The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1900-02-24
MANAGED To HOLD HIS own.
1nsire Drttish Force Engaged In Sundays
Attack on CrOn l~.

Entire Brisish Force Engaged In sundays
Attack on CronJ-.
PAARpEBERG DRIFT. Orange Free
State. Tuesday. Feb 22.-Gencral Cron.
Ic's magnificent night march from Ma
gersfontein appears now likely to end
in disaster. The main body Of Beers is
enclosed in terrible death trap. The
enemy is hiding in the bed Of the Mod
der, commanded by the British artillery
and enclosed on the east and west by
the British infantry.
Sunday witnessed gallant stand on
the part Of the rctrcating foe. Tired
and harrnsscd. they still maintained
bold front Ii is somewhat difficult To
explain the Sunday action III which
General Cronje. under difficult circum-
stances. managed Ia hold his own
against the entire British force. Sa;ur.
day night the British mounted infantry
came into touch with Cronjc's rear
guard, driving them back upon the
main body. On Sunday morning the
action was renewed. but the Beers. who
had entrenched the river bed during
the night
Prevented = Further Advance
Of the mounted infantry in this direc.
ton. Meanwhile the Highland brigade
advanced from the south bank and the
| Essex, Welsh and Yorkshires formed a
long line on the left, which rested OH
the river. the extreme right being the
Welsh. The whole line was ordered to
envelope the Beers, who lined both
hanks of the river The firing soon 10
came heavy. The Beers, holding a
splendid position. covered the LETT oi
the Highland brigade. which advanced
partly up the river bed and partly III
the omen. Will. the rest Of the brigade
with the other regiments swung round
the front of the Highland brigade on
| the lcf, level. exposed 10 n terrible fire.
which Obliged them 10 lie upon the
ground as they did for the remainder
OF the day. This began nj ':3o IN th'
morning. Through the dreadful heat
and "A terrible thunder storm
our Men Hung to the Position.
answering the Boer fire and shooting
steadily. In the meantime the rest o'
the infantry completed the envclopnl
movement, the Welsh regiment having
succeeded in seizing the drift. thus clos
ing in the Beers. who had fought
throughout with splendid courage. Gen
ernl Cronje's laager. full OF carts. am
munition and supplies. could he plainly
seen near the north hank.
General Smith. Dorrien collected hii
hodv of men, including the Canadians
and crossed tho river by Paardeber'
drift advancing toward the laager
which was hing vigorously shelied
This force made n gallant attempt Z
charge into the laager but failed. be
fore scizing the Western drift the Boer
mcupied kopje on the south bank run
ming down the river. Therefore thei
force is cut III two. AS nlEh' lei
there was II
Sudden Cessation of Fire
"A both sides were thoroughly tired AM
Glad 70 rest. The work Of collecting IN
dead and wounded proceeded, ana th
men slept where they had fought tn
whole day. The action was one Oh III
most fearfully contested III the hs'o,
~ the war. The Beers were GRIM
fighting for their lives while the i'r'''s
dctcrminedly harrassed them.
sunday evening the Gordon aro"h
+h. Bocrs was completely closed o
av.ry side in perfect silence. a ie'
, Roers came into camp during the nie'
, .rd confessed they were sick Of fightin
and that General Cronje was bein
, urped to surrender. ~ -.
lord Kitchener was present with tn
: force. aoa !;
Hencrnl Macdonald was wounded
> thc foot. but not severely.