord Roberts' force. It Is believed that
a number of the/ Boers' big guns have
been taken back across the border."
CAPTURE OF THE
WILTSHIRE TROOPERS
LOURENZO MARQUEZ. Feb. IK.— A
correspondent who was with the Baer
forces in the attack upon Rensberg giv«s
further particulars regarding the capture
of the Wiltshires. He says:
"Commandant Peller, who.arrived first, 1
found two companies of the Wiltshires
and began attacking In the open. Soon'
after he was Joined by a body of , Fr<*e'
Staters and together they drove the Brit
ish back from . the . neighboring -kopjes,'
capturing all but three.
"It Is Impossible to say; exactly how
many of the British were killed and
At Kimberley a report Is current that
Mafeking has been relieved, but that the
Boers are trying to conceal the Informa
tion. • . •
• . ?
SEVERE FIGHTING
ALONG THE MODDER
[Special Cable to the New York Herald. Copy
right, 1900, by New York Herald Com
pany. Republlcation of this dispatch is
prohibited. AH rights reserved in the
United States and Great Britain.]
PRETORIA, Feb. 16, via Lourenzo
Marques, Feb. 19. — Two thousand British
troops succeeded In entering Kimberley
yesterday. There are reports of severe
fighting along the Modder River, but de
tails are lacking.
LOURENZO MARQUES. Feb. 19.— 0n
Saturday the relieving column attempted
to break out of Kimberley with the gar
rison, but failed. Heavy fighting is pro
gressing.
ROBERTS' SUCCESS.
LONDON, Feb. 20.— The Standard's cor
respondent at Modder River, under date
of Sunday, Feb. 18, wires as follows:
"The magnificent success of the plan of
campaign of Lord Roberts must be
ascribed in great part, after full consider
ation has been given for careful and bril
liant strategy, to the extreme mobility of
the newly organized forces employed, but
this mobility has to be paid for. It In
volves a great " expenditure in horses.
Those of the Boers, for instance, are
nearly finished.
/'lt we are to retain our advantage there
must be an unstinted drawing upon every
possible source of supply throughout the
empire. Otherwise we shall be without
enough horses of the suitable kind to fur
nish the necessary remounts.
"The Infantry under Lord Roberts has
done some marvelous marching, mostly
at night. Its pluck and endurance have
gone very far toward iripuring the safety
and success of the cavalry operations."
PRETORIUS RELEASED.
ARUNDEL. Sunday, Feb. 18.—Com
mandant Pretorius, who was captured by
the British at Elands Laagte. and three
other Boer prisoners were handed over
to the Boers from Arundel to-day. A
messenger under a flag of truce had pre
viously arranged the programme. The
prisoners had a cordial interview with
General Clements and were then taken
in an ambulance half way to the Boer
camp.
METHUEN AT KIMBERLEY.
LONDON. Feb. 20.— The Cape Town
correspondent of the Dally News, tele
graphing Sunday, sayo:
"Lord Methuen's , force, I learn, haa ar
rived at Kimberley, having grot through
from Magersfonteln ¦ without fighting."
Wyndham, Parliamentary Secretary of
the Foreign Office, declared the Govern
ment proposed to Invite expression of
opinion from the Colonial Governments re
garding the reorganization of the forces
of the empire, and kindred questions.
MAFEKING REPORTED
TO HAVE BEEN RELIEVED
CAPE TOWN, Feb. 19.— Dispatches from
Maseru say that large forces are being
sent from the Transvaal to the Free
State under prominent generals. It Is also
said the Free State Is making desperate
efforts to collect an army to face the
British at Koffyfontein.
An official proclamation orders out all
male inhabitants between the ages of 16
and 60, and enthusiasts declare that every
one up to the age of 100 must go. ,
Typhoid fever is said to be playing
havoc among the Boers at Colesberg.
wounded, but of the 200 Wiltshires 1 4 2
were captured, .and of those forty-four
were wounded. • .
"The- suffering, of- the wounded . from
heat and thirst was. lntense. The burgh
ers did their best to alleviate this, and
many of the wounded «were . carried ;in
blankets to Rensberg siding.
"At Rietfontein the British rear guard
begran shelling, thus compelling the Fed
erals to leave the .wounded in order io re
pulse the attack. A Krupp gun replied
effectively to the British cannonade. The
Boers lost two killed and four wounded.
They now occupy all the Rensberg posi
tions formerly - occupied by the Br/tlsh.
whose rear guard' ls at Rietfontein, with
the Federals close up."
JAPANESE WANT TO FIGHT.
VANCOUVER. B. C. Feb. 19.— The Jap
anese residents of thiß province have
renewed their offer to raise and equip at
their personal expense a corps of at least
one hundred trained men, fifty of them
CRONJE REPORTED SURROUNDED,
BULLER GAINS MINOR VICTORIES
VOLUME LXXXVII— NO. 82.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1900.
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL