The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-20

NEWS HELD BACK
Although It Is Said to Be Very
Favorable.
1ANTALIzlNG TO THE PUBLIC.
It Is Reported that General Cronje Is
Surrounded.
-----
THE STATEMENT is NOT CONFIRMED
Beers Are Irekklne Eastward Toward
BloemtOnlen, Pursued by Kitchener.
THE STATEMENT Is NOT CONFIRMED
De LACY IS DELAYING BRITISH COLUMNS
Captures by the BurRhcrs Near Kof.
fcsfontcin Included Valuable sup
plies Intended for Kimberley.

London February 90. s;45 a. ma
member OF the cabinet told II. w. Lucy
last night that the war office had received
e telegram announcing that General cron-
so was hopelessly surrounded.
Mr. Wyndham was beset by anxious
members of tho house, but would only
reply that tho governments news was ex-
tremely Satisfactory The sole explanation
Of the government Withholding good news
is thab confirmation aud more details are
awaited, The situation as disclosed by
correspondents over the Free stale border,
is tautalizing to tho public expectation.
The elementary facts are that the Beers
ara trelking eastward toward Bloomton-
tein With slow moving baggage trains aud
that they arc pursued by Lord Kitchener
with General Kelly -Nenny's division GEN.
eral Macdonald, with tho Highlanders,
mado forced march to Koodooes Rand
ford. and on sunday pushed twenty miles
eastward General French left Kimberley
saturday going east along the Modder
river. Lord Kitchener is trying to out
march and 40 out-nank. thus checking
their retreat If possible and driving them
back into the hands OF Macdonald and
French The war office message commuui.
Gated TO Mr.. Lucy seems to Indicate that
/ Lord Kitchener has either got ahead OF The
/ Beers, or Is about to realize his plan aud
the war office waits to announce a de-
eisive result.
( Meanwhile Commander De Lacy with
the Doerh from colesberg is hanging onto
tho right tank of the British pursuing
/ columns seeking to delay their move
ment and so to assist the Bocr wagon
trains to escape, Tho students of the to-
Biography think the Boers viii hardly risk
a fight until they get ilto the rough coun-
try north OF Bloemfonteiu
Daily Mail correspondent who was
with the British convoy Attacked by tho
Beers at Rlet river, writes: ultimately
the British abandoned tho convoy in order
not to check the advance. Thus 200 wagons
"'' w" N'hb W SAbItN ltil INTO the nAnua
Of the Beers, though It is doubtful is they
viii be able 10 carry them away"
The queen hns sent direct message to
Lord Roberts congratulating him and his
troops. General French and Colonel Keke-
wich have been made acquainted with their
promotions.
Lord Roberts generalship was conducted
with such secrecy says a telegram from
Modder river. that even the senior officers
who took the Sixth division through the
prelimlnaries Of the operation did not
knwo what they would finally have to do.
Lourenzo Marquee, February 19.--1t ap-
pears from advlces received here that the
loot captured by the hurgbers yesterday
near Koffoyfontein included over 5000 head
of cattle and number OF wagons. eighteen
of which were loaded with provisions in
tended fer the relief of Kimberley. a num-
Der OF prisoners were also taken. Heavy
hghting is reported today around Kimber-
ley where General COME is said 70 be
holding his own.