The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-02-24
CR0NJE C00PE0 UP
HOPELEssLY SURROUNDED BY
ROBERTS FORCES.
Withholds the New
Waiting Confirmation and More
Details-LOrd Kitchener Has
Probably Outfanked the Beers
and Checked Their Retreat-Gcn.
Butler Captures a Range of Hills
South Of the Tugcla - Beers
Forced Across the TugeIa After
an Assault by Buffers Forces.

an Assault by Buffers Forces.
London, Feb. 21.-A member of the
cabinet told H. w. Lucy last night that
the war office had received a cablegram
stating that Gen. Cronje was hopeless
~ surrounded. Mr.. Wyndham was
beset by anxious inquirers, but would
only reply that the governments ad-
vices were extremely satisfactory. The
sole explanation Of the government
Withholding good news is that confir-
nation and more details are awaited.
The situation rs disclosed by cores
pondeGts over the Free State border is
tantalizing to the public expectation.
The elementary fact is that the Beers
are treking eastward toward Bloom
fontein with slow moving baggage
trains, and that they are pursued by
Lord Kitchener, with Gen. Kelly-Ken-
ny's division. Gen. Macdonald, with
the H%ighlanders, made a forced march
to Koodoers Rand ford, and on Sunday
pushed twenty miles eastward. Gen.
French left Kimberley Saturday, going
east along the Modder river. Lord
Kitchener is trying to Outmarch and
outf1ank the Beers, thus checking their
retreat, if possible, and driving them
back into the hands Of Macdonald and
French. The war office message COM
municated to Mr.. Lucy seems to indi-
cate that Lord Kitchener has either
got ahead of the Beers or is about to
realize his plan and the wal office
waits to announce
&c., A Decisive Result.
Meanwhile Commandant Delary,
hanging on to the right flank Of the
British pursuing columns, seeking to
delay their movement and to assist the
B0er wagon trains to escape. Students
Of topography think the Beers will
hardly risk a fight until they get into
the rough country. Gen. Butler has
achieved a real success, seemingly, in
capturing the range Of hills south Of
the Tugela. 1t makes more feasible
another attempt to relieve Ladysmith.
The queen has sent q direct message
to Lord Roberts congratulating him
and his troops. Gen. French and Col.
Kekewich have been acquainted with
their promotions.
DR.. Leyds, at Brussels, says that the
Free State troops who were besieging
Ladysmith have Withdrawn in order to
defend their homes. In this way he
accounts for Gen. Buffers success
against the weakened force. He will
forego his projected trip to Rome, he
says, "because of decisive events now
taking place in the theater of war;"
Lord Roberts g%eneralship was con.
Quoted with such secresy, says a tele-
gram from Modder River, that even the
senior officers, who took the Sixth di-
vision through the preliminaries Of the
operation, did not know what they
would finally have to do.
Driven Across the Tugela.
London, Feb. 21.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. Butler from Chieveley Camp,
dated Feb. 10:
81 yesterday moved around the enc
my's flank. The Queens crossed the
mex and, supported by the rest of the
Second brigade, under Hildyard, as
saulted ard took the southern end Of
Monte Cristo. The Fourth brigade on
the left, or western slope, and the
Welsh Fusiliers, supported by the rest
OF the Sixth brigade, assaulted the
eastern flank Of the enemy's position,
while the Second brigade cavalry OF
the extreme right, watched the eastern
slopes of Monte Cristo and drove back
those of the enemy attempting to es-
cape there from our artillery fire. AS
saulted by heavy artillery fire on their
front flank and attacked on their flank
and rear the enemy made but slight re-
s~istance and, abandoning their strong
position, were driven across the Tu-
gela. 1 have taken several camps, a
wagon load Of ammunition, several
wagons Of stores, supplies and a few
prisoners"
The Daily Mail has the following
dispatch, dated Monday, from Pieter-
m%aritzburg: at is reported that Gen.
Butler has captured Hlangwane Hill.
I4arre numbers of Free Skaters have
left to meet Lord Roberts force. It Is
believed that q number of Boer big
Guns have been taken back across the
border"
Expect q Big Battle.
London, Feb. PA dispatch to the
Daily Mail, from Lourenzo Marques.
dated Monday, says: According to
advices from Pretoria the Beers are
a big battle on the Tugela.
They% claim that seventy of the Wilt
shires were killed at Colesberg and that
thirty wagons with forage and pro-
visions were captured, but no ammuni-
ti0l1. They thus describe the fighting
Kimberley: The British came
rBlaunbank and attacked in
two Columns. While the Beers were
hnsily engaged with Lord Roberts,
Gen. French, with 1000 cavalry and
six cuns, succeeded in breaking
thronehst the Boer lines. The Beers did
NOT seriously oppose Gen. French's adj
vance. Int confined their efforts to pre-
ventine the provisions getting through.
in1thiS they succeeded, capturing 1000
head 0fScattle, 100 wagons OF provis-
ions and 100 men,
Nethuen ut. Kimberley.
1nndou. Feb. The Cape Town.
correspondent OF the Daily News. tele-
sranhine Sunday, Mys: Lord Meth
nan;asYorck has arrived at Kimberley,
- EG&8LsAS xe,SSn,rs~h frns,1r Nj Sro,A0fnn.