The Iola Register

TUESDAY'S REPORT.

London, Feb. 13. Lord Roberts has gathered 35,000 men, with whom according to the best military opinion in London, he purposes turning the left of the Magersfontein lines near Jacobsdal, entering the Free State, compelling Gen. Cronje to raise the siege of Kimberley and thus making his first step toward Bloemfontein.

Yesterday Lord Roberts announced the appointment of Gen. Sir Henry Colville, hitherto commander of the guards brigade, to the command of the Ninth division, which is being formed and will consist probably to a great extent of colonial troops. Gen. Colville will be succeeded by Gen. Reginald Pole-Carew.

Lord Roberts tells the correspondents that when he gets down to business they shall have ample opportunities to send news. His chief press censor yesterday issued new rules and in future all written communications are to go unchecked. Only telegrams will be censored. For the next few days little news is likely to get through, but later there will be more freedom. Thus says the censor and the last clause may be interpreted to mean that something is about to happen.

Kimberley, 20 miles away from the Modder river position, is in sore straits. Details of the December death rate show that in a population of 14,000 whites and 19,000 blacks the mortality was 60 whites and 138 blacks per 1,000. The infantile death rate was 671 per 1,000 among the whites and 912 per 1,000 among the blacks. Enteric fever was prevalent.

Meanwhile the bombardment by the Boers has increased and there is imminent danger of the town falling under the very eyes of Lord Roberts. It is believed in circles close to the war office that he will move at once.

Scouts have approached within 1,000 yards of the Boer entrenchments at Magersfontein. They have found these strong and ascertained that they are used as dwelling places. Naval gunners are constantly watching the enemy's lines with strong glasses and they declare that there is an appreciable diminution in the Boer forces.

In Natal the Boer commandoes south of the Tugela occupy Bould's farm and several mines west of Chieveley. Two thousand Boers, with three guns, are advancing through Zululand toward Natal.

Spencer Wilkinson on the Situation.

London, Feb. 13. Spencer Wilkinson, discussing the military situation in the Morning Post yesterday, refers to a Cape Town letter dated January 23, which asserts that Lord Roberts will allow no movement until the transport organization is complete, and says: "It is probable, therefore, that the transport is now ready and that the arrival of Lord Roberts at Modder river is the signal for action. It is possible that before beginning his move he wishes to ascertain from Lord Methuen how matters stand in his part of the theater of war and this would account for pause of a few days."