The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-26
DETAILS OF BoERS' DEFENSE.
HOW GEN. CRONJE FACED THE
FATES AT PAARDEBERG.


fused to Give Up-The Position on
Wednesday Practically Unchang-
ed BOer Prisoners Pronounce
CrOnje's Resistance "Murder."
Paardeberg, o. F. s., Feb. 2l.-The
fourth day of Gen. Cronde's fine defense
opened in startling fashion. Soon after
dawn a most terrific rattle of rifle fire
broke out, awakiug the sleeping camp.
1t was the heaviest fire during the war;
and all awaited with forebodings the news
of its effect.
IL soon developed that the Gloucesters
and Essexes had lost their way aud had
bivouacked, in error, close to the Boer
laager on the north side Of the river. AS
soon as they were perceived by the ems
emy, the latter fusiladed. Wonderful 10
tell, the British casualties were practl-
cally none.
DesultOry Fighting All Day.
There was desultory firing all day long
on both the north and south banks, Gen.
Knox's brigade holding and pushing for
ward the line south of the river, while
Gen. Smith-Dorrien, on the north side,
worked toward the laager. Meanwhile
Gen. French advanced, in a far easterly
direction, near a kopie held BY strong
force of Cronje's men, reinforced by a La
dysmith contingent. AT the same time
Gen. Broadwoods brigade, with a battery
of horse artillery took up positions to the
left and rear of the same kopje.
The front of the hill was thoroughly
searched by a raking fire. Suddenly the
Beers bolted from every side toward Gen.
French. who headed toward the drift,
shelling vigorously. A great number es-
capped but many were killed by shrap-
mel and about forty were captured.
As soon as the kopje was evacuated this
correspondent visited it. The position was
found wonderfully strong naturally, and
to form the real key to the position in
the case OF defense against Boer REIN
forcements advancing from the east.
Forage and Provisions Captured.
Our first contact with the Ladysmith
Beers was singularly unfortunate for
them. A great deal of forage provis-
ions and equipment was captured, and
the kopje was frequently dotted with
blood, showing that many wounded had
been removed
The Boer method of removing their dead
is to tie couple of reins to the body
which is thus dragged off by two horse
men at full gallop.
There We're several pour parers to-day
on the subject of a short armistice 1t
seems that Gen. Cronie is willing to sur
render, but that the young Transvaalers
refuse. The other beleaguered Beers are
anxious to give up.
A British doctor, who visited the Boer
lines to see the wounded, found the
trenches along the river full of wounded
and saw many dead.
The BOmbardment Appalling.
A deserter who came into camp last
night says that yesterdays bombardment
was appalling in its effects. especially in
the case of the howitzers batteries enfil-
aiding the river
The position to-day is practically the
same. The Beers are strengthening their
entertainments around the laager, but the
case is hopeless. The capture of the kopje
to-day has given the British a splendid
position, and will prevent a Boer relieving
force from reaching Cronje.
Everybody admires the splendid stand
of the burghers, but, from a humanitar-
ian point of view. it is considered that
further resistance on the part of Gen.
Cronje will be criminal.
Every shrapnel shell finds victim and
unless a miracle occurs and his force must
be wiped out or captured. The former re-
suit is terrible to contemplate; but, al
though 1t would require a few days it
would be easy to accomplish
CrOnje CurtIy Refused.
To-day Lord Roberts sent Gen. Cronje
an offer of safe conduct for the wo-
men and children, together with a free
pass to any point for them. and also an
offer of doctors and medicine. Cronte's
f,nIu paf1 nd
Smelling was resumed A steady shelling
occurred during the early part of last
night. AS soon as the last gun was fired
the Shropshires, who had been occupying
the river bed since Sunday, rushed for
ward. seized an additional POO yards of
near ground and intrenched a fresh po>
sition before daybreak. At dawn Gen.
Cronje found himself docked that amount
OF space. The Shropshires had done ex-
cellent work under a CALLING fire since
Sunday. and they were relieved by the
Gordons to-day.
CrawIed to the Trenches.
The exchange of positions had it's anus
ing features, in spite of the dangers. The
Gordons crawled on their stomachs to the
trenches, and the shropshires orept out
Of these by actually reaching over the
Gordons
The scene of the last five days fighting
is one of the prettest spots In South
Africa. The river, at the point where
Gen. Cronje is ensconced and fighting for
life, resembles some parts of the Hudson
river. The ground all around slopes to-
wards the stream. All the highlands are
covered by British artillery Cronje is
faced in the front and rear from both
banks by the British, while Gen. French's
Horse. far away on the flanks, prevents
sudden inrush of the Beers.
During the artillery firing last evening
the mules of the Eighty-second Battery
which remained htched to the carriages,
suddenly stampeded and galloped off, en-
masse. but to-day the wagons, with one
exception, were recovered.
Gen. French has sent in seventy-five
prisoners. A British patrol eight miles
TO the west. discovered thirty Beers wan
dering away and corralled chem. Already
this force has captured AGO of the enemy,
while many dead Beers have been seen.
CronJe's Persistence "Murder."
The Boer prisoners are all depressed at
the present course OF the war. and they
comment bitterly upon Gen. Cronje's per-