The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-24
~ SOTTH AFRICA.

There seems to be some exagge ration in the
descriptions that have been coming in during
the last twcnty.four hours OF the attack and
defence OF the position taken up by Gen.
Cronje on the road to B,oemfontein. now
stated TO be in the vicinity OF Pctrusberg. a
plac' about five miles east of Pahrde-
berg and forty.seven miles from Hloem-
fontcin. II would appear TO be humanity
impossible that the 5000 men. more
or less. said t. he with Gen. Cronl". cooped
up in a small area. should he able to withstand
the Ere described IA being poured into them
by the British artillery at short range, Either
the 5000 mon have resolved TO offer them
selves a. n sacrifice to enable the forces hur-
rying upfrom the south and other dIrectiohsto
concentrate on the new line OF defence. wher-
ev'r that NAV he. or there are nothing Ike
5000 mon with Gen. Cron,e. AMI those that are
have been able 10 construct such intrench-
mrnts that the British artillery fire is compar-
at'vcly innocuous.
There Is. however. q notable discrepancy in
tho dispatches received describing the locality
Of the fighting. Tho first despatch In yestcr-
days SuS speaks Of the British having COM
rletcly surrounded the retrcating Boers AZ
koodoes Rand Drift, which is north o. Par
debcrc; while a Cape Town despatch dated n
day earlier SAYS that THE SuN correspondent
learns that Gen. Cronie IL surrounded at Petrus-
berg. forty miles east OF Jacobsdal. and soma
distance south NJ the Moider. Leaving these
Emergencies 10 be explained later or. Il is evil
dent that whatever the number Of Beers NAV
he who have arrested the British advance 10
Bloem!ontein, they are making n fight which
EFFORTS the admiration even OF their enemies.
The reports OF the movements OF both the
British and Beers in the neiRhborhoods OF
S'ormherg and Colesberg, attest that the Beers
have already begun their march northward.
II Is. however, 70 be noted. that nothing has
been heard OF Gen. Prinsloo. whose command
was last spoken OF as being al KofYyfontein. on
the south bank OF the Riet River. after IL had
intercepted Gen. French's rear guard and cap
tured several thousand cattle and some 200
wagons. OF its strength. nothing was known.
bur II seems to have been sufficient TO
prevent Gen. French riskinR the object OF his
march. by hating to engage IL. II has been
stated, but on what authority is not said. that
the Beers were taking up positions behind
q stream in front OF Bloemfontein about
twenty miles. the left resting on a large
kopje covered by n number Of smaller
ones. its centre being at AasvoGel Kop Just
north Of the road into Bloemfontein and
the right covered by the angle formed by this
stream and the Modder. On the other hand.
dispatches from Lorenzo Marques say that rn-
mors are persistent shat the capital OF the
Free State was being moved from Blocmfon-
tein to Winburg. north Of the Vet River. which
has already been designated as the first line Of
defence in the northern part OF the Free State
among the hills.
With regard TO the operations In Natal. both
the British and Boer reports agree in saying
that Gen. Buffers progress is slow. and both
sides were employing their artillery vigorously.
ono British battalion suffered q loss Of 1875 off,
GERS and men killed. wounded md missing In
the nChting on Tuesday and Wedn .sday. The
impression AZ the British headquarters. how
ever. appeared to be that the Boer resistance
was to cover the retreat Of their entire army.
On the whole the situation is very obscure
for the moment. the most remarkable feature
in II being. Of course. the resistance OF Gen.
Cronle. Gen. French with his mounted division.
variouslv estimated at from ten to twelve
thousand. Is said to be holding OF any retn.
forccments trying TO open a retreat for the
hard-prcssed General. The first force that APP
peare was easily scattered. being composed OF
only 800 men. with Gen. Bo'ha from Natal.
but The contingents that should have concern
trated about Bloem'ontein by now must num-
Der several thousands.
4 late and interesting despatch from the
Boer side confirms the surmise that the
earlier reports about Gen. CrocJe and
his desperate position were exaggerated.
The Bocr official account now shows
that they we're rumors without serious
foundation. and that what has been described
as the "princiIa al action in what has been pass
ing was in reality only an incident. The
Boer losses in the several fights that
have taken place are reported to be
trining, while the British assault Of the Boer
in~trenchmcnts at Petrusberg is said to have
been repulsed with heavy loss, 1t is evident
that the Boer resistance is more formidable
than expected or reported from the British
ide.