Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-02-20
WHERE Is GEN. CRONJE?
Rser CeIn m uaer's Whereabouts and
Intentiens Mystery.

Lendon. Feb. 1.-THE first real sue
cess achieved by the British arms in
South Africa, in War which has lasted
nearly five months. is received with great
joy mixed with some apprehension. The
willy and resourcefui Boer has many
tricks to play and until there is square
fighC between French and Cronje and the
latter is made to surrender, the public
will wait for additional Developments
There are many here who remember that
the enthusiastic confidence now ia the
minds of the mass of the people accurate
~ reflects their own state of mind four
months age They never again will de-
spiSe the Beers, and they never will be-
lieve them conquered until ali the world
knows that the conquest of the allied re-
pubics is a fact
Where ia Gen. Crozje:
Full and complete as are Lord Roberts
official dispatches describing the British
movements, the important fact showing
where Gen. Cronje and his 10000 men
are is not contained in them. The com
manderin-chief says. he has reason to
believe that the Magersfontein trenches
have been abandoned and that the Beers
are trying TO escape, but il this is the
case it is strange thai no word comes
from Lord Methuen, who would move
forward upon the krst sign of evacuation.
Gen. French, il appears, did not actually
enter Kimberley, but Joined hands with
Col. kekewich at the deserted BoeT pc
sltion of acknowledgements and then cola
tinued his advance to the aertk OF kina-
beFley, where he is raw sweeping the
country.
What Gen CREME will do with his big
guns during the retreat which new seems
certain is matter Of greater interest.
Il they are mobile taey may be carried
OF by the Beers, if enly se,ni-mobile, they
probably will fall into the hands ef the
British.
Des.gus GA Roberts CoM mumicztion.
The news from the vicinity of Cslee-
berg is hardly reassuring. From the
boldness and energy the Beers have dis
played at RensbuFg. it appears that they
must have designs on Lord Roberts COM
munication with De Aar junction. They
hardly can hope for success with Gen.
Clements to the south and Col. Hanney at
Soutspans drift to the north. to resist
dash to the westward; but there is little
question in the minds of the experts that
there will be sharp fighting before the
country to the rear of Lord Roberts eel
umn is cleared
AS fer the fierce still opposed to Gen.
Roberts main column, it is reported that
there remains in the range Of hills facing
the Modder river camp between 1000 and
10000 Boers whom the field marshal has
outfanked. The remainder are reported
TO have gone to re-enforce other conman-
UCSlH FGEtUuS localities unknown.
Money for the War.
London, Feb. 17.-The House of Com
mons passed the supplementary army es-
Inmates, t13, 600, 600, by 213 votes against
32. The vote was carried under the clos
ure and amid violent protests from the
Irish benches against its application.
while several amendments were under
consideration. During the debate the
government leader Mr.. Balfour, denied
that the government projected compul-
sorry service.
Two CempaH les of Wiltshire Lest.
A correspondent OF the Mail at Nauuw-
poort telcgraphing Wednesday and de-
scribing the evacuation of Rensburg
says: 1.-TWO companies Of the Wiltshire
regiment. in withdrawing from kloof
camp, lost their way and are missing
Their whereabouts, however, are pretty
well known, and they will probably be
relieved tonight; The Boer losses around
Colesburg on Monday arc reported ex-
tremely heavy"
Pretoria, Tuesday. Feb ia smart
rifle and artillery duel took place at
Mafeking, February u. There was no
Boer loss. The British attacked Fort
Eloff, south Of Caberones, at daybreak,
February u, but the johannesburg men
under Vondelwig, forced the British to
retire, leaving six dead and four wound
ed on the field, Capt. Friend was among
the killed. The Beers suffered no casual
ties.