The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-28
BEFORE THE SURRENDER.
Belated Details of the Fighting at
Paardeberg.

< LSdEQCDSIS-
Paardeberg. Monday, Feb. 26- delayed
in transmission).-On this, the eighth
day of Gen. Cronjes resistance. Gen.
Smith Dorrien has worked up the river
bed to within 200 yards of the Boer
laager. squeezing the enemy into a
more confined space.
The stay of the British here has not
been in any way due to Gen. Cronje,
but in order to get supplies and rest
the troops, which had become absolutely
necessary. Now there are daily ar
rivals Of large conveys, allowing full
rations TO the men. which had at best
been intermittent during the last three
days. A heavy rain has caused great
discomfort to the British, but greater
10 the Beers, and cold winds have
killed many sick animals Last night
the river rose and brought down a
great number Of dead Boer horses.
When the history of Lord Roberts
movement is written it will be found
that the marching power and magnifi-
cent endurance of the British soldier is
as great as ever. The march itself as
seen on the map would be nothing very
marvellous, but it must be remembered
that the whole original plan of march
was changed when Gen. CrOnje made
his magnificent night trek on the 18th
The whole army swung to the left in
hot pursuit. Some of the regiments
marched p miles in "A hours, outstrip-
ping the transport supplies and living
for days on almost quarter rations.
Yet the fatigue and incessant hardship
We're borne with wonderful cheerful
ness. There has been a drenching rain
for the last three days, the men lying
fully exposed to the rain and the sub
Sequent cold winds, all of which proved
the admirable pluck and endurance of
the men.
Every day. owing to the enormous
extent of the British line, news is
brought of some little action which had
passed unnoticed in the excitement of
Gen. Cronje's investment. Last Mon
day night a brilliant piece of work was
performed by the Gloucesters. During
the afternoon they approached kopje
containing a body of Beers. They
waited till nightfall, when 12O men
charged the kopje with the bayonet and
drove off the enemy with loss. bayonet-
ing several Of them. The positions ta-
ken however were evacuated during the
night.
Last night the rattle of musketry
showed that the Beers had discovered
our nightly rush forward in the river
bed which they have been able to stop.
Yesterday they were shelled intermit-
tently. The Beers possess two Vickers-
Maxim guns two 15-pounders. and are
supposed TO possess a big gun. all of
which appear to be sedulOusly hidden.
The war balloon is doing good work.
CRONJE SAVED HIS BIG GUNS.
London. Feb 2S-The war expert of
the Morning Leader writes:
-Four thousand Beers and five 13-
pound guns.
'On one side three and a half divis-
ions and a enormous increasing force
with a mass of heavy artillery. Yet
the Beers have kept up their contest for
more than a week after Gen. Kelly
Kenny caught them and after General
French headed them off their line OF re-
treat.
Many Of Cronje's men have got
away and they have saved all their ar
tillery. Whittier they have gone does
not yet appear Those heavy guns which
used to make Methuen grind his teeth
in impotence. have disappeared Where
are they now?
''Why,of course. on the way to Bloem-
fontein.
The fact that third of the pris-
oners are Free Staters does not induce
confidence that Gen. French will be
able to spare many of his mounted
troops for the relief of Mafeking.
1T would not be surprising If word
had already gone ordering Command
ant Shyman to concentrate back of Pre-
toria. or rather to Klarksdorf and Prot
chefstroOn districts. For COlonels
Baden-Powel and Plumer, when they