Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1900-03-02
HARD IN AFRICA.
SEVERAL BATTLES FOUGHT.


Armistice-wild Hspmorp.
London, Feb. 20. The Mar Office has
ceived from Lord Roberts. tie following
message, which was delayed in transmis
sion, dated Paardeberg, Wednesday ~
Yesterday afternoon was satisfied by
a careful Reconnaissance in force of the
cnemy's position that could not assault
it without very heavy loss which 4 was
most anxious to avoid. Accordingly de-
cided to lombard him with artillery and
turn my attention to the senemy's rein
forcements. The result was most salts
factory.
"The Beers were driven off in all diree
tons, losing good many killed and
wounded and about SO prisoners, who say
they arrived from Ladysmith two days
ago by railroad. They also say it was
our artillery fire which caused them to
abandon the kopje they were occupying.
Our loss was two officers, Captain Camp
bell of the Ninth Lancers, and Lieutenant
Houston of the artillery, and four men
all slightly wounded"
Fighting Was Severe.
Paardeberg, Feb. pa Boer kopje has
been captured with 90 prisoners. Cronjes
position is unchanged.
Commandment Botha has been attempt
ing to relieve General Cronje. There has
been severe fighting. General Botha's
force is scattered with heavy losses.
One of the costliest actions of the war
occurred at Paardeberg drift, Sunday.
General Kelly-Kenny in his pursuit Of
Cronje caught his rear guard at Kip drift
and followed the burghers to the Beers
lager at Koodoosrand. The drift action
began at daybreak, mounted infantry driv-
ing the Beers rear guard up the river
towards the main body, while another
body of the mounted infantry maneu-
vered on the right front and fanked the
Beers.
The British main body advanced to out
flank the Beers lager ON the bank of
the river. Kelly-Kenny, having seized
two drifts, found the Beers strongly en-
closed and ordered an attack with the
Highland brigade on the left and Gen
eral Knox's Brigade on the center and
right, while General Smith Dorrine's brig
ade crossed the river and advanced along
the north bank. On both the north and
south banks the ground is level and the
advance across This was deadly and the
British losses were heavy
The battle was an exact replica of Mod
der river. ~
The soldiers were under heavy fire all
day and all the fighting had no definite
result, as the Beers .le,ger was well bar
ricaded and they remained therein.
The British guns shelled the laager Wig
orously and the Beers confessed to loss
of over 800 men.
The terrific Smelling was resumed Mon
day, when Cronje asked for an arInistice.
Smelling was continued Tuesday, over 90
guns pouring lead into the Boer camp.
More Gums Are Needed.
London, Feb. 20. Artillery officers re-
ceived hurry orders today to proceed to
South Africa with 80 one-pound Maxim
Nordenfeldt guns.
Butler still Advancing.
Chieveley Camp, Feb. 23.-The steady
progress OF the relief column is uninter-
rupted. The Beers Tuesday were forced
from their last position south of the T>u-
gela, resulting in the evacuation OF Co.
lenso, which was promptly reoccupied by
the Dublin Fusileers and Thcrneycroft
Horse. A Transvaal flag was captured,
as was handkerchief inscribed with Gen.
eral Botha's name. This is treasured as a
great trophy. The Beers heavily shelled
Hlangwane hill and Colenso Wednesday.
The British advanced infantry was SUD-
jected to severe musketry fire, but they
had excellent cover and the casualties were
few. The Beers had the railroad running
from Colenso to Bulwan.
The British continue to discover large
quantities of ammunition. The Beers are
well supplied with food and quantity of
provisions was left behind 1t is expected
that further resistance will be halfhearted
and that Ladysmith will be reached in
a few days
Losses at Colenso.
London, Feb. 23.-Buller reports that
his casualties were: Killed Captain
Thorburn of the Fusileers. Wounded
Two omcerS and IA men.
British LOSS at Rensburg.
London, Feb. 23.-An additional list of
the casualties sustained by the British
troops during the retreat from Rensburg,
February Is, shows that IA men were
killed and l5S members of the Wiltshire
and Worcestershire regiments are missing.
The latter fact confirms Boer reports tnat
number of prisoners had been captured
by them.