Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-03-01
General Dundonald and the Ma
talCarhineers the First to En-
ter BeIeaeuered Town.
COLEsBERG IN BRITISH HANDS
Further Details of Gen. Cronje's
Surrender to General-ln-chIef,
Lord Roberts.
BOERS ARE LEAVING NATAL

London, March lit is officially an
nounced that Ladysmith is relieved
Butler cabled today: "The countr.
between me and Ladysmith is report
ed clear of the enemy. l am moving
on Nelthorpe," The news of Lady
smith was received with more enthu
siasm than any previous event of thu
war. Flags were Immediately hoisteC
on hotels and other buildings ant
Buffers success is everywhere re
ceived with heartiest satisfaction. TIL,
lord mayor of London immediatel.
telegranhed congratulations to Gen
erals White and Butler. When tn
queen received the news at Windsof
castle the bells on the curfew towel
OF the castle were rung in honor o
the event. The war office received
the following dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
"Paardeberg, Feb. 26-General
Clements reports that on hearing that
Colesberg Junction had been evacu-
ated, he sent a force to occupy that
place and rode into Colesberg where
he received an enthusiastic welcome
He secured a certain amount of am
munition, arrested several rebels, and
then returned to Rensburg. He re-
ported the railway line clear and
working He will report tomorrow as
to the culverts which had been blown
up. Colesberg and Colesberg juno
tion are held by our troops
London, 6:55 p. m.-General Bull
Ter wires from Nelthorpe under to
days date that he had just returned
from Ladysmith. He adds the whole
country south Of that place is cleared
of the Beers.
Rensberg, Feb. 25-General Glenn
ents escorted by a squadron of the
Inniskillings entered Colesberg this
morning and received an enthusiastic
reception. The Beers are in full re
treat. A number of the leading mer
have been arrested The inhabitant'
are we'll and not starving. They suf
fered many indignities at the hand!
of the Beers, but no violence.
London, 9:52 p. m.-The war Office
has received the following dispatcl
from General Butler: "Lyttleton'S
headquarters, March list, sos, morn
ing-General Dundonald with the
Natal earbineers and a composite reg
iment entered Ladysmith last night
London, March IA special from
Cape Town says: "a telegram has
been received there from Mafekins
announcing that the Beers made {
severe and protracted assault on Feb
ruary oath, but were driven off at al
points. The truce which is usually
observed Sundays, was broken on tht
25th by another fierce attack but b!
determined fighting the Beers were
repulsed with loss Of forty killed ant
wounded. The defenders, who wer'
able to take advantage of the shelter
of the earthworks, lost only two kilIet
and three wounded.
Paardeberg, March lit was pic
turesque scene when Cronje wai
brought to Roberts headquarter camp
Crdnje bore himself with dignifet
simplicity, accepting with a bow tht
chair Roberts proffered him. They
talked some minutes, Cronje's secre
tary, Keizer, interpreting. Cronj,
said it was impossible for him to holt
out against the position the British
had gained. The Boer leader accept
ed his situation with fortitude, evel
occasionally smiling grimIy. Between
5000 and 1000 prisoners marched ou
OF the lager as well as Mrs. Cronj
and grandson, who accompanied tn
commandant. 1t was a grewsom
sight when the river, swollen b
nightly rains, carried through tn
main camp thousands of dead horse
and oxen washed from the banks o
the enemy,s position, where they ha
been killed by shells. This prove
the awful execution which our gun
did, also the terrible conditions fror
which Cronje suffered. Some deat
Beers were also seen. floating on tn
river.
Sterkspruit, Cape Colony. March
The Beers admit their losses whel
Brabante captured jamestown wer
fifty killed. 1923 wounded, 800 missing
Kimberley, March 1~-Deserters re
port that Cronje intended to cut hi
way out through Roberts forces Sur
day night, but the failure Of scoutin
Beers outside the British lines Il
seize a zopje to aid him. fustrate
the project. SO he surrendered
Several women and children wer
among the prisoners. Il IS declare
here that the British captured fou
Krupp field guns, two Wicker Maximl
several ordinary Maxims and 500
small arms The Boer entrencl
ments were simply deep narro'
trenches. The British found in thel
all sorts Of domestic appliance
Trunks and boxes were sunk to th
level of the ground and beside man
Of them. partially filed with foot
were cooking utensils. The tremel
dous British shell FIRE seems to hay