New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-28
ROBERTS TELLS THE NEWS
CLEAR AND CONCISE REPORTS OF BRIT
ISH COMMANDER

London, Feb. 27.-The War Office has received
the following dispatch from Lord Roberts:
Paardeberg Feb 81, 7:45 a m-General
Cronje with all Of his force capituIated uncon-
ditionaly at daylight, and is now a prisoner in
my camp. The strength of his force will be
communicated later. / hope that Her Majes-
tvs Government will consider this event salts
factory, occurring as IL does on the anniversary
of Majuba,
The War Office later received the following
message from Lord Roberts, giving details of
the victory:
Paardeberg II O'clock Tuesday morning.
From information furnished daily to me by the
Intelligence Department it became apparent
that General Cronjes force was becoming more
depressed, and that the discomfort of the troops
and the discord among the leaders were rapidly
increasing
This feeling was doubtless accentuated by the
disappointment caused when the Boer reinforce
ments which tried to relieve General Cronje
were defeated by our troops February %.
resolved, therefore. to bring pressure to bear on
the enemy. Each night the trenches were pushed
forward toward the enemys laager, so to
gradually contract his position. and at the same
time I bombarded 1t heavily with artillery,
which yesterday materially aided by the
arrival of four 6-inch howitzers which I had
ordered up from De Aar. In carrying out these
measures captive balloon gave great assistance
by keeping informed of the dispositions and
movements of the enemy.
CANADIANS IN THE FRONT.
At 3 a. m to-day a most dashing advance was
made by the Canadian regiment and some en-
gineers. supported by the 1st Gordon Highland
and the ID Shropshires resulting in our gain
ing point some six hundred yards nearer the
enemy and within eighty yards of his trenches,
where men intrenched themselves and main
tained their positions till morning. gallant
deed. worthy of our colonial comrades, and
which I am glad to say. was attended by COM
paratively slight loss.
This apparently clinched matters, for at day
light to-day a letter signed by. General Cronje,
In which he stated that he surrendered uncon-
dtionally was brought to outposts under
flag of truce.
In my reply I told General Cronje he must
present himself at my camp and that his force
must come out of their laager after laying down
their arms. BY a. m. I received General
Cronte and dispatched a telegram to you
nouncing the fact. In the course of conversa-
ton he asked for kind treatment at our hands,
and also that his wife, grandson private secre-
tary adjutant and servants might accompany
him wherever he might be sent I reassured
him. and told him his request would be
piled with
CONSIDERATION FOR CRONJE.
I informed him that a general officer would
be sent with him to Cape Town. to insure his
being treated with proper respect en- route. He
will start this afternoon under charge Of Major
General Prettyman, who will hand him over TO
the General commanding at Cape Town.
The prisoners who number about three thou
sand will be formed into commanders under
our own officers. They viii also leave here to-
day, reaching the Modder River tomorrow,
when they will be rallied to Cape Town in de
tachments.
The above dispatch read in both the
House of Lords and the House OF Commons
to-day. The reference to the Canadians evoked
immense and prolonged cheering.
It is now announced that Lord Roberts has
Informed the War Office that the number of
Boer prisoners approximates four thousand. of
whom about 1,15O citizens of the Orange
Free State The remainder are citizens of the
Transvaal
OFFICERS MADE PRISONERS.
Twenty-Five r'ransvaal officers and eighteen
Free State officers were made prisoners. Be
sides General Pet Cronje they include the fol-
lowing we'll known commanders:
chic, commandant NJ J. woLvBRANs a member of the
Eolksraad
Field Cornet ROOS a Scandinavian.
Natr ALBRIGHT a German artilieryman.
Ma{o- Won DEWITT, the distinguished German officer
said 10 le responsible Of the splendid
cheering works the Beers since the beginning Of
the
The guns captured from the Transvaal forces
were three 10 centmetre Krupps, nine 1-pound
ers and one Maxim gun. From the Free Slater
the British captured one 7.5 centmetre KruIr
and Maxim gun
The War Office earlier received the follow
dispatch from Lord Roberts:
Paardeberg Feb 27.-In very successful AZ
tack made by the Royal Canadian contiT agG
on one of the enemy's trenches this mo ltlg.
Major Pelemier was wounded, eight men -re
killed and twenty-nine men We're wound
General Macdonald is expected to ret 81
duty in a few days.
BRABANT TAKES JAMESTOV s
BRITISH FORCES IN CAPE COLONY sT-S4
5NoRTHwARD.