Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-01


with which to dispute the invasion of
Lord Roberts. This intelligence comes
from PRETORIA by way of Lourenzo Mar
Ques. Commanders are described as
Fastening from all quarters of the two
republics" No estimate can be made
of the numbers, but the withdrawal Of
the beers from most of the places
where they have been in contact with
British in the district near Ladysmith,
may raise the resisting force to 10000
men. This figure assumes that the
beers have between $4,000 and 10000
men in the field.
The gathering of this army across
the path of Lord Roberts gives signif-
icance to General Cronje's steadfast
defense. He has engaged a corps of
Lord Roberts for ten days now, and,
whether he is relieved or not, has
given time for the dispersed boer fac
tions to get together and prepare po-
sitions to receive the British advance
when Cronje is overcome and Lord
Roberts moves forward. 1t is difficult
to conceive that the beers are strong
enough to take the offensive and res
cue Gen. Cronje from his precarious
situation The war Office had nothing
after midnight to indicate his collapse
and he may hold out for a few days
Correspondents seem to have no eX-
act information respecting his forces.
Some say he has plenty of food but is
short Of ammunition. Others assert
ne abandoned his supplies, but kept an
abundant stock of cartridges. Gen.
Butler Saturday faced the last and
strongest position of the beers who bar
his way to Ladysmith. Strenuous
fighting indicates that the battle
is between armies, rather than
rear guard action protecting
retreat. On Thursday and Friday he
lost 43 officers killed and counded, rep
resentng probably total loss of from
zoe to 500 Gen. Whites guns worked
Sunday upon the boer positions and a
helogram from LadySmith reported
the beers retreating SO that larger ra-
tons are being issued in view Of the
fact that relief seemed at hand.
Nothing has been heard from MAIZE
king siace Feb II. The movement on
the veldt away from the railway is be-
coming increasingly difficult for large
bodies of troops as the grass is burned
up. Gen French has to forage for his
horses, and even the infantry finds long
marches harder than before, as the
forage for transport animals must be
carried. This requires the formation
OF garrsoned depots. The ordinary
campaigning season is over and the
sickly season for both men and AM
mails has set in. The Daily Chronicle
says it learns from Private letters that
British rifles and ammunition have
been landed on the southern coast of
Cape Colony, presumably for the Dutch
coi0niSts
VIII Spread Rebellious Flame
London, Feb. "a brussels report
10 the Daily Mail says: AS a result
Of special Inquiries IN boer circles here,
am able to say in regard to the meet
ing OF the Afrikander bund and the
coming congreSs that unless the ends
Of the hund are otherwise attained, it
viii fan the flame Of rebellion through
out the colony" \ dispatch to the
Daily News from Lorenzo Marques.
Friday says: 1T is reported here that
5000 burghers left Ladysmith for The
Free State The beers concentrating
their forces so miles outside Bioem-
fontejn and the Free State capital is
bejng moved to Chwinburg. Rein
forcements from all parts are passing
through Blomfontein hourly President
Steyn has telegraphed President
Kruger that Lord Roberts is
wjthjnafew hours Of Bloomfontein and
he urges that every male. irrespective
OF nationality, should be comman-
deered. President Steyn is said to ia
vor peace. The boer general who is
IN command at Colenzo. sent a mes
sage to President Kruger saying that
ne had been smashed up there and
Was commencing overtures for peace
Burghers at Mafeking are also re-
ported to have sent word to Kruger
that they would rather defend their
own farms than fight elsewhere. The
Pretoria government is paying its
debts with bar gold, the English pro-
fessional coiner having refused to
work"
Not Raising the Siege.
London, Feb. 27.-Winston Church
ILL., in q dispatch to the Morning Post
from Frere Camp Sunday says: "The
idea that the beers are raising the
siege of Ladysmith is premature. The
advance is being pursued in the face
of the most stubborn opposition and
heavy loss. President Kruger's grand
son is among the beers killed"