Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-02-28
CRONJE IN DEATH TRAP
AnnihiIaticn Of His Amy Seems
To Be Ger ain.
WILL NOT sURaESnER TO BRITISH.

wonder Expressed ON All sides That the
Gallant and BIoody Battle at Paardc-
berg Drift Has Not Yet knJed in What
Il Considered To BE the Inevitable
British Loss i'm the Fight sunday Was
lag Men Killed.
London, Feb. ga dispatch from
General Roberts, dated Paardeberg.
In the situation. There was intermit-
tent Smelling today and during the
night large supply column arrived.
1t is reported that 1000 Beers are op-
Grating northwards of this pace. Yes
terday evening, after the last gun had
been fired, the Shropshires rushed for
ward 2OO yards further towards the
bed of the river and found a number
Of Boer dead. General French capt
ured seventy-flve more prisoners VINO
lad previously escaped the Gordon and
Q patrol on the westward SHE took
thirty more"
London. Feb. 24.-The official report
gives 146 men killed at Paardeberg
drift Sunday. including sixty-three
Highlanders and eighteen Canadian.
London, Feb. 24.-Cronje's army of
5000 men Is believed to be fighting Its
last battle, for, hemmed in as it is by
its humiliation seems certain. A re.
quest for an armis,ice of twenty-four
hours, in which to bury his dead was
made by the Boer commander after
three days of fighting. but General
Kitchener refused, insisting on uncon-
ditional surrender or resumption OF
the battle. Cronje chose the latter
alternative, informing the chief of the
imperial army that his uen would fight
to the death.
In a veritatle Hell.
Cron;e's position seems to be one
which ia beyond human endurance to
hold, yet he holds Ii. He is in verita-
BILE hell, yet gives no sign of surrender
ing. Amid bursting shells, whirring
shrapnel and death-showers from the
British Nordenfeldts and Maxims, the
Beers maintain a slow, careful fire.
occasionally killing horse or nipping
q gunner. rrr
On the south bank Of the Modder
are three field batteries and two naval
guns, all within 1000 yards. On the
north bank, some within 1000 yards
are three field batteries, one hcwitzer
battery and three naval guns; between
are stationed Maxims and other ma
chine guns, while the British troops
from available shelters are pouring
rife fire at every object.
Air Filled with Green Smoke.
The bursting lyddites fill the air with
green smoke which is broken here and
there by the flare Of burning Boer
wagons. The noise Is deafeniEg, YET
at every hull Is heard the snap, snap
Of the rifles Of the indomitable enemy.
The Boer position Is one mile square
and presents the appearance OF a vast
volcanic crater.
Every hour is expected to bring
news Of General Cronje's surrender
On all sides wonder Is expressed that
the gallant yet CHASTITY battle at Paar.
deberg has not yet ended in what Is
considered to be the inevitable. With
ffty guns bearing upon the devoted
band within the terribly short range
Of 1000 yards, surrender or utter an
utilization can'be the only result.
London, Feb. 22.-The following
dispatch has been received at the war
Office from Lord Roberts:
"Paardeberg, Feb. 21.-Between Feb
16 and Is Major General Knox was
wounded, Major General Hector Mac
Donald severely wounded, and Lieu
tenant Colonel Aldworth was killed"