The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-24
FROM BOER SOURCES.

Pretoria Dispatches Report Nothing
Desperate I'm situation.
Pretoria, Wednesday. February M.-
The following Official war bullssin has
been issued here:
"Rsport was received this morning Of
cannon firing west Of Colssburg.
"At Petrusberg cannon dring COM
menced at six in the morning. A big
eight was expected today.
"Dewet te.esraphed yesterday from
Petrusberg that all was quiet except
several cannon shots and small skir-
mishss. Yesterday evening the British
stormed the federal pesltious as far ~
Schauser but were driven back.
"A message from General Cronjs is TO
the effect that his loss yesterday was four.
teen dead and wounded.
"Dewet's loss was NIL"
Commandant Fronoman reports that
from February 10 to February 20 he vas
surrounded BY the British st the Modder
river, when with . amali numbsr Of m en-
hs hroke thr oush the river.
On Sunday there was heavy fight.
The British prepared to lay sisge to the
Boar lsagsr, with fighting general. We
wsre surrounded BY two thousand
Britisn, i've miles from the chief laaser.
At niaht We cut sur way throuGhewith
the loss Of seven dead and sixteen
wounded. The loss Of the British was
heavy. Yesterday we cut our way through
to reach Dswst, who was In the neighbor.
hood. Fifty.three prisoners were taken,
and fifty three prisoners formerly taken
have been forwarded. 1t is reported that
the British were continually attac kin g
Koodossrand yesterday with infantry and
lancers, but that they were driven back.
LORD METHUEN AT KINDER LEY.
Kim berley, Thursday, February e.
Lord Methuen arrived here Tuesday. He
will act as adminissrator Of the Kimbcr-
10y district, extending southwark TO the
Orange river. Col. Kekswioh win remain
In command Of the call forces. The issue
of siege soup oeases today. There ara
sixty-four Boer prisoners here.
NEWS CONFLICTING.
London, February 24.-The Lourenzo
Marques correspondent Of the Daily News
telegraphing Tuesday, says:
ave are still In state Of doubt and
anxiety regarding events In the Free
State. We hear that the tetlegraph wire
between 9sn. Cronjs and Bloemfontsin
has been severed and the news from the
front In conflicting.
MR.. wILKISO MS SURMISES.
London, Febr uary g.. Mr.. Spense
VIII kinson, In the Morning Post, says:
"Erom Boer dispatches We might infer
tn ct Gen. Dewst has gathered consider
able force OF scattered Beers at Petrus-
berg, about fifteen miles southeast of
Koodoosrand, with view Of relieving
General Cronje.
"It Is probable that battle Is also
raging IN Natal. Anyway. there 10 no
need for alarm. II lie quite possible that
altar the fight Lord Roberts may be on.
gagged In pursuing the Beers which would
take him away from the Telegraph wires.
Lord Roberts may be fighting from ten
thousani to fifteen thousand Bosra This
would account for the long eilence as ali
experience has proved that the battles CO.
cupy some days. The Beers are experts
at digging cover and Cronje. In his
desperation may have risksd sortie In
the night"
WAR OFFICE SHUTS UP SHOP. {
London, February as.-11 20 .. m.-The
war ONCE announces that IL has no news
from the scene Of hostllities In South
Africa to give out tonight.