The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-02-27
.CRONJE Surrounded
he is Willing to Surrender But His
Men Will Not Permit Him.
The Beers Reported to Have Plenty
OF Provisions, but to BE Running
Short of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
News From the Front.

IL > SuIIGu0EI- I'll alL S1uGS lWOuQCL
is expressed that the gallant yet
CHASTITY battle at Paardeberg drift has
not vet ended in what is considered to
be the inevitable. With fifty guns
bearing upon the devoted band with
in the terribly short range of 1000
yards, surrender or utter annihila-
ton can be the only result, unless all
reports of the strength of the Boer
reinforcements are wrong. The crit
les canvass every untOward cOntin-
gency that can affect Field Marshal
Roberts and see nothing that can save
Gen. Cronje from the terrible wise
in which he has been caught.
Even if an unexpectedly strong. at
tack on Lord Roberts. lines of COM
munication could scarcely, according
to these experts materially alter
the result.
Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Feb.
2+.-Gen. Cronje's position is more
hopeless than ever. The British forces
are closing in on all sides. Our guns
dominate the sloping ascents from the
river on all sides, and by the rush of
the Shropshires on Wednesday night
up the river bed the Beers lost 200
yards space in their cover.
Deserters say the British fire has
been very deadly, and affirm that Gen.
Cronje himself is willing to surrender,
but is OverbOrne by the young Beers
from the Transvaal.
There are women and children with
the Boer forces. On Wednesday Lord
Roberts sent Gen. Cronje an offer Of a
safe conduct for the women and chill
dren, together with a free pass to any
point for them, and also an offer of
doctors and medicine. CrOnje's reply
was a curt refusal, and desultory
Smelling was resumed.
The kopje captured by the British
last Wednesday, when so prisoners
were taken, is a most important stra-
tegical position. It's possession should
enable us to repulse any BOer rein
fOrcements from the eastward.
The British took so prisoners as the
result of Fridays engagement.
A balloon assembled and discovered
several new works, which the British
guns shelled.
The scene of the last seven days
fighting is one of the prettiest spots
in South Africa. The river at the
point where Gen. Cronje is enscOnced
and fighting for life resembles some
parts of the Hudson river, the ground
all around sloping toward the stream.
All the highlands are covered by Brit
ish artillery. Cronje is faced in the
front and rear from both banks by
the British, while Gen. French's horse,
far away on the tanks, prevents a sud
! den thrush of Beers.
London, Feb. 26.-The war office
publishes the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated at Paardeberg,
February a, at 1920 p. m:
Parties of Beers recently arrived
from Natal attacked our Outposts in
force again yesterday. They lost a
good many killed and wounded and
nearly 100 prisoners, including 4 COM
mandant and three field comets. Our
casualties were four officers wounded,
nine men killed, % men wounded and
! two men missing. On the 21st and 22d
one officer and - men were wounded.
During the advance to and at Kim
berley the casualties were: Officers,
2 killed, 13 wounded; men, I killed, 70
wounded"
London, Feb. ga dispatch to the
! Morning Post from Kimberley, dated
Friday, says: Gen. CrOnje is report
ed to have plenty Of provisions, but
to be running short of ammunition.
Mr.. Rhodes is extremely hopeful that
the war has reached its concluding
stage"
London, Feb. 26.-The Lourenzo
Marques correspondent of the Times
says: THE feeling in official circles
at Pretoria borders on CONSERVATION
Gen. Louis Botha and President Steyn
are both urging President Kruger to
sue for peace. At Bloemfontein Gen.
Cronje's position is regarded as hope
less"
London, Feb. 26.-The Times pub
fishes the following dispatch from Co.
lenso, dated Saturday: "The British
are now within two miles of being in
touch with Ladysmith, but the ground
still to be covered is the hardest part
and very severe fighting must be ex,
pected."