Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-02-26

| London, Feb. 23.-The Times has the
following from Paardeberg, dated Feb.
81: 1--WE have expelled 500 beers from
an isolated kopje about a mile south
east of Gen. Cronje's lager"
Cronje to Fight to the Death.
| London, Feb. 23.-The Daily News
has the following dispatch from Mod
der river, dated Wednesday afternoon,
| the 21st: "In the boer forces under
Gen. Cronje it is estimated there are
5000 men. At II Cronje asked an
armistice of "a hours, which was re-
fused. Later he sent message to say
he would surrender The British gen
eral sent reply telling him to come
| into camp. Cronje refused, saying
there had ben misunderstanding and
that he would fight to the death. The
| bombardment then reopened, and
our lyddite shells set fire to
the boer wagons, and we con-
tinued Smelling the lager through
the night, and in the morning
we resumed with maxims and rifles,
principally from the north side. On
Sunday there was much waste Of life
in attacking, and the same result
might have been achieved without it.
During Monday night seven beers
made an attempt to break through our
! lines but were captured, and their
leader killed. Four were carrying let
| ters It is believed there was one
other, who got through. The other
prisoners say Gen. Cronje marched
from Magersfontein here without out
spanning, a distance Of 80 miles. Had
he succeeded in escaping it would have
been one of the finest performances in
the annals of war. The Canadians
made a gallant charge at the lager
but were driven back with loss, Gen.
Mcdonald and Gen. Knox being
| slightly wounded
Cronje's Magnificent Stand.
Paardeberg Drift, Feb. 23.-Gen.
Cronje's magnificent night march from
Magersfontein now appears likely to
end in disaster The main body Of the
beers is enclosed in a terrible death
trap. The enemy are hiding in the bed
of the Modder, commanded by British
artillery, and enclosed on the east and
west by British infantry. Sunday wit
messed gallant stand on the part of
the retreating foe. Tired and har-
raised, they still maintained a bold
front. 1t is somewhat difficult to eX-
plain Sundays section in which all the
British force was engaged, and in
which Cronje, under difficult cOndi-
/ lions, managed ito hold his own. On
Saturday night the British mounted
infantry came into touch with CrOnje's
rear guard, driving them back upon the
main body. On Sunday morning the
action was renewed, but the beers who
had entrenched the river bed during
the night, prevented further advance of
mounted infantry in this direction.
| Meanwhile the highland BRIGADE con-
| sisting of the Seaforths, Black Witch
and Argylls, advanced from the south
bank and the Essex, Welsh and York
shires formed long line on the left,
which rested on the river, the extreme
was ordered to envelOp the beers, who
lined behind the banks of the river.
The firing soon became heavy, the
beers holding a splendid position.
The men were on level, coverless
ground, exposed to a terrible fire
which obliged I EN- to lie upon
ground as they did for the
remainder of the day. This began at
half past seven in the morning.
Through the dreadful heat and ter