Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-24
GES. CRoNJE Is STILL UNBEArES.
His Heroic Defense Brings Praise from
the British Editor.


London. Feb. 24-Ralfour an
nouuced in the house OF commons at
half past II this morning that no fur
ther news regarding General Cronje
had been received by the government
He had sent 70 the war office during
the hour. and lie asserts that nothing
had come to hand there. General
CTonje. therefore. il presumably still
uubeaten. No other construction is
placed upon the three days silence OF
Lord Roberts. Yet no one sees how il
Is humanity possible. judging from the
descriptions of his situation WedneS-
day morning. for him 10 resist 10 long
Great Britain does not withhold admir-
alton for the ValOr OF Il losing fight
against such odds
"Englishmen feel something like
pride in Cronje. even as II foe says
The Daily News. In position cover
ing only n square mile. hemmed in on
all sides. circied with chain of fire
from rifle Maxim, and howitzer.
played on by deadly lyddite bursting
in its own sickly green light. his hasti-
ly built trenches entiladed 10y a stream
OF lead sweeping down the river from
the north bank. General Cronje still
elects to fight. II il Il magnificent
courage" General CrOnje'S wife is
described by the prisoners as urging
him TO surrender in order 70 save the
lives of his men. but ne would not
The British cavalry patrols sent by
Lord Methuen north of Kimberley dis
covered the Beers concentrating
whether for Offense or defense is sim
ply conjecture. The Beers seem 10 he
retiring from General Catacrp'S front
at Strrkstroom in ordes to reinforce the
Free StaterS. Ladysmith had not been
relieved when the latest news left Ma
tai two days ago. The Beers had then
retired half way between LadySmith |
and COlcnso. If only G,OCO went TO the |
Free State-as both the Roer and the |
British accounts assert - the 1000 |
who are left may purpose to maintain |
the siege and To resist General Butler ]
within contracted lines. although the |
impression 1T General Buffers head |
quarters * that The Beers are merely |
covering Il retreat.
y correspondent Of The Daily News. |
telegraphing from Modder river Thurs |
day morning. SAYS: AS left KoOdOr-
rand this morning n heavy shell and |
Tirie fire was in progress. Last night |
the BOer laager was Il mass of flames |
and the Beers were seen making |
shelter in the trenches Too much !
stress cannot hc laid upon the i'm
portanCe Of sending cargoes Of horses |
Tor romOunJs. The necessity Of rapid |
movement which was graSped by Lord |
Roberts. has altered the whole cam
paign."
\ dispatch from ChieveIy. dated |
Feb. 30. To The Daily Chronicle says: |
AT dawn on Tuesday We found that |
the Beers had vacated all their posi-
tiOnS south of the Tugcla and were il /
positions among the high hills midway |
between Ladysmith and the river ami |
making Il determined stand. Two
Crcusot guns were in action. All the
British naval and other heavy guns
were brought 10 bear upon thr new
positions. We believe that this show
of Bocr strength was only intrnded |
TO cover a retreat. Yesterday the Bo 'rS
We're retiring all day. General Butler
continued To harraSS them, compelling |