Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-23

Cronje Immediately sent back word
that his request for truce had been
misunderstood, and that his determine
tion then, as before, was to fight to the
death. The battle went on. This was
the situation of Cronje Tuesday even
ing, as sketched in the scanty tele-
grams that emerged from the -semi-si-
lence of South Africa.
BIG BATTLE EXPECTED.
London, February 23-Oflcially Lord
Roberts wires that he has scattered the
advance commands Of re-enforcements
that were striving to reach Cronje. 1t
seems plain that Cronje Is in bad and
even desperate situation, and the Brit
ish are pressing their advantage. While
the attack on Cronje proceeds there Is
race for concentration between the
Beers and the British. The engagement
with Cronje's 5000 to 5000 intrenched
men is likely to become an Incident in
battle between the masses. Separate
factions Of the Boer power are rapidly
drawing together to attack Roberts.
Will Cronje be able to hold out until the
Boer masses appear, or if he does, will
they then be able to succor him? The
British are facing the Beers on ground
where the arms, tactics and training of
the British is expected to give them the
advantage.
SUNDAYS TERRIBLE BATTLE.
Paardeberg, February 20.-The battle
Of Sunday was one of the most fearful
ly contested in the history Of the war,
for the Beers were grimly fighting for
their lives, while the British determin-
edly harassed them. Saturday night the
British mounted infantry came in
touch with Cronje's rear guard, driving
them back upon the main body. On
| Sunday morning the action was re-
newed, but the Beers, who had in
trenched the river bed during the night,
prevented further advance Of the
mounted infantry in this direction. The
whole British line was ordered to envel-
| op the Beers, who lined both banks Of
the river. Firing soon became heavy
The Beers, holding a splendid position,
covered the left of the Highland bri-
gade, which advanced partly up to the
riber bed and partly in the open, while
the rest of the brigade, with other reg
lments, swung around in front Of the
Highland brigade on the level, cover
less ground, exposed to a terrible fire,
which compelled the men to lie upon
the ground, which they did for the re-
mainder Of the day. This began at 1880
in the morning. Through the dreadful
heat and terrible thunder storm our
men hung to the position, answering
the Beers and shooting steadily.
The rest Of the infantry completed
the enveloping movement, the Welsh
regiment having succeeded in seizing a
drift, thus closing in the Beers, who
had fought throughout with splendid
courage. Cronje's laager, full Of carts,
ammunition and stores, could be plain
ly seen near the north bank.
General Smith -Dorrien collected a
large body of men, including the Cana
dians, and crossed the river by the
Paardeberg drift, advancing toward the
laager, which was being vigorously
shelled. This force made q gallant at
tempt to charge into the laager. but
failed. Toward evening the battery on
the south side opened, cooperating with
the battery on the north side. A won
derful sight followed. Shells fell with
amazing precision along the river bed,
opposite the laager, which was shelled
thoroughly, calling everything it con-
tained. One shell set on fire a small
ammunition wagon, which burned near
ly all day. Many other wagons were set
on fire, and the glare was visible at a
considerable distance far into the night
The infantry also maintained a terrible
fire, which was answered vigorously
The scene toward nightfall was terri.
bly, picturesque with the blazing wag.
ons, roaring of artillery and cracking
of rifle fire.
As night fell, after the terrific tight.
ing which lasted all day Sunday, there
was q sudden cessation Of the fire., ai
both sides were thoroughly glad to rest
The work Of collecting the dead and
wounded procesded, and the men slsp,
where they had fousht the whols day,