The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-20
CR0NJE SURROUNDED,
That Is the Report Given Out by a
British Cabinet Official,
R0ERs CAPTURE PROVISIONS,

General Duller Has Achieved a Sac.
cess, Temporarily ut Least, in Cap
turing the Range OF Hills south Of
the Tugcla.
London, Feb. pa member of the
cabinet told H. w. Lucy last night
that the war office had received a tele-
gram announcing that General Cronjes
| was hopelessly surrounded. Mr. Wynd Il
ham was beset by anxious members oil
the house, but would only reply that
inc governments news was eXtremelys
satisfactory. The sole explanation Of Y
the government Withholding good
news is that confirmation and more
details are awaited.
The situation as disclosed by corre-
spondcnts over the Free State border
is tantalizing to the public expecta-
tons. The elementary facts are that
the Beers are trekking eastward toward
Bloemfontein, with slow moving bag
gage trains, and that they are pur-
sued by Lord Kitchener, with General
kelly-Kenny's division. General Mac
Donald. with the Hlghlanders, made a
forced march to koodoos Rand Ford
and on Sunday pushed 20 miles east
ward. General French left Kimberley
Saturday, going east along the Modder
river. Lord Kitchener is trying to
outmarch and to outfank the Beers.
th,ls checking their retreat. if possible, :
and driving them back into the hands
of Macdonald and French.
The war Office message communi-
Gated to Mr.. Lucy seems to indicate
that Lord Kitchener has either got
ahead Of the Beers or Is about to
realize his plan, and that the war Of
flee waits to announce a decisive re-
suit.
Meanwhile Commandment Delarey.
with the Beers from Colesberg, is
hanging on to the right Hank of the
British pursuing columns. seeking to
delay their movement and so to as
slst the Boer wagon trains to escape.
A Daily Mail correspondent who was
with the British convoy attacked by
the Beers at Riet river ford wires:
Ultimately the British abandoned
tne convoy, in order not to check tho
advance Thus 200 wagons and 600 !.
tons OF stores fall into the hands of Il
the Beers, though 1t is doubtful If they "A
Will be able to carry them away.
General Butler has achieved real ~
success, seemingly, In capturing the VI
range of hills south of the Tugela. 1t
makes more feasible another attempt ~
to relieve Ladysmith. Il
me Chieveley correspondent Of Tho 81
Daily News. telegraphing yesterday, N
says: We now occupy all the hills to Il
Inc right OF Colenso, on this side of the n
Iusela. including Hlangwane, which
ne Beers evacuated Sunday night. n
This capture Of Hlangwane hill is of
great strategtcal importance, as the
all commands the flank of the Boer
licenses at Colenso. A successful ad-
'ance and the recapture of the railway
nay be expected.
According to advicea from Pretoria
ne Beers are expecting big battle on
ne Tugela. They claim that 70 of the n
Viltshires were killed at Colesberg, y
hey thus describe the fighting at
THE British came through Blaun
tank and attacked In two columns.
While the Beers were busily engaged M
'lth Lord Roberts General French. n
'lth 1000 cavalry and six guns, sue al
eeded In breaking through the Boer III
mes. The Beers did not seriously on
ose General Frenchs advance, but III
onflned their efforts to preventing the
rovisions getting through. In this
icy succeeded, capturing 1000 head Of
tue, lO0 wagons Of provisions and S
10 men,"