The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-27
GR0NJE DeflES THE BRITISH FORCES
SURROUNDING HIM.
SURRENDER OR humiliation
Are the Alternatives Len Ills Army.
The British Pouring On Them she'll
and Rife Ball from All side>-No Re-
ports from Roberts Tor Three Days.
British Forces Attempting to cross
the Tugela River Driven Back-BuI-
ler's slow Progress To Ladysmith.

beaten. No other construction is plac-
ed upon the three days silence of Lord
Roberts Yet no one sees how IL Is hu-
manly possible. judging from the de-
scriptions Of his situation Wednesday
morning. for him to resist SO long.
Great Britain does not withhold admit
ration for the valor OF a losing fight
against such odds.
The Daily News says: I'm a posi-
ton covering only a square mile. hem
med in on all sides. circled with a chain
OF fire from every rife, Maxim and
howitzer, played on by deadly Lyddite.
bursting in its own sickly green light;
his hastily built trenches enfladed by
a stream Of lead sweeping down the
river from the north bank, General
Cronje still elects to light. II is mag
nificent courage"
General Cronje's wife is described by
the prisoners as urging him to surren-
der in order TO save the lives OF his
men, but he will not.
The British cavalry patrols sent by
Lord Methuen north OF Kimberley dis
covered the Beers concentrating, wheth-
er for offence or defence is simply con
lecture.
The Beers seem to be retiring from
General Gatacre's front at Sterkstroom
in order to reinforce the Free Staters.
Ladysmith had not been relieved
when the latest news left Natal two
days ago. The Beers had then retired
half way between Ladysmith and Co
lenso. If only 5000 went to the Free
State, as both the Boer and the British
accounts assert, the 2 1000 who are left
no
to resist General Butler within con-
tracted lines, although the impression
at General Buffers headquarters is
that the Beers are merely covering a
retreat.
The editorials in the morning papers
complain. more or less vigorously. of
the insufficiency of the governments
naval proposals, especially in view of
the immense naval efforts of Germany
n other powers.
A dispatch to The Daily Telegraph
from PietermaritZburg, dated Thurs
day, says: Fighting is proceeding in
the vicinity of Pieters this morning.
General Buffers advance is being op-
posed by both big gun and rifle fire"
BOER REPORT OF THE FIGHTING.
Pretoria, Wednesday, February 21.-
The following official war bulletin has
been issued here:
"A report was received this morning
Of cannon-firing west of C~olesberg."
"Dewet t~elegraphed yesterday from
Petersburg that all was quiet, except
several cannon shots and small Skin
mishes. Yesterday evening the British
Stormed the federal positions as far as
Schauser, but were driven back.
"A message from Cronje is to the eff
feet that his loss yesterday was four
teen dead and wounded. Dewet's loss
was nothing.
"Commandant Fronoman reports that
from February 18th to February goth
he was almost surrounded by the Brit
ish at the Modder river when with a
small number of men he broke through
the river.
ION Sunday there was a heavy fight.
The British prepared to lay siege to
the Boer lager, with fighting general.
We were surrounded by $500 British,
, five miles from the chief lager. At
night we cut our way through with the
loss of seven LEI n sixteen wound
ed. The loss of the British was heavy.
Yesterday we cut our way through to
reach Dewet, who was jim the neigh
borhood. Fifty-three prisoners, former
ly taken, have been forwarded.
1T is reported that the British were
continually attacking Koodoosrand
yesterday with infantry and lancers,
but that they were driven back"
BRITISH REPULSED ON THE TU-
CELIA.
Hoofd Lager, Ladysmith, Wednes-
day, February 21.-There was heavy
fighting all Monday and Tuesday and
it still continues inc early this morn
ing. Our officers hope to dislodge the
British from their position. Last night
a body of British troops tried to cross
the river, but were beaten back with
heavy loss. Our loss was light. Our
positions are being bombarded from
Ladysmith at a point where the XIII
river passes through the hills. Oul
Long Tom is replying with good effect
Chievelry, Thursday, February o.
The main body of the Beers a fed
evidently with the object of stemmine
the advance of Lord Roberts.
London, February 23-The official re
port gives 146 men killed at Paarde-
berg drift Sunday, February 18th, in.
Guiding 63 Highlanders and Is Cana.
dams.
BRITISH DRIVEN BACK ACROSS
THE TUGELA.
Colenso, Natal, February q, vi;
Chievelry, February 22.-The British
have crossed the Tugela river over
pontoon ~northward OF Hlangwana ans
now occupy Fort Wylie.
While the laval brigade was bonn
harding Groblerskloof, the Beers BIZ
Creusot replying, yesterday, after tn
occupation of Colenso, a small party o
Thorneycroft's Horse crossed the river
but were driven back by fire from tn
trenches.
The Beers guns are still Smelling tn
| relieving force from the hills south O
) Ladysmith, but the impression |
l spreading that they are merely GOV
erins the retreat Of the entire Boo
force.
cRoNJE's SURRENDER HoURL'
EXPECTED.
London, February 23.-Every hour J
] expected to bring news Of Genera
: Cronje's surrender. On all sides won
der is expressed that the gallant we
ghastly battle at Paardeberg DRIFT ha
not yet ended in what Is considered {
be the inevitable. With nifty gun
bearing upon the devoted hand With
the terribly short range OF 1000 yard,
surrender or utter humiliation can b
the only result unless all reports 9
the strength of the Boer reinforce
ments are wrong. The critics canvas
/ every u~ntoward contingency that ca
affect Field Marshal Roberts and C
nothing that can save General Cron1