The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-27
CRONJE STILL HOLDS OUT
NO REPORTS OF EVENTS FROM ROB-
ERTS SINCE THURSDAY.
SITUATION THEN UNCHANGED.
A DIscredited Durham Report OF the
Boer Generals surrender and One by
Way OF Berlin OF His Having Cut
Assaults Near Arundel and on Tu-
gela Repulsed wfkInson's Resume
Of the Weeks Fighting.

gela Repulsed wilkInson's Resume
OF the Weeks Fighting.
London, February Is, 4:35 a. M
Since 2:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon
nothing has been received from the
scene Of what the London papers call
General Cronje's death struggle. the
war officials announcing at midnight
that they had nothing to give out.
They stated that they believed it i'm
possible for Cronje to escape from the
grip of Lord Roberts.
The report circulated in Berlin that
Cronje has succeeded in making his
escape came from the Boer headQuart-
ers in Brussels, where il was stated
that details were still lacking.
The only news from other parts OF
the seat Of war received during the
night is a special dispatch from Colen-
SO, under date Of February oath, stat
! ing that the British, in spite of strong
opposition, were advancing slowly. but
| surely, and driving the Beers from the
| kopjes between Greeber's kloopf and
| Hangewang.
Ladysmith reported by heliograph
on Friday that the Beers were retir-
|
| Meanwhile the certainty of relief is so
strong at Durham that the authorities
| are actively preparing train loads of
| provisions, luxuries and medical COM
| u dispatch to the beleagured
town as soon as communications are
| L, upened.
| Paardeberg, February 22.-There is
| little change in the situation. There
| was intermittent shelling today and
| during the night a large supply column
| arrived. 1t is reported that 700 Boers
are operat ag northwards of this place.
| had been fired, the Shropshires rushed
| forward 200 yards further towards the
| bed of the river, and found number
of Boer dead.
General French captured seventy
five more prisoners, who had previous
the westward side, took thirty more.
CRONJES CONDITION NOT
CHANGED.
London, February "a, 2:15 p. M
The dispatch from Paardeberg dated
Thursday, February 22nd, made pub
lie this afternoon shows that the con-
dition Of General Cronje, apparently
had not changed for The better Oh
worse up to Thursday, and confirma-
ton of the Durham report announcing
General -Cronje's surrender is eagerly
awaited At this hour the war office
has no news and it is regarded as
curious fact that the first news OF the
surrender, if true, should have come
from Durham. Lacking better author
ity, the Durham dispatch is regarded
as a doubtful announcement. The ar
rival of the British supply column a
Paardeberg may have given Genera
Roberts the opportunity to resume III:
fierce attack on General Cronje':
laager.
Other late Paardeberg dispatche'
say the Beers plight is still hopeles:
and that Lord Roberts is ready to NEE
all their reinforcements.
Beers IN STRENGTH NEAR
ARUNDEL.
A special dispatch from Arundel, un
der date of February 23rd says: ''Th
Beers have formed a strong fore
Clements has kept up a searching fir
on their kopjes. We expect to TAX
their position before sunset"
A war bulletin published I'm Pretori
February 22nd said communicate
with General Cronje was still ope
heavy fighting occurring east of Gen
eral Cronje's laager have been receiv
ed.
A Sterkstroom dispatch of Februar
23rd says a British refugee fror
, Heidelberg asserts that the Beers hav
on Ladysmith January 9Th and tha
it was true General Joubert was n
; longer in command. He added tina
; some Free Staters were publicly fog
ged for cowardice after the battle @
Belmont.
The British casualties at Koodoos
berg drift February 7th and Klipkraa
February 26th were seven officer
wounded, four men killed and ninety
six men wounded.
! BULLER'S CASUALTIES
The war office today received fror
{ General Butler a list Of casualties re
, sulting from the fighting of Februar
, The Hon r. G. Cathcart, son of Lor
Cathcart. Of the rife brigade; Lieuten
ants S. Coe and Parker, Of the Ian
cashire reeiment. Wounded. IA Off
GERS. including Major General wyn
and Colonel Harris, Of the East Sur
reys.
General Butler concludes: 'Owin
to the continuous fighting II Is impos
sible at present to give the number O
men killed or wounded"
RUNORS OF CRONJE FORCING
THE BRITISH LINES.
Berlin, February a., e:10 D. m.-Sev
eral newspapers here announce tha
they learn from private sources tha
General Cronje has succeeded In fore
ing bis way through the British lines.
BRITISH REPULSED AT ARUNDEL
| Pretoria, Friday. February d
special dispatch from Colesberg dat
ed Thursday. February 2znd. says tina
Commandant Delarey moved out am
occupied a position east and south o
Arundel where the British were en-
camped. At sunrise the British at
tackled the Beers with cannon, infan
try and cavalry. the Beers replying
Late in the evening, when the Boer'
were attacked in their rear by a force
presumably from Naauwpoort, render
ing the Boer position untenable. ths
British attempted to storm the Boers
cannon, but were repulsed with heavy
| loss. The Boer casualties as far a.
known were two men wounded.
| BRITISH DRIVEN BACK ON