Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-01

eredence that Ladysmith has been re-
iieved.
1t is also reported that Gen. Croaje
has surrendered 5000 men and that
Gen. Kitchener has been slightly
wounded in the left arm.
Crowds throng the streets singing
and cheering because OF supposed vic
tories.
Seventeen hundred Beers have been
killed or wounded, the latter, 1t Is re-
ported, including Gen. Cronje.
London, Feb. 26.-Ar British ac-
counts agree in stating that Com
mandante Cronje's army is suffering
martyrdom under the most frlgbtful
bombardment that the ingenuity OF
man ever inflicted. The surrender of
the Boer army at the moment 1t was
demanded by Gen. Kitchener, when the
British hosts had completed their fatal
chain around 1t, would probably have
meant death blow to the Boer cause.
The road to Bloemfontein would hava
been left open. and the whole OF the
Orange Free State would have been at
the mercy of the invaders.
Two or three days delay might en-.
able part OF Gen. Joubert's army and
other federal forces to assemble for
effective resistance to the British adj
vance by establishing q second line OF
defense, which had long been planned.
Commandante Cronje and his bravo
men simply decided to throw them
selves beneath the wheels OF the Brit
fish juggernaut In order TO purchase
this brief delay at the expense of their
lives.
Not this or any other age can show
a subhmer deed. and It has awakened
even the admiration Of the Beers enc
mics. The whole world will pay tri-
butte to this exhibition of vaior, which
is one OF the grandest that the century
has witnessed.
The situation as hitherto described
in the dispatches was that up to
Wednesday morning. since when there
has been no news from any source,
and what has happened during the
past three days cannot even be guessed
at. There is, however, a strong proba-
bility that strong Boer re-enforcements
have arrived in the neighborhood OF
Cammandant Cronje's lager and that
the operations extend far beyond koo-
does rand.
From two sources there ia mention
OF PetrusberG as a battle center.
Petrusberg Is nearly twenty miles
southeast OF Koodoe's Rand drift and
commandant De Vets report suggests
that he collected there re-enforcements'
from the north and south. and the
small commando which Gen. Roberts
dispersed Tuesday. Gen. Roberts is
not improbably fully occupied with
these, while Gen. Kitchener is trying
10 crush Commandant Cronje. The
silence OF the British commander GER
tanly favors this idea.
II will be seen that the Boer bulie-
tin does not represent the situation as
being identical with that described In
the British dispatches and while 1t
does not explain the position Of the
burghers at all 1t clearly suggests that
they are not confined to such mar
row area as the English correspond
ents state. some part OF the bocr lorce
seems to have pierced the BRUSH INES
and the. whole narrative raises the
hope among the Beers supporters that
Commandant Cronje will ultimately
be- able to extricate himself from his
present dilemma
The news from the Natal SIDE
is'contained In a dispatch from Pietef-
harrisburg. dated Feb. y, 6;30 p. M
stating, that fighting was In progress
that morning In the neighborhood OF
Pieters. Gen. Buffers advance was De-
ing opposed by the Beers with big guns
and rifcs.
This forceis believed to be the resr
guard OF the enemy. 10 being positively
asserted that the main Boer army is
In full retreat and that 1t has' either
abandoned the Investment Of Lady,
smith or taken a position to the north
of the town.
A news agency dispatch from Pasr-
deburg, dated Feb. 20, says.
Every opportunity had becn given
the ensny to surrender. and when to-
ward afternoon they gave no Sign Of
doing 30. Lord Roberts determined TO
crush Gen. cronte's resistance once
and for ali. On the south bank of the
r r.na. Of q ZOO yes's yards me Hisss..n.h
AURG h. M