The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-26
in Sundays fight. behaving most gal

London, Feb. 26.-If the latest dis
patches from Paardeberg throw any
light on the situation, they show that
Gen. CrOnjes forces have far more pro
lection from Field Marshal Lord Rob
erts heavy fire than the first dispatches
indicated A special dispatch from
Paardeberg published in the second edi-
tion of the Daily Chronicle and dated
Saturday, February "a, says:
Balloon has discovered the enemy
well covered by a system of burr0wing
in the river bank, which resembles a
rabbitwarren and affords shell-proof
positions
This perhaps more than any other cir
cunstance explains why, what is looked
upon here as Gen. Cronje's death strug-
gle is prolonged. Tuus it will not be
much of a surprise if today, or anyhow
tomorrow, which is the anniversary of
Majuba Hill, will be marked by the sur
render or annihilation of the gallant
army so overwhelming hemmed in
| though the closeness of the investment
/ appears open to criticism. Small bodies
Of Beers, apparently, are able to make
| their escape, causing comparison here
/ between the Beers methods of invest
ment with their quickly dug surround
/ ing trenches, impassaDIe barbed wire,
| etc, and those of the British.
The military critics. though little bet
/ ter informed as to the commander-in-
/ chiefs motives than the public, are in
/ clining to the view that though the
/ main cause of the prolongation of the
/ Paardeberg tragedy undoubtedly con-
sists in Lord Roberts being unwilling to
! risk the great loss of life which an as
sault would entail, his delay is also
prompted by the subsidiary motive Of
attracting to Paardeberg as many rein
| forcing and relieving BOer units as viii
| come, feeling strong enough to treat
| them as Gen. Joubert treated Gen. Bull
! lers attempts to relieve Ladysmith. In
| other words, Lord Roberts holds a po-
sitiOn almost analogous with that held
so long by the Beers at Ladysmith.
AS Gen. Cronje is reported to have
plenty of food. the plan OF starving him
/ out can scarcely avail so Lord Roberts
must either wait until his ammunition,
| which is said to be short, runs out, or
those of Gen. Cronje's forces, who are
| cOunselling surrender, prevail So in
definite is the information that either of
| these alternatives may occur at any
moment. In the meanwhile. Lord Rob
erts' engineers are sapping steadily
| towards the Boer laager and according
to a special from Paardeberg dated
Sunday, February 25, the Gordon is
gradually drawing closer.
Gen. Buffers march on Ladysmith is
being marked by sharp fighting. A
Petermaritzberg dispatch of today's
date says he is still heavily engaged in
fighting. In Groblers KIoof, Gen. Butler
seems to have discovered a hornets
nest.
In Cape Colony the British arms are
still advancing
Barkley East is now in their possess
sion, according to a dispatch from that
district the Beers evacuating the place,
retreating on Ladygrey and wiring
President Steyn for reinforcements to
prevent their surrender.
The Pretoria government proclaimed
February 25 and February 27, days of
thanksgiving and prayer, presumably
in memory of the battle of Majuba Hill
! dispatch from Kimberley says its
| inhabitants have planned to erect
4 statue to Cecil Rhodes, in recognition
of his services during the Siege.
SERIES OF FIGHTS
Paardeberg. Feb. 24.-Yesterday there
was a most interesting series of fights
along the British front. One thousand
Beers commanded by Gen. Dewet who
We're known to be operating in the i'm
mediate front at early dawn yesterday
determined to attempt to break through
the British lines and aid Gen. Cronje.
-, A body of 500 Beers moved toward the
British left and cantered in the direc-
tion of a kOpje with the object of oc-
cupying it. Unfortunately for the
Beers, however, the kopje was held by
a company of Scottish borderers. who
opened a heavy fire. The Beers gal
lOped off but moved again towards an
other British position, with exactly the
same result. Then they made a third
attempt to occupy another position, but
the borderers were again ready to re-
CeiVe them. The third repulSe thor
oughly disconnected the Beers, who gal
lOped away in a panic. Later, perceiv-
ing another kopje, the Beers moved
quickly toward L 10lS kOpJe was un-
occupied, but the bOrdererS not to be
outdone raced the Beers for the position
and won, occupying the kopje and driv-
ing off the Beers. A portion of the lat
ter ultimately occupied a kopje fanked
DartfalIv by the bOrderers and facing
another kOpje held by the Yorkshires.
A vigorous fusillade ensued. the Brit
ish succeeding in silencing the Boer fire.
Meanwhile the Bluffs were ordered to
reinforce the Yorkshires in case the
Beers should be reinforced.
The British attack worked around to
the right of the kOpje held by the York
shires, where the Seventh battery was
stationed, the Sixty second battery be-
ing placed at a farm near the center
of the borderers position. A vigorous
shelling accompanied by a British fusiIl-
ade, completely silenced the Beers. A
company of YOrkShires were sent to
clear out the Beers, but the attempt
failed, the Beers opening a heavy fire
and the British having no cover.
The British then again opened a
heavy rifle fire which again silenced the
Beers. The Beers made several at
temptS to run but the MaximS opened
up on them effectually and checked
them. The Bluffs now worked carefully
aud cautiously around and got within
$50 yards of the Beers Eighty Beers
surrendered. but many it appeared
escaped. going singly.
Most of the prisoners had just arrived
from Ladysmith. They complained of
the bad generalship of their leader
Nearly every man carried explosive
bullets and five British were wounded
with these missiles. I have seen the
bullets, Of which one Boer carried
fifty.
There is no longer the slightest doubt
that the Beers are gradually disearding
all rules of civilized warfare. The
other day they poured the contents OF
a Vickers-M Maxim gun into an ambu-
lance, which happened however to be
empty, some 800 yards away from the
nearest troops.
The war balloon is doing excellent ser
vice. Early this morning it arose to a
great height and discovered in the bed
of the river four wagons which con-
tanned ammunition. These were eX-
ploded by the British shells an hour
afterwards. The balloon observer also
! ! discovered a number of horses con-
! ceaIed near by and these also received