Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-24
The Campaign in Africa.

AhO campaign HI hlEiCSs
London, Feb. 24.-London is full Of
rumors of Britsh victories in the Orange
Free State aud Natal, but there is no
news.
A Capetown dispatch under the date
OF February 20, states 1t is rumored tina,
General Butler and General White have
joined forces. A dispatch from Dur.
ran dated yesterday, says it is reported
there that the Beers at Pasrdeburg have
surrendered, after losing LOO men in
Guiding General Cronje. The rumor
also has il that K tchener was wounded
10 the left arm. 1t is evident tina, Rob-
erts and Kitchener must crush CroDje
soon or loose the whole advantage they
gained by surrounding him. Pretoria
dispatches indicate that BOer reinforce.
meDts are pouring into BloemfOntein.
C0mmandant Dewet wires Pretoria from
Petersburg, which is 10 miles southeast
OF CroDje's position, that he expected a
big fight on Wednesday and it appears
from this that Dewet commands body
of reenfOrcements which Roberts has
not tackled. General Butler, at last &C =
counts, was fighting his way toward
Ladysmith north of the Tugela and the
impression prevails that big battle has
been fought or is now in progress be-
tween Warreu's division and the Beers
10 the passes near Pieters which is half
way between COlenso and Ladysmith.
There are probably 5000 or 1000 men
left in Natal to oppose Buffers advance.
Reports of Whites activity are taken
TO indicate that the Beers are lOoseniug
their grip on Ladysmitb.
CapetOwn, Feb. "a "A train convey
ing a part of the city of London vOluD-
teers to the front, was derailed early
today at Mulders Welt, Is miles outside
OF Capetown. The accident was caus-
ed by several lengths of track being re-
moved presumably by disloyal colon
lists. The damage was not serious.
Parradeberg, Feb. 22.-General Ro-
berls today brought up some more guns
and the bombardment of the Beers
lager continues with greater fury than
before. There is no silence for five
minutes at a time night or day.
Every visible object 10 the Boer camp
has been destroyed. The Beers have
apparently dug deep into the ground
Boer reenfOrcements are approaching
from the north and are supposed to
number 1000.
General French engaged the out
posts of this force and took los prison.
err.
The Shropshires have advanced 200
yards more on the Boer lines. They
rushed trench last night just after the
bombardmsnt had ceased. They found
many Beers dead.
London, Feb. PA dispatch from
Dordrecht, Cape Colony, dated Feb
%, says that the Boer force in the
vicinity has opened negotiations with
Gen. Brabant, looking towards surren-
der to the British. Brabant, it is stated,
is Offering easy terms and meanwhile
has ceased offensive operations.
Reports of heavy fighting on the road
to Ladysmith receive confirmation in
General Buffers report OF causalties on
Feb. %, which show that five officers
were killed, and Is wounded.
London, Feb. 24.-Dispatches from
Pretoria, dated yesterday, report that
General Clements, continuing his ad-
vance north from Arundel, attacked
Colesberg February % with large
force of cavalry but was compelled to
retire with heavy loss.
An Arundel telegram, also OF yester. |
days date, said the Beers we're in force
several miles to the west of that place,
That the British were bombarding their |
position and expected to take it before
dark.
Berlin, Feb. 24.-Several local news
papers claim to have received word from
private sources that Cropje and bis
Orces have escaped.