The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-24

LONDON. Feb. s4.-The latest dispatches
indicate that Cronje still holds out and that
Butler is having TO fight every inch cf the
way in his advance toward Lalysmit1.
The latest news from Pretoria is con-
tainej iE a despatch dated Febrdlry -. In
this telegram the claim is made ,haJ COM
municauon with General Cronie Is stin
open. but that no news has been -eceivtd-
A despatch from an English co .espoad-
ont, dated Paardesberg, February 27. says:
The shelling of the Beers was continued
iutermitteutly today. Last night a large
supply column reached US. Two thousand
Beers are reported 10 be operating to oar
east.
Yesterday afternoon "wednesday. when
the last gun had been fired. the Shropshires
rushed 200 yards farther toward the river,
whore Cronje is entrenched. and found sew
eral dead Beers.
French has taken - Beers and a patrol
has captured 80 more 20 the westward"
Not a word has come from Roberts since
Wednesday. and England is growing rx-
ious- 1t looks as If Roberts is now fighting
two Boer armies. one at Paardeberg and
one at Petrusberg fifteen miles to the
southeast. COmmandant Dewet telegraph
ed Pretoria Tuesday that he expected big
fight at Petrusberg on Wednesday and it
is likely that the struggle with him and
with Cronje is going on and that bloody
fighting is raging over a large area
II is possible that Dewet may have col
lected 10000 or $1,000 men at Paardeberg
and is making a desperate effort to join
CrOuje. Nevertheless. experts do not see
how Cronje can escape annihilation or
surrender, but his defence is arousing
the greatest admiration. II is declared to
be one Of the grandest exhibitions Of valor
OF the century.
TInyinE Desperate Game.
In a very hell Of fire with his wagons
burning. his men falling on every hand,
and lyddite shells and shrapnel from fifty
British guns bursting around him, Cronje
is fighting to the death and showing how
well he deserves the name Of the Lion
of the North"
His wife. it is reported toby. Is With
him. and is urging him to yield, but he
steadfastly refuses. To the p,eadjngs Of
his wife and the demands OF his Goes. he
returns the same answer. and the strrg-
gle goes on.
The news as TO Cronje's VIE comes from
prisoners 0aptured by the British who
say that Mrs. Cronie ie urginE her hus-
band. for the sake Of the lives If his men.
TO accept Kitchener's terms.
II Crouje had surrendered Roberts
would undoubtedly have cablcd the fac; at
once. The COmmander-in-Chicf Of The
British forces, has Telegraph wires run
ming into his tent at Paarde0crg. and is in
the closest touch with the War Office.
Il is thought here that Roberts silence
may be due to the arrival Of Boer re-en-
forcements. which may have kept him
busy since Wednesday morning. Comman-
der Dewet's despatch and other news from
Pretoria are regarded as very significant
There is little doubt that thousands OF
Beers are rushing 10 Cronjc's all and that
every day he manages TO hold ou5 may
help his chances. II looks now as IL there
was a method in Cronje's madness after
all. II is said by some experts that he
played desperate game for the purpose Of
saving bis artillery
saved His Artillery.
II Is a strange fact that since the Beers
were trapped AT paardeberg they have not
used any big guns TO reply 10 the terrible
bombardment Of the British Correspond
ents have been unable to understand this
strange silence Of the Boer guns. Il is
now believed that Cronie sent his big guns
from Magarsfontein after he learned thar
Roberts with his army was south Of the
Modder River and that later. when he
found French moving aroJnd his left flank.
he moved himself When he found him
self pursued he selected his present posi-
tion, where he determined TO hold the Brit
ish back until he knew all the heavy artiI-
Iery had escaped. Il is thought by some
that at the last moment Crouje will at
tempt 20 cut his way out. and will try 10
rally AT a point north where the artillery
viii be safely mounted.
An explanation Of Crouje's present eight
is that he is deliberately sacrificing him
self and his men to hold Roberts army
back and to give the Free State forces a
chance 20 assemble and prepare for effect
i've resistance in properly selected posi-
tion. Had he surrendered when Kitchener
demanded surrender, the way to Bloem-
fontein would have been open and the Free
State at the mercy of Roberts army.
In the absence OF official news. Cape
Town and Durham are sending all sorts OF
sensational reports. One story is that
General Cronie has been wounded An
other story says that Lord Kitchener has
been slightly wounded in the left arm
There is still third one that General
Butler has retired 10 Colenso. All Of these
reports are untrustworthy.
There are wild rumors here today that
Cronje has surrendered and that Butler has
relieved Ladysmith All lack confirmation
and ale discredited.
KEEPING BULLER BUSY.
Unable to Report An ,,sr,,.,. m,