The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-03-02
SHOWS GREAT PLUCK K
Gen. Cronje Continues to Strongly
Resist the British.
His Position Regarded an Utterly
Hopeless, Yet He Refuses to Lay
Down His Arms - Accounts
Of Recent Fixhting. ..EsI

Hopeless, Yet He Refuses to Lay
Down His Arms - Accounts
of Recent Fighting. .@s>
Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Feb.
23.-Gen. Cronje's position is more
hopeless than ever. Our guns dominate
the sloping ascents from the river on
oil sides, and by the rush of the Shrop-
shires on Wednesday night up the river
bed the Beers lost 200 yards space in
their cover. Deserters say the British
fire has been very deadly and affirm
that Gen. Cronje himself is willing to
surrender, but is overborne by the
young Beers from the Transvaal.
There are women and children with
the Boer force. Gen. Roberts proposed
to let them pass out of danger, but this
suggestion, as we'll rs the prefer of
medical aid, has been rejected. The
koPje captured by the British last
Wednesday, when so prisoners were
taken. is a most important strategical
position. It's possession should enable
us to repulse any Boer reenforcements
from the eartward.
Roberts' Latest Dispatches.
London, Feb. 26.-The war office pub
1shed the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
recently arrived from Natal attacked our
outposts in force again yesterday. They
lost good many killed and wounded and
nearly 100 prisoners, including a COM
mandant and three field coronets Our
casualties were four officers wounded, nine
men killed. q men wounded, two men MISS
ing. On the 21st and 22d one officer and 10
men were wounded.
six men were wounded yesterday by hol-
!ow:nosed mauser bullets. The nickel case
Is slit with four Sits. making the projectile
OF the most expansive and explosive nature
possible. wounded Boer brought to our
hospital yesterday has 60 Of these bullets
In his pockets.
During the advance to and at Kimberley
IL wounded; men. four killed. 70 wounded.
"Methuen reports that Bark!y West was
occupied by our troops on February q.
The loyal Inhabitants displayed great en-
thusiasm. The country west Of the rail-
way from Cape Town to Kimberley is grad
started from De Aar for Britstown: and
Douglas and Prieska will shortly be visited
by our troops.''
Scene Of the Fighting.
dispatch from Paardeberg says:
The scene of the last five days fight
Ing Is one of the prettiest spots in South
Africa. The river, at the point where Gen.
Cronje Is esconced and fighting for life,
resembles some parts of the Hudson river,
the ground all around s.oping toward the
stream. All the highlands are covered by
British artillery. Cronje is faced in the
front and rear from both banks by the
British, while Gen. French's horse, far
away on the TANKS. prevents a sudden in
rush Of Beers.
Gen. French has sent in Is prisoners. A
British patrol, eight miles to the west, dis
covered 30 Beers wandering away and cor
rallied them. Already this force has cap
tured 400 Of the enemy, while many dead
Beers have been seen. The Boer prisoners
are all depressed at the present course of
the war. and they comment bitterly upon
Gen. Cronte's persistence. which they call
murder
Sleeping Camp Awakened.
London, Feb. 26.-A dispatch from
Paardeberg. dated Saturday, says:
1.-THE fourth day Of Gen. Cronje's fine de-
tense opened in startling fashion. Soon
after dawn a most terrific rattle of rifle
fire broke out, waking the sleeping camp.
1t was the heaviest fire during the war, and
all awaited with foreboding the news of
its effect. 1t soon developed that the
Gloucesters and Essexes had lost their
way and had bivouacked, in error close to
the BOer lager on the north side of the
river. As soon as they were perceived by
the enemy, the latter fusilated Wonderful
TO tell, the British casualties were practic-
ally none.
There was desultory firing all day long
on both the north and south banks, Cen
Knox's brigade holding and pushing for
ward the line south of the river while Gen.
Smith-Dorrien, on the north side, worked
toward the laager. Meanwhile Gen. French
advanced. in far easterly direction, near
a kopje held by a strong force of Cronie's
men, reinforced by Ladysmith contin-
gent. At the same time Gen. Broadwood's
brigade. with battery Of horse artillery,
took up positions to the left and rear OF
the same kopje.
THE front Of the hill was thoroughly
searched by raking fire. Suddenly the
Beers bolted from every side toward Gen.
French. who headed toward the drift, she'll
ing vigorously. A great number escaped,
but many were killed by shrapnel. and
about 40 were captured. AS soon as the
kopje was evacuated. this correspondent
visited It, The position was found to be
wonderfully strong naturally, and to form
the real key to the position in the case of
defense against Boer requirements ad-
vancing from the east.
"Our first contact with the Ladysmith
Beers was singularly unfortunate for
them. A great deal Of forage. provisions
and equipment was captured, and the
kopje was frequently dotted with blood.
showing that many wounded had been re-
moved.
THE Boer method of removing their
dead is to tie couple Of reins to the body,
which Is thus dragged off by two horsemen
at full gallop.
There were several pourparlers to-day
on the subject Of short armistice. It
seems that Gen. Cronje is willing to sur
render. but that the young Transvaaler
refuse. The other beleaguered Beers are
anxious to give up
Everybody admires the splendid stand
OF the burghers, but, from humanitarian
point of view, it is considered that further
resistance on the part of Gen. Cronje will
be criminal Every sharpnel shell finds a
victim and unless miracle occurs his force
must be wiped out or captured. The former
result Is terrible to contemplate; but, al
though 1t would require few days it
would be easy to accomplish
To-day Lord Roberts sent Gen. Cronie
an offer Of a safe conduct for the women
and children, together with a free pass to
any point for them, and also an offer of
doctors and medicine. Cronje's reply was
curt refusal. and desultory Smelling was
resumed
Beckham's Suit Begins.
Louisville, Ky, Feb. 26.-The suit of