El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-23
And Roberts Reported De-
feated For Lack Of
Guns
BOERS ARE FIGHTING
One Of The Most Desperate
Battles In The His
tory Of War
fare

HARRISBURG, Feb. % (Deley -
Gen. Cropje's position seems to be one
which Is beyond human endurance to
hold, yet he holds it. He is in q
veritable hell yet gives no sign OF sur
render. Amid bursting shells andwhir-
ring shrapnell and death-showers, from
the British Nordenfeldts and Ma1 inns,
the Beers maintain a slow and care
full fire, occasionally killing q
horse or sniping q gunner.
On the south bank of the Modder are
three field batteries and two naval
guns, all within two thousand yards.
On the north bank. some within one
thousand yards, are three field batter
les, one howitzer battery and three
naval guns. Between are stationed
Maxims and other machine guns while
British troops from every available
shelter are pouring rifle fire at every
object.
Bursting lyddite fills the air with
green smoke which is broken here and
there by the fare of burning Boer
wagons. The noise is deafening, yet
at every lull is heard the snap, snap,
of the rifles of the indomitable ene-A
my. The Boer position is one mile
square and presents the appearance of
a vast volcanic crater.
NO SIGN CT A SURRENDER.
LONDON, Feb. 23.-Up to 2 o'clock
this afternoon no word had come from
Gen. Roberts as to the result of the
terrific bonn bardment he is inf1icting
on the belesguered Cropje. London,
however, expects a dispatch any mo-
ment announcing the Boer generals
surrender. The corridors of the war
Office and streets in front of the news
paper Offices are crowded. A rumor
current this morning that CroDje had
surrendered lacks confirmation. II
probably refers to press dispatch stat
ing on Feb. 81 that Gen. Kitchner had
received word that Cropje was ready
to surrender.
ANXIETY IN BRUSSELS.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 23.-The Boer lega-
tion here is most anxious over the po-
sition of Cronie. They still hope re-
Inducements will arrive In time to
save him. 1t is known that Betha and
Delarey are bastenining in Cronje's
direction. Delarey commanded the
Beers in northern Cape Colony.
ROBERTS REPORTED DEFEATED.
PARIS, Feb. 23.-The papers today
print an undated Berlin dispatch say
ing that Gen. Roberts has been de-
feated for want of sufficient guns.
BOERS FIGHT HARD.
CHIEvELY CAMP, Feb. q (Delsyed).
Five hundred Beers recrossed the
Tugela. making q stand on the south
bank. Later they retired. Beers are
shelling the northern slopes OF
Hlangwane hill. It is unknown
whether the Beers intend seriously to
resist the British march. The army
believes that the relief of Ladysmith is
only q matter of short time. Trains
from the south are now running into
Colenso.
BULLER REFUSED AGAIN.
PRETORIA, Feb. % Delsyed).-
Heavy fighting was renewed on the
Tugela and Butler was again re-
pulsed.
YOUNG CAREY AT THE FRONT.
LONDON. Feb. 23.-Included in de-
tachment of soldiers that has embark |
ed for the Cape was the son of James
Carey, the "Invincible" informer who
was shot on board the Nelrose by Pat
rick O'Donnell. Carey's son gave |
evidence at the preliminary hearing |
against O'Donnell and the anounce-
ment of his departure for South Africa |
brings to light curious instance of
family vicissitude. ss it is on the out
skirts of Port Elizab beth, where many
of the troops destined for the Natal
campaign are disembarked, that the
elder Carey lies buried. 1t develops
that before being called sout as q re-
servist the son was employed as q