The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-23
70 TIE DEATH
CrOnje and Roberts in a Finish
Fight.
BOer Army Occupies the Bed Of
the River
And Is Completely Surrounded
by the British.
TERRIFIC SHE'LL FIRE.
Kept Up by the English From
Morning Till Night.
Fearful Loss of Life on Both
Sides.
Beers Will Die But Refuse to
Surrender.
And Is Completely Surrounded
by the British.
TERRIFIC SHE'LL FIRE
Kept Up by the English From
Morning Till Night.
Fearful Loss of Life on Both
Sides.
Beers Will Die But Refuse to
Surrender.

Lorenzo Marques, Delagoa Bay, Feb.
23.-The Transvaal government is re-
ported to be seriously alarmed at the
defeat Of the Beers at Kimberley, and
the retreat of their famous general
Cronje. The newspapers are more reti-
cent, but the Standard and Diggers'
News claims that Cronje's movement is
beneficial, as 'it increases the mobility
of the burghers' army. enabling it to
conduct more effective operations on
a carefully prepared plan"
There are persistent rumors that the
seat Of the Free State government is
being moved to Wynburg. It is said
that 5000 burghers have been sent from
Ladysmith to BIoemfOntein.
CRONJE IN A WISE.
London. Feb. 23.-2:1O p. m.-Every
hour is expected to bring news of Cen
Cronje's surrender. On all sides Won
der is expressed that the gallant yet
ghastly battle at Paardeberg drift has
not yet ended in what was considered
to be the inevitable. With fifty guns
bearing upon the devoted band within
The terribly short range of 1000 yards
surrender or utter annihilation can be
the only result unless all reports of the
strength of the BOer relnfOrcementS are
wrong The critics canvass every un-
toward contingency that can affect
Field Marshal Roberts and see nothing
that eau save Gen Cronje from the ter
Tible wise in which he has been caught.
Even ar unexpectedly strong attack on
Lord Roberts lines of communication
could scarcely, according to these ex-
perts, materially alter the result.
Rumors We're current this morning that
Il END Of the struggle had actually
come, but these emanated from -infOr-
nation received by the Rothschilds,
which they subsequently discovered to
be utterly without foundation.
The severe losses incurred by Gen.
Ke}ly-kenny Sunday have produced
some adverse criticism but it is pointed
out that had he fought less furiOusly
he would have given the Beers the op-
g.orturi1y to entrench themselves and
perhaps effect further flight to more
advantageous position.
Gen. Euller's progress towards L ldy
sCith IS so slow that it scarcely ap-
Peal5 to public interest. Gen mite
appears to be still full of fight ard to
he endeavOring to assist Gen. Butler by
a ViEOrOus bombardment.
AdVIces received at Cape Town yes
terday said it was reported the b ltish
were gradually driving the Beers out OF
northern Cape Colony and that many
OF tie burghers had recrOssed the
Orange river.
CRONJES DESPERATE RESIST
ANCE.
London, Feb. PA correspondent
with Gen. Roberts army cables as fol-
lows.
Paardeberg Drift. Orange Free State.
Tuesday Feb 2O.-MOnday morning
broke finding the Beers in the same
place they having during the night
constructed entertainments around the
laager which was still threatened by
Gen. Snith-DOrcy. The infantry rested
after the terribly hard days fighting on
Sunday.
The mounted infantry and battery
of horse artillery started to observe the
enemy who was holding kOpje but
while riding around the southern side
of the kOpje they received a heavy fusil-
lade and were obliged to move further
out. They sustained no casualty, ,anoth-
er proof of the bad BOer craftsmanship.
Pushing on the detachment found the
kopje extended a cOnsiderab BILE distance
west, slOping gradually to the plain.
They seized a good defensive position
which was garrisOned- They continued
the movement and completely turned
the Beers whose left was held strongly
by a farm house. which was vigorously
shelled. The detachment returned to
camp at nightfau leaving a garrison on
the ridge.
Meanwhile a desultory bombardment
of the BOer position was kept up and
good deal of rife fire concentrated
where the EsseXes were attempting to
rush up the river. About midday the cry
that Gen. French had arrived was pass
ed down the ranks but his division op-
Grated out of sight of our force. Whe1
Lord Roberts arrived he addressed sew
eraI regiments and was vigorously
Early in the day Gen. Cronje asked
for "a hours armistice in order to bury
his dead. Lord Kitchener refused and
a little later came another messenger
with word to the effect that if the Brit
1sh were inhuman enough to refuse ar
armistice for the purpose of burying
the dead Gen. Cronje saw no other re-
source but to surrender Upon receipt
of this message Lord Kitchener pro-
ceeded to the Boer laager in order to
arrange the capitulation, but he was
met by a messenger who announced
that Gen. Cronje said that the whole
thing was a mistake, that Gen Cronje
had not the slightest intention of sur
rendering but would fight until he died.
Gen. Kitchener returned and ordered
a bOmbardment of the Boer position.
Three field batteries and a howitzer
battery took position directly in front
Of the laager and began a terribly ac-
curate fire, the Howitzers using lyddfte
shells freely. The Beers were seen re-
firing from the trenches to the river
bed in order to seek cover, but no cover
could protect them from such accurate
and deadly fire. The Howitzers espec-
tally dropped lyddite shells with mar
veious precision into the very bed of
the river and the trenches were soon
filed with terrible fumes and green
smoke, but again the enemy held grim
~ on
Again during the night deserters ar