The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-02-27
B0ERS ARE MlSSING.
Concentrating Their Forces
), Around Bloemfontein.
oRoNJB is STILL HOLDING OUT.

ther Advance Into Free State Will Num-
Der Thirty Thousand Men-Heavy Losses
OF Butler in Two Days.
LONDON, Feb. 27.-The Beers are as
eembllng an army near Bloemfontein:
with which to dispute the invasion Of
lord Roberts. This intelligence comes
from Pretoria by way of Lourenzo
Marquee. The commanders are de-
scribed as "hastening from all quarters
OF the two republics.
No estimate is made of their number,
but the withdrawal of the Beers from
most of the places where they have
been in contact with the British except
the district near Ladysmith, may raise
the resisting force to 10000 men. This
figure assumes that the Beers have be-
tween 10000 and 10000 men in the field.
The gathering of this army across the
path OF Roberts gives significance to
General Cronje's steadfast defense. He
has engaged the corps of Lord Roberts
for 10 days now and whether he is re-
lieyed or not he has given time for the
dispersed Boer fractions to get together
and to prepare positions to receive the
lshadyance when Cronje is over
come and Lord Roberts moves forward.
A dispatch from Paardeberg, dated
Friday, to the Times says that several
Thousand Beers are now lowering in
that neielborhpod.
It is is.5difienitF to conceive that the
Beers are strong enough to take the Of
fensive and to rescue General Cronje
from his precarious situation
The war Office had nothing after mid
night to indicate his collapse, and he
may hold out for few days. The COR
respondents seem to have no exact in
formation respecting his resources.
Some say he has plenty of food, but is
short Of ammunition. Others assert
that he abandoned his food supplies,
but kept abundant supplies of cart-
ridges.
Butler Is Fighting Hard
s. General Butler on Saturday faced the
I last and strongest positions of tae Beers
who bar his way to Ladysnith. The
strenuous fighting indicates a battle be-
tween armies, rather than rear guard
actions protecting a retreat On Thurs
4 day and Friday he lost 43 officers killed
and " ounded, probably representing a
total loss Of 400.
General Whites guns worked on Sat-
nrday on the Beers positions aud a hell
ogrsin from Ladysmith reported that
the Beers We're retreating and that
larger rations We're being issued in view
OF the fact that relief seemed at hand.
Nothing has been heard from Mafe-
king since Feb. IL. 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. General French has to wagon for
age for his horses and even the infan-
try finds the long marches harder than
before, as forage for the transport ami
mails must be carried. This requires
the formation Of garrisoneds sdepots. "a
Ordinary campaigning season is over
and the sickly season for both mon and
animals has set in. lt
The Daily Chronicle says it learns
from private letters thnt British rifles
and ammunition have been landed on
the southern coast Of Cape Colony, pre-.
sumably for the Dutch eolonists. (.
Lord Roberts has recently received 70.
additional pieces of artillery. Whether
ell have been sent to Paardeberg is not
known.
Probably the Eighth division will
leave England next Monday.
The Daily Mail has the following dis
patch from Paardeberg, dated Sunday:
"There are about, 4, 900 men belsagured
in General Cpnje's camp, exclusive of
the losses he has hitherto sustained.
His wife is not with him. although
Observation-Disclosures
- E