Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-26
S0LDIERSSHELTBRED
An Observer In a Balloon Discovers
That Cronje's Troops Are
Protected.
BURROW IN RIVER BANKS
1t Looks Now As If Oronje Gan Not Be
Taken As Long As His Ammunition
Holds Out, As His Forces Have
Plenty of Food.

London, February 26.--If the latest
dispatches from Paardeberg throw any
light on the situation there, General
Cronje's forces have far more protec-
tion from Field Marshal Lord Roberts
heavy fire than the first dispatches in
dicated. A dispatch from Paardeberg
says: "A balloon discovered the enemy
well covered by system of burrowing
in the river bank which resembles a
rabbit warren, and affords shell l-proof
positions. This, perhaps more than any
other circumstance, explains why what
is looked upon here as Cronjes death
struggle is prolonged. Small bodies of
Beers apparently are able to escape,
causing comparison here between the
Boer method of investment with their
quickly dug, surrounding trenches, i'm
passable barbed wire, ETC., and those of
the British. AS Cronje is reported to
have plenty Of food the plan Of starv-
ing him out can scarcely avail, so Rob-
erts must either wait until Cronje's am
munition, which is said to be short, runs
out, or those who are counselling sur
render prevail. Meanwhile the engin-
GERS are sapping steadily toward the
Boer laager, and Gordon is drawing
closer
Buffers march on Ladysmith is being
marked by sharp fighting. A Pieterma-
ritzburg dispatch of to-day says he Is
still heavily engaged in fighting. In
Grobler's Kloof Butler seems to have
discovered a hornets nest
In Cape Colony the British are stead
lily advancing. Barkley east Is now in
their possession, the Beers evacuating
the place, retreating on Lady Grey, and
wiring President Steyn for REINFORCE
ments to prevent their surrender.
The Pretoria government proclaimed
February 25 and 27 days of thanksgiv-
ing and prayer, presumably in memory
Of Majuba HILL
A dispatch from Kimberley says its
inhabitants planned to erect statue to
Cecil Rhodes in recognition Of his serv-
ices during the siege.
DEWET A POOR GENERAL.
Paardeberg, February 24-Yestarday
there was most interesting series of
fights along the British front. A thou
sand beers, commanded by Gen. Dewet,
who were known to be operating on the |
imme late front, early at dawn yester-
day determined to attempt to break |
through the British lines and aid Gen
off IN /
kopje were frustrated by the Scottish |
Borderers. Vigorous shelling, accom-
panied by British fusillade, complete
ly silenced the Beers. Eighty Beers sur
rendered, but many, 1t appears. es-
capped. Most of the prisoners had just |
arrived from Ladysmith. They COM
planned Of the bad generalship Of their
leader. Nearly every man carried ex-
plosive bullets. Five British were
wounded with these missiles.
RHODES MAKES A SPEECH.
Kimberley, Feb. A.-Cecil Rhodes,
presiding at a meeting of the De Beers
company, delivered speech which was
received with enthusiasm A years
profits of the De Beers company, he
said, amounted to e7,OO0,O00 The
Transvaal and Free State were not re-
publics, he declared, but oligarchies,
and had. been long conspiring to seize
British South Africa. Each govern
ment was simply small political gang,
who humbugged the poor Dutchmen.
appealing to their patriotism and divid-
ing the spoils among their coteries. The
Afrikanders have been working twenty
years for independence. He said the
former President Reitz, of the Orange
Free State, years ago avowed his only
ambition in life was to drive England
out Of Africa. After showing how Kim
berley had been defended by citizens, Of
whom 120 had been killed or wounded,
and thanking General French for his
gallant ride, Rhodes closed brilliantly,
asserting: I'VE have done our duty in
preserving and protecting the greatest
commercial asset in the world--her mai
esty's flag"
BULLER REPORTS CASUALTIES.
London, February 2e.-General Butler
in dispatch from Colenso reports that
the British casualties February 20 were
twelve killed and ninety wounded