The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1900-02-23
Receipt Of News From Paarde-
berg Relaxes the Anxiety
of BritOns
AS to the Situation at the Front.
Arrival Of Beers From
Ladysmith
Still Causes Some Apprehension.
Butler Blamed For Being
Slow.

LONDON, Feb 23.-Great relief has
been caused here by the receipt of the
news from Paardcberg, showing that
Lord Roberts is personally superintend.
ing the operations, and though it is
difficult to grasp the real situation, it is
generally thought Lord Roberts is grad.
ually tightening his grip ON General
CronF's forces In spite of the appar.
ent failure OF Sunday attempt to storm
the Boer position, it is evident that
General Cronje is not merely laagered
IN the ordinary acceptation Of the term,
but occupies carefully prepared and
strongly entrenched position previously
made ready with the object Of stemming
the prospective British invasion of the
Free State. After failing to dislodge
General Cronje, and in spite Of great
hloodshed on both sides, Lord Roberts
seems to have contented himself with
shelling the Beers Monday and Tues.
day. He apparently contemplated a re.
newal Of the assault Tuesday afternoon,
but after reconnaissance, he decided
TO content himself with shelling the
Beers, which he was still doing when
Paardebcrg advices We're sent of Mt 6
O'Clock Wednesday evening.
/ The fact that the Beers from Lady
smith have already arrived in the
neighborhood Of Paardeberg causes
some apprehension. but reinforcementa
Of guns and men are also reaching Lord
Roberts aud ii is not thought that the
IL.
be able to transport hurriedly the great
number Of men and horses.
From the available information re.
ceived here. it appears that Lord Rob.
erts completely surrounds General
Cronje with artillery. thus releasing
the other arms. Of which. military ex
perts assert, he has plenty to defeat al
reinforcements Of the Beers as they ar
rive in detail The fact that Genera
Cronje asked for an armistice points I,
great losses. as we'll as indicating tha
he recognized that his hope lies in St
curing delay in order to allow Boer re
inforcemcnts 10 create a diversion il
Lord Roberts rear.
An additional list of casualties sus
taincd by the British troops during tn
retreat from Rensberg. Feb. 10. show
that Ii men were killed, that los mem
bcrs of Wiltshire and Worcestershire
regiments are missing. the latter fac
confirming the Boer reports that nunl
bcr Of prisoners had been captured b,
them.
Rullev blamed for Tardincs,
General Eullcr's apparent tardincs
and failure 10 prevent the Beers fror
SHINING round 10 assist General Cronj
creates no little comment. The relief {
Iadysmith is now taken to bc II matt,
Of course. and is likely to bc announce
before the end of the week, but it
quite within the probabilities that sever
, fighting will occur previous to the r,
!, lief. while the dctachmcnts to be sen
| bv General Butler to reinforce Lor
Roberts subsequent To the relief M
likely to meet with strenuous reSistanC
! in the masses Of the Drakensberg. i
, which fairly powerful burghcr fore,
remain.
Bocr reports say General Joubert
nerves are unstrung. and that he u
. longer exercises the chief command.
4 dispatch from St"rks Spruit, date
Wednesday. Feb. q. says:
"The prominent rebels in this distri'
intend to surrender. and the Stormbci
rebels will shortly lay down their arm
, There have been many eulogistic r.
: erenccs to the speeches of Laurier al
other Canadians on the subject Of Il
loss.s Of the Canadians III South Afric
. concerning which, curiously enouS
!, there is not single word. official {
otherwise known or published here. e
con, that two officers were wounded.