Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-01


has surrendered 5000 men and that
Gen. Kitchener has been slightly
wounded in the left arm.
Crowds throng the streets singing
and cheering because of supposed VIC
tories.
Seventeen hundred Beers have been
killed or wounded, the latter, it is re-
ported, including Gen. Cronje.
London, Feb. 26.-Al' British ac-
counts agree in stating that Com
mandante Cronje's army is suffering
martyrdom under the most fright ful
bombardment that the ingenuity o!
man ever inflicted. The surrender OF
the Boer army at the moment 1t was
demanded by Gen. Kitchener, when the
British hosts had completed their fatal
chain around II, would probably have
meant a death blow to the Boer cause.
The road to Bloemfontein would havl
been left open, and the whole of the
Orange Free State would have been at
the mercy Of the invaders.
Two or three days delay might en-
able part Of Gen. Joubert's army and
other federal forces to assemble for
effective resistance 10 the British ad-
vance by establishing a second line Of
defense, which had long been planned.
Commandante Cronje and his brave
men simply decided to throw them
selves beneath the wheels OF the Brit
ish juggernaut in order to purchase
this brief delay at the expense OF their
lives.
Not this or any other age can show
a sublimer deed and 1t has awakened
even the admiration OF the Beers enc
mics. The whole world will pay tri-
butte to this exhibition of valor, which
is one of the grandest that the century
has witnessed.
The situation as hitherto described
in the dispatches was that up TO
Wednesday morning, since when there
has been no news from any source,
and what has happened during the
past three days cannot even be guessed
at. There is, however, strong proba-
bility that strong Boer re-enforcements
have arrived in the neighborhood of
Cammandant Cronje's lager and that
the operations extend far beyond koo-
does rand.
From two sources there Is mention
OF Petrusberg as a battle center.
Petrusberg Is nearly twenty miles
southeast Of Koodoes Rand drift and
Commandant De Vets report suggests
that he collected there re-enforcements
from the north and south, and the
small commando which Gen. Roberts
dispersed Tuesday. Gen. Roberts Is
not improbably fully occupied with
these, while Gen. Kitchener Is trying
to crush Commandant Cronje. The
silence of the British commander GER
taply favors this Idea.
1t will be seen that the Boer bulle-
tin does not represent the situation as
being Identical with that described in
the British dispatches, and while II
does not explain the position OF the
burghers at all II clearly suggests that
they are not confined to such mar
rev area as the English correspond.
ents state. Some part OF the Boer force
seems to have pierced the British lines
and the whole narrative raises the
hope among the Beers supporters thai
Commandant Cronje will ultimately
be able to extricate himself from his
present dilemma.
The latest news from the Natal side
Is contained in dispatch from Pieter
harrisburg, dated Feb. %, $50 p. m.
stating that fighting was in progress
that morning in the neighborhood o
Pieters Gen. Buffers advance was be
ing opposed by the Beers with big gun
and rifles.
This force Is believed to be the rea
guard OF the enemy, 1t being positivel.
asserted that the main Boer army Il
in full retreat and that II has eithe
abandoned the investment Of Lady
smith or taken a position to the nortl
OF the town.
A news agency dispatch from Paar
deburg, dated Feb. 20, says:
Every opportunity had been givei
the enemy to surrender. and when to
ward afternoon they gave no sign o
doing 30, Lord Roberts determined Il
crush Gen. Cronje's resistance one
and for all. On the south bank OF tn
river he placed, in position at
range OF 1000 yards, the Eighteenth
E.xty-second and Seventy-fifth feel,
batteries and two naval twelve-pound
ers. On the north bank and enfiladin
the whole river, were placed the Sixty
nth howitxer battery. the Seventy
sixth, Eighty-frst and Eighty-secon
fsld batteries and three naval A.
inch guns.
Then followed the most wonderful
scene Il was ever my lot to witnes.
never saw such a number OF power
f,l guns concentrating their fire on
spot about mile square. Lyddit
raised great clouds OF green smoke
which filled the bed OF the river, Will
shrapnel burst on the edge OF eac
bank. The enfilading guns must hav
conc terrible execution. yet, in O spir
OF desperate madness. now and agai
q Boer would attempt sniping shot ,
one Of the naval gunners.
"It 10 impossible not TO admire &c,
Cronte's pluck. but all condemn Il
useisssness of sacrificing the lives
his brave followers"
CZAR'S SHIP IN PERSIAN GULF