Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-01
The B0ERS NAySIyC.
An Army Being Assembled to DIS
pute Lord Rob .ris' Inv Aston.
PRESIDENT STEyy. FiyORS PEACE.
Gen. Cr0,je's Force Ent rely at the Mercy
Of iO Il Roberts, but Il. l. Treating
Them W III Great Consideraiinn
Inc Dunlih fu>lI.-r..

with which to dispute the invasion Of
Lord Roberts. This init lligence comes
from Pretoria by way OF Lourenzo
Marques. The commanders are de-
scribed as christening from all quar-
ters Of the two republics. No 'sli-
mate is made of their numbers. but
the withdrawal of the Beers from
most of The places where they have
been in contact with the British en-
cept the district near Ladysmith, may
raise the resisting force to 10000 men.
This figure assumes that the Beers
have between G0,O00 and 10,vy men in
the field.
The gathering of this army across
the path of Lord Roberts gives sig
nifcance to Gen. Cronie's steadfast
defense. lie has engaged the corps
of Lord Roberts for ten days nov,
and whether he is relieved or not,
he has given time for the dispersed
Boer fractions to get together and TO
prepare positions to receive the Brit
ish advance when Cronje is overcome
and Lord Roberts moves forward.
ten. Butler on Saturday faced the
last and strongest positions Of the
Beers who bar his way to Ladysmith.
The strenuous fighting indicates a
battle between armies, rather than
rear guard actions protecting re-
treat. On Thursday and Friday he
lost ~ officers killed and wounded.
representing probably total loss of
from 400 TO 500.
Gen. Whites guns worked on Sat
urday upon the I'oer positions, and
heliogram from Ladysmith reported
that the Beers We're retreating and
that larger rationS were being issued
in view of the fact that relief seemed
at hand.
Nothing has been heard from Mafe-
king since February II. The move
ment on the veldt away from the
railway is becoming increasingly
difficult for large bodies of troops,
as the grass is burned up. Gen.
French has to wagon forage for his
horses, and even the infantry finds
the long marches harder than before,
as forage for the transport animals
must be carried. This requires the
formation of garrisoned depots.
President stsyn Favors Peace.
London, Feb. 27.-A dispatch to the
Daily News from Lourenzo MARQUES,
says: president Steyn has tele-
graphed President Kruger that Lord
Roberts is within "A few hours of
Bloemfontein and he urges that every
male, irrespective of nationality.
should be Communicated. President
Steyn is said to favor peace. The
Boer general who was in command at
C0lens0 sent a message to President
Kruger saying that he had Teen
smashed up there and recommending
overtures for peace. The burghers
at Mafeking are also reported to have
sent word to Kruger that they would
rather defend their own farms than
fight elsewhere.
Lord Roberts Confederation
London, Feb. 27.--The Daily Mail
has the following dispatch from
Paardeberg, dated Sunday: "There
are about 1000 men beleagured in
Gen. Cronje's camp, exclusive of the
losses he has hitherto sustained. His
wife is not with him, although there
are women and children in the camp.
The Boer position is now almost ex-
clusively confined to the river bed.
The enemy are entirely at our mercy. |
but Lord Roberts is treating them
with great consideration, from mo-
tives of humanity.
Dublin Fusillsrs Distinguish Themselves. !
London, Feb, 27.-The Times has
the following from Pietermaritzburg,
dated February 23: 1.-THE Dublin fu-
siliers have again distinguished
themselves by volunteering to take
Grobler's kloof, which they did. This
gallant battalion, which began the
campaign 500 strong, can to-day be
said to muster on parade only be-
tween 100 and 200 of its original mem
bers."
Puerto Rican Tariff bill Modified.
i. L 4