The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-27
~ SOUTH AFRICA.

Lord Roberts seems to have settled down TO
a close blockade OF Gen. Cronje In his refuge
IN the banks OF the Modder River. and Ia push
Ing hlsar proachcs to II In regular siege fashion
by 2igzags and parallels. He has apparently
discovered that the wholesale bonn bardment OF
the FIRST days Of the investment was a waste OF
ammunition, as the Beers have constructed or
dug out shelters whore they could not be
reached, and has made up his mind either to
stdryo them into surrender or. falling that.
To get 50 near their lntrenchments that they
may be- carried by sudden assault with the
minimum OF loss. How long 1t may take
before the end comes depends OF course on
what quantity OF provisions Gen. Cronle
may havo, and what progress Is made by
the British engineers with their approaches.
But whatever the result. aud only one seems
possible now. the siege OF an enemy's force.
arrested In its retreat in the open country and
brought to bay in the bed Of u river and sur
rounding itseli with intrenchments. is not only
ono Of the most remarkable incidents OF this
South African war, but Is unlike anything Of
tho kind yet described in warfare.
The attempts that have been made to relieve
Gen. Cronle up TO Saturday have been failures.
principally. it would seem. because made with
too small forces. The fact that the British
cavalry division rcconnoitred twelve miles TO
the eastward of their position on Saturday. find
INK only small bodies Of escaping Beers. which
they either scattered or. as the report says. de-
stroyed, indicates that whatever Boer concern
tration may DO going on. to oppose Lord
Nobcrts's advance. has not yet COM In touch
with the British force. The Beers within tho
Cron!c lager meantime offer such resistance
Is Is possible from the shelter Of tho river
banks and their Entertainments, and are caus-
ing numerous casualties among the British
trench parties.
The progress ~ the Ladysmith relief column
Is slow, every yard OF tho way being vigorously
contested, and relatively severe losses being
inflicted on the British. There are, however.
signs that the Beers are only fighting 10 gain
time, as they arc said to have begun re.
moving their heavy guns from south Of Lady.
smith. Tho advance Of the small Zululand col.
umn from Eshowe northward Is a warning not
TO be neglected. as It is no doubt the fore
runner Of a larger force that will be sent from
Gen. Buffers army to join 1t in operations
through Utrecht and Wakkerstroom. against
the left flank Of tho Transvaal forces falling
back to Lang's Mex. In the fighting that Is go-
ing on in Natal, the British loss in officers ap.
pears TO be particularly heavy.
nc tltd'h on "a DOer position AZ Otorm berg
on Friday seems to have been as unsucce ssful
rs those that have preceded it. and resulted in
the death o. the commander OF Montmorenoy's
Horse and the loss OF a number Of his men.
Tho reconnaissance. which was under the
command Of Gen. Gatacre, retired after a
Six hours artillery duel with the Boer
guns on Il position spoken OF as
Rooikop Hill The retention Of their positions
by the Beers at Stormberg and Colesberg while
the movements from the west above the Or
ange River are threatening their rear argues
either great confidence in the resistance that Is
being made TO Lord Roberts. or that they are
only strong rear guards holding on to the last to
act as a blind TO the British. A significant item
appears among the reports sent from Gen.
Gatacrc's force. which is that half Of the men
composing Brabant's Horse that has been act
Ing in the neighborhood Of Dordrecht have dis
banded, refusing to serve beyond the three
months for which they engaged.
4 considerable Boer force with guns Is said
10 have assembled at Fourteen Streams. north
OF the Naal River about fifty miles above Kim
berley, and to have destroyed the bridge
across the river. They would probably be
joined by the commandos that got away from
the northwest and north Of Kimberley after its
relief by Gen. French. and fell back by way OF
Barkly West. now occupied by tho British. and
up the railway by Iiiverton.