El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-26
Cronje Still Holding Out
Against British
VaIor
A RELIEF COLUMN
Tries To Join Him But Is
Checked After Three
Hot Fights With The
British

PAARDEBURG, Feb. "a (delayed).-
Gen. Cropje's position is unchanged
A balloon reconnaissance yesterda.
discovered the Beers we'll covered by ;
system of burrowing into the rive
bank like rabbits IN warren, which
affords them shell proof positions
The balloon also found four ammuni
tion wagons in the river bed which
British artillery had destroyed.
Commandant De Vets relief col
umn, 1000 strong, made three attempts
yesterday to join Cronje by endeavor'
ing to break through the British lines
and ultimately retreated seeming
ly panic stricken. They returned'
however, and the portion of them oc-
cupied kopje f1anked partially by the
Borderers facing another kopje held
by the Yorkshires. A vigorous
fusilade ensued, the British succeeding
in silencing the Boer fire.
A company of Yorkshires were sent
O clear out the Beers. but the attempt
failed. the Beers opening heavy
fire and the British bavirg no cover.
The British then again opened q
heavy rifle fire. which again silenced
the Beers. The Beers made
several attempts TO run, but the Max
inns were opened upon them effec-
tually and checked them. A small
force got within $50 yards of the
Boers Eight Beers surrendered but
many, it appears, escaped going
singly.
BOERs REGAIN a POSITION.
MANCHESTER, Eng, Feb. 26-The
Guardian prints the following dispatch
from it's correspondent near Colenso,
under date of Friday, February %:
1.-THE Beers practically again hold
Colenso hills, their position extending
eastward from Croblersklof, which
they probably always intended as
second position.
"Their former abandonment of the
Colenso ridges meant nothing. being
necessitated by our capture of Green
hill. Our troops are pressing the at
tack against the difficult position splen-
didly, knowing this is a grand relief
effort.
"The kopjes extend in seemingly
endless numbers."
CRONJE'S BRAVE WORDS.
CAPE Town, Feb. 26.-The first
train with refugees from Kimberley
has arrived here. There was no
One refugee said that
when Kitchener gave Cronje the al
tentative of fighting or surrendering,
the latter replied: 81 have guns, men
and ammunition and 1 am alive, why
should 1 surrender?'
WHAT BRITONS MUST FACE.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 26.-Dr. Leyds, the
b Der representative, is i'll. He says
Cropje's surrender, il 1t should come,
will not materially affect the war. 1t !
would be speedily followed, he de- |
olsres, by the concentration of the re-
100, 900 Beers in the field.
ROBERTS CLOSING IN.
PATREBuRG, Feb. % (Delsyed).-
Roberts has set his sappers to work |
the Boer lines with zigzag |
He is drawing the Gordon |
closer about the Boer lssRar. Roberts |
has also built defensive works ON his |
outer position.
CRONJE STILL THERE.
LONDON, Feb. 26.-Up to 8 O'Clock
this morning not a word of the situa-
lion on the Modder River has been re-
ceived from Roberts. The silence
means but one thing, that the situa-
tion is unchanged and that Cropje and
ni= men show no wavering in their de-
,isiou to hold out to the las. ditch.
The balloon ascension has shown the
British that their heavy bombard
ut has Inflicted but little damage to
entrenched Beers and tha: they can
/ out under the present plan
Attack at least so long as their
"a supply and ammunition lasts.