, 1900-02-28
HOW ROBERTS DID IT
GRAPHIC STORY OF THE EVENTS
LEADING UP TO GROIN
JE'S SURRENDER.
Hemmed in on All Sides by England's
Warriors the Beers Chieftain Was
Compelled to Hoist the White Flag
of Observation-Disclosures Will Move
on Bloemfontein.

London, Feb. 2S.-General Cronje's
unconditional surrender yesterday with
1000 men, including nearly so officers
of important rank, and four big guns,
is the triumphant result of Lord Rob-
erts' strategy. 1t was a piece of bril-
liant soldiership, strong by conceiv-
ed and perfectly executed.
quickly massrng together two weeks
ago a flying force of cavalry and mount
ed infantry 10, 900 strong, with field
guns, he brought up behind the Modder
river with his infantry division. Then
he sent General French, with clouds of
cavalry, under orders to sweep over
the drifts to Kimberley, relieving that
place.
General Cronje found himself out
fanked. If he had retreated to the
north, Generals Methuen and French
would have %enveloped him. He was
obliged to give up Kimberley and fly
20 the eastward.
On the night Of the 18th he started
on a forced march toward Paardeberg,
accomplishing S3 miles income desper-
ate march. He was discerned on the
morning of the 18th and followed up
sharply by the cavalry.
Lord Kitchener and General Kelly
Kenny caught up with his rear guard,
driving it in upon the main body, which
was o%utspanned with cattle weary, and
men tired, in the bed of the river. There
he was penned in on the 18th. General
Roberts, at the head Of the infantry
divisions, sealed him up between Koo-
doosberg and P%aardeberg in a trap,
For a whole week the Boer comman-
does were shut up between the river
banks and stormed at day and night
with artillery and rifle fire.
General Roberts held OFF scattered
reinforcements and maintained a close,
unsparing fire which was rendering
General Cronje's position %untenable.
Finally a dashing advance was made
early yesterday morning by the Cana
dians to within 80 yeads of the Boer
trenches, and the enemy was compelled
to surrender.
The all important questions this
morning are, What effect will the
capitulation have upon the Boers?" and
What will Oe General Roberts next
mover"
This British victory does not mean a
collapse on the part of the Beers. 1t
means the freeing of the Free State
force, and the removal of II of the
most skillful commanders and a return
totheir farms of the weak-kneed among
the Free Staters, but IN the Free State
one other series of actions at least will
have to be fought, while the march in
to the Transvaal very hard fight
ing INT the loss of many lives.
That the British government, appre-
ciates this is shown by the announce
ment that the Eighth division will be
sent out so soon as transports are avail
able.
The consenus of military opinion
here is that General Roberts will move
on Bloemfonteln, and General French
is reported to be already on the way,
perhaps sending a strong-mounted
force to relieve Mafeking.
1t is not thought that the Beers win.
make a stand at the Free State capital,
as it is not easily defended, but strong
positions are to be found on the border
Of the two republics.
General Butler is finding the Boer re-
sistance to his advance on Ladysmith