The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-03-06
a WEEK OF DISASTER FOR TaR
BOERS.

a. LAST Relieved England wild With
Joy. But the Beers still in Fighting
Humor
LONDON, Feb. 27.-Lord Roberts ca,
bled TO the War Off; from Paarde-
berg this morning as follows:
"Cronj9 and ell his forces capitula
ted u"nconditiong lily at daylight THE
morning. Now prisoners in my camp.
Strength of forc9 will be communica-
ted later. l hope the government con.
siders this event as satisf actory, oc-
curing on the anniversary of M7juba
Hill. .RoBERTsn
PAARDEBERG. ORANGE FREE STATE.
Feb. 27.-4:O5 a. N General Cron
J9, commander of the o ange Free
State army, has surrendered uncondi-
tionally to the British forces under
Lord Roberts. He is now a prisoner in
this camp. CroDje sent an officer to
the British lines at down this morning
with a flag OF truce. The officer said
he had a message for the British gen
eral IN command. He was taken to
Lord Kitchener, to whom he eaid Gen
eral Cronje was willing to surrender,
having found his position untenable,
and cnly death or capture In prospect
If he continued to fight. He wished to
avoid useless she ddiug of blood and to
save his women and children. He
asked that they be given a safe con
duct.
General Kitchener granted the re
quest, 80 far es the women and chill
dren were concerned, but insisted that
the surrender in all other respects be
absolutely Unconditional. To this
CroDj9 agreed.
The Bosr commander at once left his
laager and, escorted by half a dozen
soldiers, entered the British lines He
was met by General Kitchener, who
Immediately brought him to the head
quarters of Lord Roberts. The greet
ing between the rival generals was
kindly end extremely sympathetic on
the part of Lord Roberts, who has
great admiration for his captives, and
brave and dignihed on the part of
Cronje.
The condition OF eff airs in the camp
to tae Beers was something trighEful.
Cney had run entirely out cf food, ex
cept the trek cattle, and these we're
eaten as ra pidly as they were killed by
the British shells. Their ammunition
was badly damaged by the British fire.
Most of their wagons we're burned.
The lager wasstrewn with the corpses
of the dead, lying in the broad light,
unburied and festerir g. The wounded
we're in an awful plight. The hospital
| corps was insufficient to attend to them,
and they lay about the lager in heaps,
some crying ~piteously, others shrieking
in their pain, many silently enduring
their agonies.
British troops, Immediately on tax
iug possession Of the laager, were or
dered by Lord Roberts to devote their
attention to succoring the wounded
and burying the dead, as we'll as caring
for the women and children, who, panic
stri ,ken and in expectation Of some
awful punishment, could hardly be in
duced to accept kindness or aid from
their corquerors. The British commits.
sary was taxed TO it's utmost to give
immediate relief to the sufferers, out
everything ia boing done to alleviate
the condition of their captives.
1t is believed that the surrendered
sorce will number between 1000 and
5000 combetants. Besides these there
are over /, 600 women and children and
K fir laborers and members Of the
Red Cross relief corps.
TOTAL BRITISH CASUALTIES 12, 83A.
LONDON. Feb %, 8:55 p. m.-The
rapidly growing casually lists are being
classified as quickly az possible. They
show that up TO this morning the total
number of casualties was IL SS4, OF
which 1919 were added during the
last fortnight.
LkDYSMITH RELIEVED.
LONDON, Marcn 2-Tne beleagu9red
city of Ladysmith hes been relieved
and all England is today rel 7ic.ng
The dependency of yesteay, coca
stoned by General B 1ller's somewhat
enigmagic dispatch, has bsea turned
into enthusiasm. General Buffers
cable conveying the welcom9 news
follows:
"LYTToN's HEADQUARTERS, March 1,
9:O5 a. m.-General Dundonald with
the Natal Car oineers and the Comps
tie Regiment, entered Ladysmith last
night. The country between me and