The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-02
He SurrenderS UnCOndi-
tionally.
1000 Beers Turned Over to
Roberts Tuesday Morning.
OTHER BOER FORCES In DANGER!
French's Cavalry Already On
the War Path.
The Beoers Evacuate BiOemfontein
for Winburg.


When we announced in our issue
Tuesday morning, that "Cronje Will
Be Crushed" we were little slow.
He had surrendered that morning.
Roberts had been closing in closer |
each day, and between 800 o'clock and |
daylight Tuesday morning, a British |
force, with the Canadians in the head, |
made dash, and fortified themselves
within 80 yards of the Boer line.
CrOnje seeing that his force would be
crushed, and realizing that he could
not be REINFORCED surrendered uncon-
ditionally.
The surrender was made on the an
niversary of Majuba Hill, the date of
the final victory of the Beers over the
English in the last war between them.
The British losses in the siege were
very light.
Lord Roberts dispatch announcing
his victory, is as follows:
"PAARDEBURG, IL o'clock Tuesday
mOrning.-From information furnished
daily to me by the intelligence depart
ment, it became apparent that General
Cronje's force was becoming more de-
pressed and that the discomfort of the
troops and the discord among the lead
ers were rapidly increasing. The feel
ing was, doubtless, accentuated by the
disappointment caused when the Boer
re-enforcements which tried to relieve
General Cronje were defeated by our
troops on February %. 1 resolved,
therefore, to bring pressure to bear
upon the enemy. Each night trenches
| were pushed forward toward the en-
) emy's laager, so as to gradually con
tract his position, and at the same time
, bombarded it heavily with artillery
J which was yesterday materially aided
by the arrival of four six-inch howitzer:
, which had ordered up from DeAar
f In carrying out these measures, cap
t tive balloon gave great assistance b,
t keeping us informed of the disposition
! and movements of the enemy. AT
O'Clock today most dashing advanc
e was made by the Canadian Regimen
y and some engineers, supported by tn
First Gordon Highlanders and Secon'
), Shropshires, resulted in our gaining
r point some six hundred yards neare
Y yards Of his trenches, where our me-
S entrenched themselves and maintaine
their positions till morning, gallan
r deed worthy of our colonial comrades
:, and which, am glad to say, was al
e tended with comparatively slight loss
Il '"This apparently clinched matters
Il for, at daylight today, letter signe
n by General Cronje, in which he state
l. that he surrendered Internationally
e was brought to our outposts under
flag of truce.
'In my reply told General Cronj
he must present himself at my CAM
and that his forces must come out {
their laager, after laying down thei
arms. By a. m. l received Geners
n Cronje and dispatched a telegram t
IyOu, announcing the fact. In tn
course of conversation he asked fO
kind treatment at our hands and ais
O that his wife, grandson, private seer.
9 tary, adjutant and servants might az
company him wherever he might b
Isent. l reassured him and told him h
request would be complied with. | tol
-. him that general officer would be ser
with him to Cape Town, to insure hi
being treated with proper respect ell
:, route. He will start this afternoO
, under charge of Major General Prett.
=. man, who will hand him over to tn
General commanding at Cape Town.
~ "The prisoners, who number owe
l. 1000 will be formed into command
under our own officers. They will ais
~. leave here today, reaching the Modde
# River tomorrow, when they will b
a rallied to Cape Town in detachments.
"a When this dispatch was read in Pa
N lament, the part referring to the cor
"A duct of the Canadians was received wit
immense and prolonged cheering.
Among the officers captured are Gel
Cronje. M. J. Wolverans, a member
" the Boer Legislature; Field Corn'
81 Frees, Scandinavian; Major Albrech
IL the famous German artilleryman; an
81 Major Won Dewits, the distinguishe
W German officer, responsible for most
l. the splendid engineering works of tt
Beers, since the commencement of tt
v war. Cronjes wife was with him.
,!