The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-02-28
CRONJE REFUSING 70 SURRENDER.
FIGHTING FOR LADYSMITH.
sri!lsh Advanc' ng on The Beers Blyond The Tr.
CELIA 6aiacre's Scouts Are Repulssd
WiihvAeay Loss.

WilhvAeay Loss.
Dispatches from Natal. dated Satur-
lay say: The Bocrs, who had been re-
iniorccd. made stand on Thursday
at Groblcrs Kloof and on range OF
hills running cast. They had been lore
cd from all their positions on the right
Gen. l.yttlcton's division on Thursday
advanced under cover ol the koplcs.
The Beers fired a Creusot and a Long
Tom" The British artillery was wei
sheltered i'm the action at daybrcak and
until late i'm the afternoon, when heavy
rifle fire ON both sides developed. The
British infantry had advanced q mile
and a hall. aud a continuous FIRE was
KEEP, up until after dark The Beers
stuck to their positions. The British
artillery fire was irregular. \ few sal
woes were sent toward the thickly wood
ed spots and ravlncs from which the
Bocr fire was heaviest
The Beers sent shells into the head
quarters baggage, close to the hospital,
but 10 material damage was done.
Gen. Wynnc was slightly wounded.
Boer positions are not considered
strong. with the exception OF Groblcrs
Klooi The hills eastward are not so
high. and cannot be intrenchcd so well
as the mountains which the British
have taken.
The British crossed the Tugcla in
large numbers, with cannon and over 90
wagons. They attacked the Ermelo
and Middle Burghers commanders, but
were forced to retreat under heavy
Mauscr fire. \ renewed attempt to
storm the Ermelo men was made this
morning. but the British were again
driven off. The British losses were
very heavy. Eight ambulances were
employed in collecting the dead and
wounded.
A reconnaissance Saturday in force
under Gen, Gatacrc, with eight guns,
found the Boers occupying a ridge
three miles beyond MOlteno in the
Stormbcrg direction Montmorcncy's
scouts charged the Beers, who crept
around the scouts flank pouring i'll a
deadly FIRE. The scouts were finally COM
PEELED to retire. having lost heavily.
Fourteen are missing. Capt. Mont
morency was killed.
The reconnaissance was valuable and
would have been most satisfactory had
it not been for the unfortunate disaster
to the scouts, with whom Lieut.. Col.
Hos.ier happened to be. Their loss
was four killed and many wounded and
missing,
The British arc now within two miles
OF being in touch with Eadvsmith, but
the ground still covered is the hardest
part and some severe fighting must be
expected.
The campaign is now approaching a
most interesting phase. In about a
fortnight the congress OF the Afrikand-
erbund will meet, and il is rumored that
Mr.. Hoineycr will then propose peace
terms on the basis OF the republics re-
tanning absolute independence. but Of
fering to disarm, II these terms are
rejected it is understood that a mani
iesto will boldly be issucd to the Dutch
throughout South Africa, calling upon
them to throw off their allegiance to
Great Britain.
Details have arrived with respect to
the capture of the British convoy at
Riet river. 1t appears the wagons were
laagcred near the drift and that the CON
voy was attacked by 1900 Bocrs with
four guns. The shelling continued all
day. Ore hundred and eighty wagons
were captured containing provisions
and forage. Half the drivers and lead
ers were killed or are missing.
Col. Plumer sent Mai Bird with 200
Colonials to attempt the capture OF the
Boer I2-poundcr on a kopjc near Croc-
odile pools, Mai. Bird met with such a
terrific rifle and shell fire that he con-
sidered the position too strong, and or
dered retirement.
A dispatch from Maieking says: "All
business here is being conducted un-
d-rground. The resident commissioner
has sumptuous apartments in a subter-
ranean bomb proof. The Cape police
have a large hall, with a piano. The
Mafeking hotel dining room seats 40.
All these have been dug out and are
impervious to shells.
When the cruiser Charleston was
wrecked two months ago on a reef
north OF Luzon, she carried twenty
thousand Mexican dollars and $500 in
gold in the safe, which had to be aban-
dOuad