The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-21

" Nlcfn on british territory and are con-
centratIng for the defense OF Their own.
Sir Redvers Butler thinks they are about
70 raise the seige OF Ladysmith and this
is the large news Of the day.
General Clements erports that the force
confronting HIM has been geratiy dlmin-
ished. Ten thousand men are estimated
20 have gone from the Colesberg district
alone. The Beers are also retracing their
steps from zuluiand. Thus they are 49,
iaxing their hold on all sides in order
10 assemble % oppose Lord Roberts. He
y PRESSING on steadily towards Bloenafon-
tein. This 's shown by the inconseqaen-
tiai telegram from Paardeberg. fifty or
sixty miles away Doubtless he is miles
behind the column that Is pursuing ,he
Beers and the next important news may
bc the occpation Of Bloemfontein.
Nothing has been heard from the chase
OF Cronie for two dys Although the asst
words Of the war office tonight were that
there was no news for publication. there
IS a strong disposition to believe that fa-
vorabe informalhon ha sbeer received.
but Is being withheld until the operations
culminate IN something more conclusive.
There Is an equally strong disposition 10
think that General Cronje has got away
Owing 70 hhe lack Of transport. the
British are not likely to invade Boer ter
ritory except where Lord Roberts Is op-
Grating Genaral Butler will have to stop
az the Drakensberg mountains. Probably
a part Of his $1,000 men will ultimately
join the legions Of Lord Roberts
II, as General Butler AYERS. the Beers
ave retreating from him then the news
on ever side Is favorable to the British.
Nevertheless troops continue 10 go up.
The war office thinks that the call to vet
Grams TO rejoin the oolors. together with
the bounty, win be'ng 5000 men to the
home defense. The urgency with which
home defense is pressed excites some
wonder.
With the casualties just reported. the
British losses in killed. wounded and cap
tured now aggregate i1io2.
BOERS CALCULATING.
LONDON. FEB. 21.--A correspondent OF
the Daily Chronicle, telegraphing Sunday.
thus describes General Cronje's retreat
with the Beers at AIagersfontein. on
learning OF General French's success.
"On Thursday at midnight, headed by
General Cronie. 5000 Beers. with their
heavy guns and OK wagons. evacuated the
Magersfontein lines At dawn on Friday
the retreating Boer army was seen from
the British naval gun station on Kip
drift kopje trekking eastward across the
British front, a distance of 5000 yards.
Our guns opened up on Them and a force
OF mounted infantry crossing the river
made a dashing charge in an attempt to
cut of the head OF the enemies column.
But IN half an hour their whole force
had gained shelter under hne OF kopjes.
Meanwhile two OF our batteries had
come up and the Oxfords. Buns, West
Rulings and Gloucesters. Our infantry
crossed the drift and for three hours
were engaged With the enemy. while our
batteries shelled his position. The mount
cd infantry kept hard at work.
'Unble TO Withstand our gallant fire,
the enemy retired, disputing every inch
OF the way, and took up a second position
on the kopjes 70 the eastward. 1t was a
magnificent spectacle to see the Boer
army thus at bay. Their rear guard, 1000
strong fought us. while the main body
arekked further east and then brought
their guns into action, while the rear
guard retired.
THE action lasted throughout the day.
Our infantry fought splendldly, but the
enemy held his ground under the con-
tinued bombardment Later on the Roer
commander ventured on a bold stroke
Leaving 1900 OF his men under cover he
with drew the rest from the main position
/. and headed for Kip Kraal drift, six miles
20 the east.
'"rhls movement was soon discovered.
Our mounted infantry came back lcross
The drift and marched aIoi'g pne south
bank TO endeavor to head of the enemy
When they reached the neighborhood OF
Kip Kraal drift night had fallen and
half the Beers were already across 10 the
south side Our mounted infantry har-
rassed theh' movements
meanwhile the Boer rear guard, hav-
ing covered the crossing OF the main
body retired slowly and successfully
pass TIE drift The rear guard fought
desperately and as IL Tell tack to the river
n was harrassed on the flank and rear
by the British
Having thus passed the Modder under
cover OF darkness, the Beers trekkei
ttrodehout the night Ia the direction OF
Boemfonteia Gneral Kelly-Kenny, with
the sixth division pursued them at day
tight, General Macdonald. with the High
landers followed HIM. Macdonald reached
Kip Kraal drift by forced marches sun
day General Kelly-Kenny, moving from
Kip Kraal drift was endeavorlng TO out
flank the enemy and 10 cut them on from
Bloemfontein, so as TO drive them back
ina, nFa..In1., HAS harIv KHb.r 4 toff the