The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-23
CRDNJE'S last STAND.
Boo, Chief Askia "a! an Armis-
tioe to Bury His Dead.
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
Demanded b. Lord Kitchener, and
CronJs Replied That He Would
Fight to the Death-Britiah Casual


Fight to the Death-British Casual
ties Now Exceed Twelve Thousand.
London, Feb. 2S.-General Cronje is
seemingly making his last stand. He
10 dying hard, hemmed In by British
infantry, and with shells from 60 guns
falling into his camp.
On the third day Of the fight the
Boer chief asked for an armistice to
bury his dead. Flight to finish or
surrender Internationally" was Lord
Kitchener's reply. General Cronte i'm
mediately sent back word that his re-
quest for q truce had been misunder-
stood, and that hts dsterpination then.
as before, waste fight the death.
The battle went on, This was the
situation o. General Cronje Tuesday
evening" as sketched in the scanty
kilograms that have emerged from the
semi-silence Of South Africa.
The war office has issued the follow
ing from Lord Roberts, dated Paardc-
berg, Feb. 20: "Methuen reports from
Kimberley that supplies Of food and
forage are being pushed on as fast as
possible. There will be enough coal
to start the De Beers mines in ten
days. BY this means great misery will
be alleviated. Hospital arrangements
there are reported perfect. He hopes
Prieska and the adjoining country will
soon be settled"
Oficially Lord Roberts wires that he
has scattered the advance commando
and OF the reinforcement that were
striving to reach General Cronje. 1t Is
regarded as singular that Lord Rob-
erts, wiring Wednesday, should not
mention the appeal for an armistice
On the previous day, and also that the
war office should withhold good news,
II It has any.
Without trying to reconcile even the
Bcanty materials at hand, 1t seems
plain that General Cronje is in bad,
and even desperate situation, and
that the British are pressing their ad-
vantage.
While the attack on General Cronje
proceeds there is race for concentra-
ton between the Beers and the Brit
ish. The engagement with General
Cronjes 5000 to 5000 entrenched men
is likely to become an incident in a
battle between the masses. The sepa-
rated factions Of the Boer power are
rapidly drawing together to attack
Lord Roberts.
VIII General Cronje be able to hold
out until the Boer masses appear, or
II he does will they then be able to
succor him? The British are facing
the Beers on ground where the arms.
tactics and training of the British are
expected to give them the advantage.
General Butler. according to dis
patch from Chieveley, dated Wednes-
day. finds the Beers in positions north
of the Tugela largely reinforced. This
seems strange.
The Cape Town correspondent OF The
Daily Telegraph says: General Cron-
ie's request for an armistce was a
mere doge to gain time to make
trenches. Lord Kitchener refused, but
gave him half an hour to consider
whether he would surrender uncondi-
tionally or fight to a finish. The Beers
having said that their intention had
been misunderstood, and that they
would fight to the end, the battle was
resumed"
HS Ldly NCWo tuC AOlloWlA6
dispatch from Modder River dated
Wednesday afternoon:
The BOer forces under General
Cronje are estimated at 5000 men.
At IL o'clock he asked an armistice
of "a hours, which was refused. Later
he sent a messenger to say that he
would surrender The British sent
reply telling him to come into camp.
Cronje refused, saying there had been
a Misunderstanding, and that he would
fight to the death.
The bombardment was then reopen
ed and our lyddite shells set fire to the
Boer wagons. We continued Smelling
the lager through the night. and in
the morning we resumed with Max
inns and rifles, principally from the
north side.
On Sunday there was much waste of
life in attacking and the same result
will be achieved with it. During Mon
day night seven Beers made an at
tempt to break through our lines. but
they were captured, and the leader was
killed. Four were carrying letters. 1t
is believed that there was one other,
who got through.
Other prisoners say that General
Cronje marched from Magersfontein
here without outspanning, distance
of 80 miles. Had he succeeded in es-
Gaping 1t would have been one of the
finest performances in the annals of
war.
The Canadians made gallant charge
at the lager, but were driven back
with loss.
General Macdonald and General
Knox are only slightly wounded.
The war Office, for the first time has
given out an official compilation of the
British losses. The total Is 11,208 to
Feb. II. This does not include, there
fore, Lord Roberts recent losses, nor
the Wiltshire prisoners, which will
make the total considerably above 49,
900.
The Press association learns that the
British losses at KOodoosrand were 700.
To Send Warships to China.
London, Feb. 23.-The Berlin corre-
spondent of The Standard says: THE
United States government purposes to
send some warships into Chinese
waters shortly, as the tsung Ii yamen
does not heed the collective note sent
by the United States minister and the
other powers ministers fortnight
ago, in which they demanded that
measures be taken to insure the safety
of missionaries. Germany designs to
send ships for the same reason"
Maryland Miners Wages Advanced.
Cumberland, Nd. Feb. 23.-Notices
were posted ut the various mines in
the Cumberland region yesterday that
after April / an advance Of ten cents
would be given for pick mining, The
miners now receive As cents. An adA
vance had long been contended for,
and there Is great rejoicing, all prob
ability Of a strike now being dispelled.