The Portland daily press., 1900-02-26
CRONJE DIES HARD.

WIN Allow Force To BE wiped Out
Rather Than Surrender.
Paardeburg. Orange Free State, We'd
nesday, February 2i.-Ths fourth day
of Gen. Cronje's fine defense opensd In
startling fashion. Soon after dawn . most
terrific rattle of rifle fire broke out,
waking tue sleeping camp. 1t was the
heaviest FIRE during the war and all
awaited with forehodings the news of
It's effect. It soon developed that the
Glouoesters and Essexes, had lost their
way and had bivouacked In error, close
to the Boer laager on the north side OF
the river. Aa soon rs they were perceived
by the enemy, the latter fusiIaded.
Wonderful to tell, the British casual
ties were practically none.
There was desultory firing all day long
ON both the north and south banks Gen.
srsi kuox's brigade holding and pushing
forward the line south OF this river, while
General Smith Borrien on the north side.
worked toward the laager. Meanwhils
General French advanced in far sasterly
direction near kopje held by . STRONG
force OF Cronje's men, reinf or,ed by
Ladysmith contingent. At the came
time General Broad woods brigade with
battery Of horse artillery. took up posi-
lions to the left and rear of the same
kopie.
The front of the hill was thoroughly
searched by a rsking fire.
Suddenly the Boers boltsd from every
EA HAi
towards the drift Smelling vigorously.
A great number escaped but many
were killed by shrapnels and about forty
were captured.
As soon as the kopje was evacuated
this correspondent visits d 1t. Ths posi-
ton was found to DO wonderfully strong
naturally and TO form : he real key to the
position In the casa of defence against
Boer achievements advancing from the
| east.
Our first contact with the Ladysmith
Beers was slngularly unfortunate tor
them. A great deal of forage, provisions
and equipment was captured and the
kopje was frequently dotted with blood.
showing that many wounded had been
removed.
The Boer method Of removing their
dead 10 to tie a couple Of rains to the
body which is thus dragged oil by two
horsemep at full gallop.
There were several pour parles today
on the subject Of short armistice. 1t
seems that General Cronje is willing to
surrender but that the young Transvaal-
era refused, The other belsaguered Beers
are anxious to give up.
A British Doctor who visited the Boer
lines to zee the wounded found the
trenches along the river full Of wounded
and saw many dead.
A deeertsr who came into camp last
n light says that yesterdays bombardment
was appalling In its effects, especially
In the case of the howitzer batteries
fielding the river. The position today
is practically the same.
The Beers ara strengthening their en-
trenchments around the lager but the
Gaze 10 hopeless.
Tbs capture of the kopjs today has
given the British a splendid position and
win prevent Beer relieving force reach
ing Cronje.
Every body admrss tbs splendid stand
of the burghers but from humanitari an
point Of view 1t is considered that fur
Their resistance on the part Of General
Cronjs will be criminal. livery shrapnsl
shell finds o victim and unless a miracle
occurs, his force must be wiped out or
captured. The former result Is terrible to
contemplate hut although IL would re-
quirs few days, 1t would be easy to no.
complish.
| Today Lord Roberts sent General
Cronjs an offer of safe conduct fer the
women and children. together with FREQ
pass to any point for them and also an
offer of doctors and medicine. Cronje's
reply YVES curt refusal and dssui tory
| shaliinp WAS resumed.