Connecticut western news., 1900-02-22
BOERSSTILLIN RETREAT
Lord Kitchener Directs Great
 Host of PurSuers.
EULER AGAIN TAKES COLENs0.
Natal Commander Thinks Enemy In Full Flight-Report That Hart's Advance Is Near the Goal-Cronje Re-enforced From Ladysmith.

Natal Comma nder Thinks Enemy Tn
 Full FIight-Report That Hart's
 Advance Is Near the Goal-Cronje c
 Re-enforced From Ladysmith.
 London, Feb. 21.-With 10000 British troops in hot pursuit of Cronje, or al- ready surrounding him, Lord Roberts campaign in the Free State has thus ear ly reached critical point, and England is awaiting the issue with marked impa- tience.
 Up to 2 o'clock this morning the war office had issued no bulletin concerning the momentous operations between Kim berley and Bloemfontein other than an unimportant one, showing that the com mander in chiefs headquarters had been established at Paardeberg, 80 miles east of Jacobsdal, close to the main road to the Free State capital, from which it is 40 miles distant. Nor had any late dis patches come through to the newspapers from the scene of war.
 Lord Kitchener, who is in command of the pursuing army, has with him all of Frenchs cavalry, the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth divisions and Macdonald's High land brigade.
 CronJe's Army Increased.
 Cronje probably has with him, besides his original force of 10000 men, 5000 in- vaders of Cape Colony, some of whom were of the command that fought Glenn ents at Colesberg, while others were at Stormberg. According to some authori- ties the Free Staters who are moving from Colenso and Ladysmith will add 10000 more to Cronje's ranks, if, indeed, they are able to join him. Under the circumstances it is great mistake to imagine that the Boer resist, ance has collapsed. If the foreign experts with the Boers are listened to and Cronje succeeds in making his escape. Bloemfon- tein will be evacuated and battle will be offered the British army in the hills be- fore Winburg.
 In Natal General Buffers troops are still pressing forward. General Hart's brigade yesterday took possession of Co., lenso and at last reports was crossing the Tugela at that point. This advance guard is 14 miles by road from Lady smith.
 Apparently the remainder of the army of relief will soon be across the river. The Boers thus far have not shown themselves in any strength, and the in vasion of the Free State by Roberts has evidently drawn away a large number of men.
 Brighter Hopes For Ladysmfth.
 The chances of early relief for Whites forces in Ladysmith seem to be good, but the burghers have shown slimness on many previous occasions and may be in strong positions few miles north of the river.
 Some of the more sanguine observers say, however, that it would not be sur prising if they removed their guns, aban- doned the siege and fell back to the northern border of Natal. Aside from dealing another blow at British prestige the capture of Ladysmith would not be of great material benefit to the Boers. Prior to leaving Osborne House for Windsor the queen inspected the Fourth battalion of the Lincolnshire militia. Her majesty announced, with grati- fled smile, that good news had been re- ceived this morning from the seat of war. Another account says the queen specified that the good news was from Ladysmith The war office has issued Cape Town dispatch of yesterdays date giving the casualties among the officers in the fight ing near Kimberley on Feb. 14, 15 and | Is. One officer was killed and six were wounded. One of the wounded has since | died.