Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-02-24
Dispatches From Berlin Say the
PIucky Boer IS Forcing
British Lines.
BOERs INFLICTING HEAVYLOss
Puerto RIcan Tariff Bill oeeu-
pies Attention of Both Houses
To-day.
CLARK AND COUER o. ALENE

Berlin, Feb. 24-Several newspapers
here announce they learn from private
sources that General Cronje is sue
ceeding in forcing his way through
the British lines.
Paardeberg. Feb. 22-There is little
change in the situation. There was
intermittent shelling today. and dur
ing the night large supply column
arrived. It is reported that 1000
Beers are operating northward from
this place. Yesterday evening, after
the last gun had been fired, Shrop-
shires rushed forward 200 yards fur
ther towards the bed of the river and
found a number of Boer dead. General
French captured seventy-fye prison.
ers and the patrol on the westward
side took thirty more.
Lourenzo Marques.-The French
steamer Gironde, has arrived here
bringing American-French military at
taches, bound for the Boer camp.
London, 2:15 p. ma dispatch from
Paardeberg, dated Thursday, made
public this afternoon, shows that the
condition Of General CroLje apparent
ly had not changed up to Thursday
and dispatch from Durham last night,
announcing Cronje's surrender, is re
garded as a doubtful announcement
The arrival of the British supply col
umn at Paardeberg may give General
Roberts an opportunity to resume his
fierce attack on Cronje's laagel, for
doubtless, he could not keep up the
vigorous cannonade with which he
started. Possibly the long wait may
be due to a determination to endeavor
to starve out Cronje's gallant force.
Other late Paardeberg, dispatches say
the Boer plight is hopeless and that
Lord Roberts is ready to meet all re-
Inducements. From Butler there is
nothing new, but the retreat of Cron-
je seems TO be having its effect ON
Cape Beers, as a Dordrecht dispatch
dated Feb. 22d, says they have opened |
for submission. Sir Al. |
fred Miner, is Offering lenient terms,
and meanwhile he is ceasing offensive
operations
A dispatch from Arundel says, The
Beers formed strong force, seven |
miles west of here. General Clements |
has kept up searching fire on the
kopjes. We expect to take their pc
sition before sunset.
A war bulletin, published at Pre-
toria Feb. 22d, said that communica-
tion with Cronje was still open, Feb.
21st, and reports heavy fighting had
occurred, it occurring east of Cronje's
lager Sterkstroom dispatch, Feb.
23d, says a British refugee from Held
elberg asserts the Beers admitted los
ing 500 men in the assault on Lady
smith, Jan. 9Th, and General Joubert
is no longer in command.
Boer Head Laager, Natal, Feb. %
Yesterday the British crossed the Tu-
gela in large numbers with cannon
and over sixty wagons. They attack
ed Ermelo and the Middleburghers
commanders but we're forced to re-
treat under a heavy Mauser fire. A
renewed attempt to storm the Ermelo
men was made this morning but the
British were again driven off. Fight
ing continues The British losses
were very heavy Eight ambulances.
are employed in collecting the dead
and wounded. Generals report the
commanders as fighting bravely.
Ladysmith fired a few shells this
morning on our outpost until silenced
by Long Tom"
Pretoria Feb. PA dispatch from
Colesberg, dated 22d, says: Com
mandant Delarey moved out and occu-
pied a position to the east and south
OF Arundel, where the British were
encamped. At sunrise the British at
tackled the Beers with cannon, infantry
and cavalry, the Beers replying until
late in the evening. when the Beers
were attacked in their rear by force
presumably from Naauwpoort, render
ing the Boer position untenable. The
British attempted to storm the Boer
cannon, but were repulsed with heavy
loss. Boer casualties, as far as known
were two men wounded" -