, 1900-02-26
CRONJE CORNERED
BRITISH LINES DRAWN CLOSER
AROUND THE BOERS IN
RIVER BOTTOM.
General Butler Continuing His Ad-
vance Toward Ladysmith-Usual
Crop of Sunday Rumors-Cronje
Said to be Short of Ammunition
Beers Moving on Kimberley.

London, Feb. 2G.-The silence which
has been maintained in official quar-.
ters for several days concerning the
operations of Lord Roberts forces
around P%aardeberg was broken yester,
day by the publication of a dispatch
from the commander-in-chief, report
ing the repulse of the Boer commando,
which came from Natal, causing the
enemy heavy loss.
General Cronje up to Saturday was
still continuing his logged resistance,
and had not surrendered his position,
which is now dominated on all sides by
the British artillery. The space at his
command was considerably reduced by
the forward rush of the Shropshires
Wednesday. Seemingly his position is
being almost continuously bombarded,
and his losses are reported to be heavy.
He may succeed in holding out for
many days longer, but unless heavy
reinforcements come to his aid, which
does not seem probable, his fate seems
to be sealed.
General Butler is slowly continuing
his advance toward L%adysmith. He is
stated by some kilograms to lie near
Peters, six miles north Of Colenso, but
another dispatch has been received
dated at Neithorpe, which is eight miles
north Of Colenso, and only four miles
from Caesars camp. the most south
ern position held by the defenders of
Ladysmith.. Fighting seems to have
proceeded since last Wednesday.
1t is clear that the Beers are still in
force in Natal, and that only detach-
ments have left to assist Cronje. The
encounters have been severe and heavy
casualties have been sustained by the
British troops.
Despite the overwhelming interest
in vents on the Modder and Tugela,
the killing in the battle neal Sterkstrom
OF Captain De Montmorency and Lieu
tenant Colonel Hoskier calls attention
to the fact that operations are still pro-
ceeding in Cape Colony. Lieutenant
Colonel Hoskier is the first volunteer
officer of his rank who has been killed
during the war. He commanded the
Third Middlesex volunteers. Captain
De Montmorency was the son and heir
of Lord Frankfort de Montmorency,
the Crimean, Indian mutiny and Egyp-
tian veteran. The young man won the
Victoria cross by his bravery in the
famous charge Of the Twerty-first Lam
ciers at Omdurman. He is the fourth
heir to a peerage who has fallen since
the outbreak OF hostilities.
Rumors OF the same character, which
no Sunday has failed to produce since
the outbreak of the war, were circu-
lated last evening. One was the re-
vived report that General Cronje had
surrendered. Another said hat Lady
smith was relieved. Considerable num-
bers Of people congregated at the wal
office in the hope of receiving confir-
nation Of these reports, but none was
forthcoming, and down to a late hour
this morning, there was no further in
formation.
No word with regard to the condition
of the wounded generals has been re-
ceived. There are now four in number
Macdonald, Knox, Woodgate and
| Wynne.
Today is the anniversary Of the bat
tie Of Majuba hill, which began on the
night of Feb. rs, 1881, and ended in the
surrender of Colley's force the follow
ing day.