The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-24

Graphic Description OF the Long Bat
tie I'm the Bed of the River.


LONDON, Feb. %. = Belated dispatches
telling of the desperate fighting at Paarde-
berg drift, Orange Free State, continue to
arrive here. One correspondent says, I'M
der date of Tuesday: GAS night fell, after
the terrific fighting which lasted all day
Sunday, there was a sudden cessation of
fire. as both sides were thoroughly tired
and glad to rest. The work of collecting
the dead and wounded proceeded, and the
men slept where they had fought the whole
day. The action was one of the most fear
fully contested in the history Of the war,
for the Beers were grimly fighting for their
lives, while the British determinedly
harassed them. The mounted infantry did
good work, and the Highland Brigade
fought steadily and sternly. The whole
force behaved well. Sunday evening the
Gordon around the Beers was completely
closed on every side in perfect silence. A
few Beers came into camp during the night
and confessed they were sick of fighting
and that General Cronje was being urged
TO surrender. All the animals and the men
suffered terribly from thirst, while 1t was
impossible to transport water. A heavy
thunderstorm in the afternoon, however,
considerably relieved their sufferings. Lord
Kitchener was present with the force
General Macdonald was wounded in the
foot, but not severely. General Cronje's
force occupies the river bed. Our men
marched splendidly to overtake the re-
treating enemy. Deserters say that great
number of the Beers lost their horses
Trek oxen daily seen wandering over
the plain and many come into our lines"
KITCHENER MEETS CRONJE.
Another correspondent. under date Of
Feb. 20, says: Monday morning broke
finding the Beers in the same place, they
having during the night constructed in
trenchments around the lager. which was
still threatened by General Smith-Dorien.
The infantry rested after the terribly hard
days fighting on Sunday. The mounted in
fantry and battery of horse artillery
started TO observe the enemy, which was
holding kopje, but while riding around
the southern side of the kopje they re-
ceived a heavy fusillade and were obliged
to move further out. They sustained no
casualty, another proof of the bad Boer
craftsmanship. Pushing on. the detach-
ment found that the kopje extended a con-
siderable distance west, sloping gradually
to the plain. They seized good defensive
position, which was garrisoned. They con-
tinued the movement and completely
turned the Beers. whose left was held
strongly by a farmhouse, which was Wig
orously shelled. The detachment returned
to camp at nightfall, leaving garrison
on the ridge. Meanwhile a desultory bonn
bardment of the Boer position was kept up
and a good deal OF rifle fire concentrated
where the Essexes were attempting TO rush
up the river. About midday the cry that
General French had arrived was passed
down the ranks, but his division operated
out OF sight of our force. When Lord Rob-
erts arrived he addressed several regiments
and was vigorously cheered.
Early in the day General Cronje asked
for twenty-f our-hour armistice In order
TO bury his dead. Lord Kitchener refused,
and little later came another messenger
with word TO the effect that If the British
were inhuman enough 10 refuse an armis-
tice for the purpose OF burying the dead
General Cronje saw no other resource but
TO surrender. Upon receipt of this mes
sage Lord Kitchener proceeded TO the Boer
but he was met by messenger who an
nounced that General Cronje said that the
whole thing was mistake; that General
Cronje hao not the slightest intention of
surrendering, but would fight until he died
General Kitchener returned and ordered a
bombardment of the Boer position. Three
field batteries and howitzer battery took