Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-23
THE BOERS LOSE eO[EkS0.
They Surrender the 1owr TO the
British After Feeble Resistance.
ARMY SAID TO Be RETREATlNG.
Feeling In London That There 10 an
Entire Reversal In the Tide Of the
South African War - Report That
Cronjo IL Captured Untrue

tai, has been received at the war Of
fee:
"Blous Farm, Feb. 20.-The fusileer
brigade yesterday took Hlangwane hill.
to the right Of the enemy's position
and commanding Colenso. The rest
of the force Is advancing toward the
Tugela river. This morning the enemy
had withdrawn all his troops north Of
the Tugela and practically evacuated
Colenso. Gen. Hart today occupied
Colenso after a very slight resistance
by weak rear guard. We hope to
hold the line Of the Tugela on the
south side from Colenso to Eagles
Nest.
"The Beers seem to be in full retreat.
They are apparently only holding the
position which they occupy across the
Colenso-L adysmith railway. where it is
close to the angle of the Tugela, with
q weak rear guard. Gen. Harris ad-
vance guard is crossing at Colenso. Our
casualties yesterday and today, hope,
were few"
Reversal In tho Tide Of War.
All the news from South Africa
tends to indicate a complete reversal
of the tide of war. There has been
no heavy fighting, but the withdrawal
of the Beers before the British ad-
vance in both the western and east
ern campaigns has been so general
and precipitate that it seems to be no
longer possible to account for it by the
that the movements con-
stitute new and well-planned man
euver. The federal retirement now
seems to be a compulsory retreat
which augurs i'll for the whole Boer
cause.
Gen. Lord Roberts, by rapid march
es, has advanced unopposed more than
a third of the way to Bloemfonteln.
Gen. Methuen has occupied Kimberley
and restored railway communication
between that place and Cape Town.
Gen. French is still pursuing the en-
envy to the northeast. 1t is persistent
" reported that Gen. Kitchener has
Commandant Cronje's army surround
ed and practically at his mercy, but
this report is not confirmed.
Should this large federal force be-
come prisoners, the whole Orange
Free State would speedily fall under
British control. Large numbers of Free
State Beers are hurrying from the
vicinity of Ladysmith to the defense
of Bloemfontein, but Gen. Roberts and
Gen. Kitchener's movements are so
rapid that it is doubtful If they can
arrive in time to offer an effectual re-
sistance.
The serious weakening of the Boer
forces opposing Gen. Butler has al
ready enabled the latter to take an
important advantage, which he is sure
to press to the fullest extent. Colenso
has been abandoned by the enemy, al
most without defense, and the whole
Natal situation may be completely
changed within day or two.
1t is impossible to avoid the conclu-
sion that the Beers both east and west
have been seized with some sudden de-
moralization. This may be due to the
disaffection of the Free State Beers,
which has been persistently reported
during the past two or three weeks.
The fate of Bloemfontein depends on
the speed of Gen. Roberts advance. He
seems to fully realize this, and the
present week will probably settle this
feature of the war. The whole crisis,
indeed, hangs upon the events of the
next few days.
Though there is still no news Of the
final result OF the British pursuit OF
Commandant Cronje's army, the cor
respondents furnish interesting details
of the dash Of the Beers from Mayors
fontein and the British attack on the
retreatlng forces.
Some Earlier Bulletins.
London, Feb. 21.-The queen, prior
to leaving Osborne house this morning
on her return to Windsor, inspected
the Fourth battalion of the Lincoln
shire militia. Her majesty announced
with a gratified smile that good news
had been received this morning from
the sest of war. Another account says
the queen specified that the good news
was from Ladysmith.
Durham, Feb. 20. Evening.-While
Gen. Butler is continuing his move
ment on the extreme right, and has
made every disposition for the defense
of his position to the left and south of
the Tugela by maintaining there a
force adequate for that purpose, isolat-
ed parties of Beers sometimes cross
the river. There Is much sniping.
London, Feb. 21.-The war office an
nounces the following casualties
among officers during the relief Of
Kimberley: Killed-Lieut. A. B. Hes
keith, Sixteenth Lancers; Lieut.. the
Hon. w. McClintock Bunbury; Second
Dragons. Wounded-Capt E. R. Cor
don aud Lieut.. D. F. Brassey, Ninth
Lancers: Capt G. B. Tuson, Sixteenth
Lancerr; Lieuts, R. I. Fordyce and w.
Long, Second Dragons.
Kimberley, Feb. IS, by heliograph