Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-23
B0ER POSITION CRITICAL.
Several Thousand Troops Surrounded
by the British.
Engagement sunday said TO Haze Been
"GreRtest Battle Of the WRr''---Gen.
Butler Advancing Upon LadysmIth.

Engagement sunday said 10 Haze Been
"Greatest Battle Of the wsr'---Gen.
Butler Advancing Upon Ladysmith.
The first real battle OF the Boer war
made under scientific conditions was fought
last Sunday on the banks of the Modder
river east of Jacobsdal in the Orange Free
State. The drive Of Roberts from Coles
burg, which is the southernly angle in this
great triangle of the military operations in
South Africa, to Kimberley, forced Cronje
to retreat hastily from his intrenchments
before Kimberley and to press due east
from Jacobsdal, his base of supplies, to-
ward Bloemfontein, the capital of the Or
ange Free State He evidently took the
main road with his 10000 troops and 1000
transport wagons. Running parallel with
this road some miles 10 the north is the
Modder river.
For some reason not explained he turned
northward toward the river, having lost
100 wagons, and pushed toward Paarde-
berg on the river and thence undertook to
push TO Roeders Rand. But the British,
by following the river route, had reached
Paardeberg before Cronje's column ar
rived there The British pressed still far
ther to the east in order to intercept re-
endorsements that had been forwarded by
rail from Ladysmilh The reGnforcements
were driven back and Roberts, covering
Cronje's camp on the Modder near Paarde-
| berg with artillery, proceeded to attack all
corners. Several thousand Beers came
down from the north, but were well taken
care of by the British. Other Beers came
up from Coles berg, but failed 70 join Cronje.
The Beers had established themselves in
the bed of the Modder Friday night and
/ or Sat aH no
on the west and east, the latter direction
being toward Bloemfontien. On Sunday
was fought the greatest battle Of the war.
Cronje had been driven into a weak posi-
! tion, the bed of river which had low
banks broken by several small hills. The
British artillery played upon Cronje's
camp, which had been hastily fortified
during Saturday night, and at one time
the British attempted to take him by
rush, but were beaten off.
The meager details of the fight clearly
indicate that Cronje made a mastery de-
| fence against great odds, but his lack of
artillery was fatal. At the same time his
army slept upon the field of battle. On
| Tuesday Cronje asked for a cessation of
hostilties in order 10 bury his dead The
| British considered this request device TO
| save time, and it was refused.
This, in brief, is about all that is known
about the situation in the Orange Free
State. Unless he has been relieved Cronje
will be forced to surrender. His position
on the bed of the Modder is a veritable
death trap, and the capture of his army is
inevitable unless speedily relieved Rut-
land Herald.
The steady progress of the relief column
is uninterrupted. The Beers on Tuesday
were forced from their last position south
Of the Tugela, resulting in the evacuation
of Colenso. The Beers heavily shelled
Hlangwana hill and Colenso on Tuesday,
Feb. 20, and the British advanced infantry
was subjected to severe musketry fire,
but they had excellent cover and casual
ties were few. The British continue to
discover large quantities of ammunition.
The Beers are we'll supplied with food,
and a quantity of provisions was left be-
hind. 1t is expected that further resistance
will be half-hearted and that L@dysmith
will be reached in a few day.