The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-27

ed to recognize the significance Of Lord
Roberts strategic movement,
Count Sternberg arrived at Magerstpnteln
soon after the Boer victory of December IL
He found the camp in jubilant spirits. The
burghers began early in February to OBJ
serve the arrival Of large masses OF troops
in the English camp and on the 10th they
received news Of the British advance on
Koffyfontein Count Stsrnberg rode 10
Jacobsdal 10 reconnoiter and came In sight
OF British patrols That evening 600 bureh-
ers were sent 10 check the advance Of the
British cavalry.
Gen. Cronje's opinion was that the En-.
glish were advancing with the object OF
cutting off the retreat of the Boer de ach-
nent at Colesberg On the morning OF the
nth Count Sternberg found the Engiisa
endeavoring TO cross the Ramdam ford,
opnosed IN the Roers Two wounded In
niskillinR dragons told him that Lord
Kitchener was proceeding TO the relief OF
Kimberley with 1f,000 men.
While bathing I'm the Riel, the count say
several English regiments march past
Escaping notice he galloped back 70 Cron-
te's camp and told what he had seen. He
that large bodies Of troops neither would
nor could undertake such a movement.
The only action taken by Gen. Crop1e
was to send two hundred men across the
river 10 cut off the English transport wag-
ons. which they succeeded in doing,
on the following day. hve miles from the
camp. Count Sternberg saw. al short dis
lance huge clouds OF dust which indicated
the presence OF troops on the march. 1t
this time Gen. Cron1e was waiting in the
trenches nj Maeersfontein In expectation
OF an attack. Count sternbergs news was
laughed at by the Beers In camp.
1t was not until the next day that Gen.
Cronte began TO recognize the seriousness
Of the situation. The cannon were hastily
Withdrawn from Nagersfontein, two guns
being dispatched TO attack Gen. Frenchs
cavalry. In the engagement at kalkfon-
tein, the disorder was such that Mai. Al
brechts artillery fred on distant detach-
,ments without knowing for certain wnetn-
or they were burghers or English. Even
then the Beers were stu Of the opinion
that the attack was directed against their
camp and consequently set about raising
defenses In the rear.
Iandrost Steyn who arrived from Jacobs
dal was convinced that the game was lost
on the Modder river. while Gen. Cron1e
still awaited the main attack In the In
trenchments nj Magersfontein, and did not
wish to weaken his position there The
Immediate vicinity Of the British, with a
large force Of artillery, had created great
confusion In the camp, which. at o'clock
In the morning removed to a safer position
about three miles TO the southwest. The
breaking up OF the camp greatly affected
the spirits Of the entire Boer force. When
the British renewed the attack early next
morning II was evident TO Count Starnberg
that the burglars hal no stomach for the
fight. lie says;
''As I rode out I met numbers Of flying
Beers whom I vanly endeevored TO re-
strain. The panic was general and each
sought safety In the irtrenchmen,s at
MagprsfOntefn. Toward noon, Nnen a
large number OF Beers had already made
OF n very bad spirit began to prevail In
Camp.
'The field comets urged cronie to sum
mon council OF war. and those present
decided to evacuate the camp and retrca t
70 Bloemfontein. via Oliphantsfontein. II
came to high words at this council at
which Vllehlcrs and 7 were also present.
| The majority Of the Free State hurghers
| who were anxious for tNelr cattle and
property, positively insisted upon the re-
| treat"