Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-26

smith Beers was sngularly unfortu-
nate for them. a great deal OF forage,
provisions and equipment was cap
tured, and the kopje was frequently
dotted with blood, showing that many
wounded had been removed. The B0er
method Of removing their dead Is 10 tie
a couple Of reins 10 the body, which Is
thus dragged off by two horsemen at
full gallop.
There were several pour parleurs TO.
day on the subject OF short armlstice,
II seems that Gen Cronje is willing TO
surrender. but that the young Trans
walters refuse. The other beleaguered
Beers are anxious to give up. a Brit.
ish doctor who visited the Boer lines TO
along the river full Of wounded and
saw many dead.
"A deserter who came into camp to-.
night says that yesterdays lombard
ment was appalling In its effects, espe.
cially In the case Of the howltzer bat.
teries enfilading the river. The position
today is practically the same. The
Beers are strengthening their entrench.
ments around the lager, but the case
is hopeless. The capture Of the kopje
today has given the British q splendid
position, and viii prevent a Boer re-
lleving force reaching Cronje.
Everybody admires the splendid
stand OF the burghers, but from a hui
manitarian point Of view, II IS con-
sidered that further resistance on the
part Of Gen. Cronje will be criminal
Every shrapne shell finds a victim,
and unless a miracle occurs, his force
must be wiped out or captured. The
former result Is terrible to contemplate
but although II would require few
days II would be easy to accomplish,
To-day Lord Roberts sent Cen
Cronje an offer ~ safe conduct for
the women and children. together with
a free pass TO any point for them, and
also an offer Of doctors and medicine.
Cronje's reply was a curt refusal, and
desultory Smelling was resumed.
MUST CRAWL TO EXCHANGE,
Artillery Smelling continued during
the early part Of last night. As soon as
the last gun was fired the Shrop-
shires, who had been occupying the
river bed since Sunday, rushed forward,
seized an additional 200 yards Of near
ground and entrenched fresh position
before daybreak. At dawn Gen, Cronje
found himself locked that amount OF
space. The Shropshres had done ex-
cellent work since Sunday. and they
were relieved by the Gordons today.
THE exchange Of positions had It's
amusing features. in spite Of the dan
ger. The Gordons crawled on their
stomachs to the trenches and Shrop-
..At - 49, n.
reaching over the Gordons.
THE scene OF the last few days
fighting Is one Of the prettlest spots In
South Africa. The river at the point
where Gen. Cronje is ensconced and
fighting for life resembles some parts
Of the Hudson river, the ground all
around sloping toward the stream. All
the highlands are covered by British
artillery. Cronje Is faced IN the front
and rear from both banks by the Brit
ish, while Gen. French's horse, far
away on the banks, prevents a sudden
thrush Of Beers.
During the artillery firing last even
ing, the mules Of the eighty-second
battery, which had remalped hitched 10
the carriages, ssidenly stampeded and
galloped of en- masSe. but today the
wagons, with one exception, were re-
covered
Gen. French has sent in seventy
fve prisoners. a British patrol. eight
miles TO the west, discovered thirty
Beers wandering away and corraled
them. Already this force has captured
400 OF the enemy while many dead
Beers have been seen, The BOer pris-
oners are all depressed at the present
course Of the war, aud they comment
bitterly upon Gen. Cronje's persistence.
which they call murder.
To-day a German ambulance at
tached TO the Boer forces was allowed
to traverse the British lines In front
OF Jacobsdal. Quantities OF cattle.
sheep and trek oxen have been cap
tured while wandering from the Boer
lager"