The sun., 1900-02-23
ROBERTS DRIVES BOERS
OFF IN ALL DIRECTIONS
Message Received From Trans
vaal Cheering TO
England.
GENERAL B0FHA DEFEATED
Kelly-Keuny and Cron.je Fight a
Desperate Battle, and Armies
ofBoth Sustain Very Severe
Losses But Arc
Victorious.

London, Feb. 22.-Thc war Office has
received from Lord Roberts the following
message, which was delayed in transmits
sion, dated Paardeberg, Wednesday, Feb.
21:
Yesterday afternoon / was satisfied,
by careful reconnaissance in force OF
the enemy's position, that ! could not as
sault il without Il very heavy loss, which
l was most anxious to avoid. Accordingly
/ decided to lombard him with artillery
and turn my attention 60 the enemy's re-
endorsements. 1he rns.lt was most sats
factory. The Beers were driven off i'll all
directions, losing i good many killed and
wounded and about 30 prisoners, who say
they arrived from i4adgsmith two days
ago by railroad. They also say it was
our artillery fire which caused them to
abandon the kopje they We're occupying.
Our loss was two officers Captain Camp
bell Of the Ninth lancors and Lieutenant
Houston of the artillery, and four men,
all slightly wounded"
A special dispatch from Paardeberg,
dated Wednesday, Feb. II, says:
"Commandaut Botha has been at
tempting to relieve General Cronje.
Botha's force is scattered, with heavy
losses"
bloody Fight at Panrdeberg.
A dispatch from Paardeberg drift,
Orange Free State, dated Feb 20, says:
.'One of the costliest actions of the war
occurred at Praadeberg drift Sunday.
Feb. 1S. General Kelly Kenny in his
pursuit of General Cronje caught his
rear guard at Kip drift and followed
the burghers to the Beers laager at
Koodoosrand. The drift action began at
daybreak the mounted infantry driving
the Boer rear guard up the river toward
the main body, while another body of
mounted infantry naneuvered On the
right front and flank of the Beers.
1.-The British main body advanced to
outfiank the Beers laager on the north
bank of the river. General Kelly Kenny,
having seized two drifts, found the Beers
strongly inclosed and ordered an attack,
with the Highland brigade on the left
and General Knox's brigade on the cen
ter aud right while General SmithDor-
lier's brigade crossed the river and ad-
yanced along the north bank.
"0n both the north and south banks
the ground is level, and the advance
across this was deadly, and the British
!, losses were heavy. The battle was an
nrXact replica of the Modder River. The
t.loldiors were under fire all day long, and
YAH the fighting had no definite result rs
\ the Beers lgager was well barricadcd
4 and they remained therein. The British
.tguns shclled the laager vigorously, ana
Y the Beers confessed TO a loss Of over 500
\ men.
"The terrific shclling was resumed
NTnp,1oy t,-bnr .,s.I.. n f,,,
ain armisticc
THE shelling was continued Tuesday.
over 30 guns pouring lead into the Boer
camp"
a Paardeberg dispatch, dated Feb. 21,
says:
"A Boer kopic has been captured With
so prisoners.
General Cronje's position is IN
changed"
Ali the critics Of the afternoon newspa-
pcrs urge rushing re-cnforecmpGts to
Lord Roberts, 50 that he may he able 10
risk much in endcuv0rin@ 10 infict ill.,
cisire defeat before the Bocr forces, gath
ering from every quarter, strengthen
General Cfonjc's Threatened force.
T'le Advance To EadyslnitI.
a dispatch from Ghieveley camp, Na-
tai. dated Feb. II, SAYS:
''Ihe steady progress Of the relief col
umn is uninterrupted. The Beers, Tues
day. We're forced from their last position
south Of the Yugca, resulting in the
evacuation Of G0lcnSo. which was
promptly reoccnpied by the Dublin fl
silecrs and Tholneycroft's horse 4
Transvaal flag was captured, as was Il
handkerchief inscribed with General
Botha's name. This is treasured aS il
great trophy.
'Thc Beers heavily shclled Hlnngwana
hill and Colenso, and the British infantry
was subjected to Il severe muSketry FIRE.
but they had excellent cover. and the
casualties were few.
"The British continue TO discover large
quantities Of amnuaitian. Tho Hopi's afe
well supplied with food and a quantity
of provisions was loft ltchind.
lit is expected that further resistance
will be half hearted and that I.adysnitli
will he reached III few days"
The Morning Posts second edition pnh-
fishes dispatch from Ladysmith. dated
Fob. 49, which says that the bambal-
ment continues with unusual persistence
aud activity from Bnwunn and Blaauw-
bank, but is doing small damage.
The garrison is in good spirits over
General Roberts success and the ad-
vance of General Bulcr, which is now
Visible.
Boer reports say General Jonbeit's
nerves are unstrung and that he no lon-
ger exercises the chief command.
a A dispatch from Sterkspruit, dated
| Wednesday, Feb. 21. says:
1.-The prominent rebels in this district
tend to surrender, and the Stormberg
|bels will shortly lay down their Ssrms.'
Hay Protests Against Seizures.
ambassador Choate has received a dis
ch from Secretary Hay protesting