Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-27
CRAFTY CRONJE
Has Engaged Lord Roberts
Attention for 10 Days
While the Beers Mass Forces for Some
Desperate Move.
The South African S tuaiion Is Now laraeIy
One OF Speculation.

London. Feb. 27.-42O A. M.-The
Bocrs are assembling an army near
PlocmfOntcin. with which to dispute
the invasion Of Lord Roberts. This in
tclligCnce comes from Pretoria by way
Of Lorenzo Marques. The commanders
are described as Fastening from all
quarters of the two republics" No es-
innate is made Of their numbers, but
the withdrawal Of the Beers from
most of the places where they have
been in contact with the British ex-
cept the district near Ladysmith, may
raise the resisting force to 10000 men.
This figure assumes that the Beers
have between 10000 and 10000 men in
the field.
The gathering of this army across
the path of Lord Roberts gives signifi-
cancc to Gen. Cronje's steadfast de
fence. He has engaged the corps of
Lord Roberts for 10 days now and
whether he is relieved or not he has
given time for the dispersed Boer fac
tons to get together and to prepare
positions I'd receive the British advance
when Cf0nje is overcome and Lord
Roberts moves forward 1t is difficult
to conceive that the Beers are strong
enough To take the offensive and to
rescue Gen. CrOnje from his precarious
situation.
The war office had nothing after
midnight TO Indicate his collapse, andhe
may hold out for a few days. The cor
respondents seem to have no exact in
formation respecting his resources
Some say that he has plenty of food,
but is short Of ammunition. Others
assert that he abandoned his food sup
plies. but kept abundant supplies of
ammunition.
Gen. Butler, Saturday, faced the last
and strongest position of the Beers.
who bar his way To Ladysmith. The
strenuous fighting indicates a battle
between armies rather than rear guard
7ctions protecting a retreat. on
Thursday ana Friday. he lost AZ Off
Cc's killed and wounded. representing
probably a total Of from 400 to 500.
Gen. Whites guns worked Saturday
upon the Boer positions. and a hello
gram from Ladysmith reported that
the Beers We're retrcating, and that
larger ratioDs were being issued in
view of the fact that relief seemed at
hand.
Nothing has been heard from Mafe-
king since Feb. l..
The movement on the veldt away
from the railway is becoming increas-
ingly difficult for large bodies of troops
as the grass is burned up. Gen. French
has to wagon forage for his horses:
and even the infantry finds the long
marches harder than before, as forage
for the transport animals must becar-
ripd This tho Of
garrisoned depots. The ordinary cam
paigning season is over. and the sickly
season for both men and animals has
set in.
Technical military writer's take these
things into consideration in forecast
inc events.
The Daily Chronicle says it learns
from, private letters that British
rifles and ammunition have been land
ed on the southern coast Of Cape Colon,
presumably for the Dutch colonists
Lord Roberts has recently received
Y additional pieces of artillery.
Whether all have been sent to Paarde-
berg is not known.
Probably the Sth Division will leave
England. next Monday.
\ dispatch from PaardcberE. dated
Friday. 10 the Times says that several
thousand Beers are now lowering in
the neighbOrhood.
The Times has the following from
dated Friday. Feb.
-: The Dublin Fusiliers have again
themselves by volunteer
ing to take Groblers klOCf. which they
did. This gallant battalion which be-
gan the campaign $50 strong. can, to-
day. ~ said to muster Oh parade only
be tween 100 ana 300 Of its original
members"
Winston Churchill in dispatch to
the Morning Post from Frere Camp,
dated Sunday. says: THE idea that
the Beers are raising the siege of
Ladysmith is premature. The advance
is being pursued in the face Of the
most stubborn opposition and of heavy
loss. President Kruger's grandson is
among the Beers killed"
Mr.. Churchill then proceeds to de-
scribe heavy fighting, last Friday, in
which the InniskillinGs approached
within 500 yards Of the summit Of q
rocky Boer position and then calamity
charged in the face of a hail Of bullets.
He says: after repeated attempts.
however, and having lost heavily. they
recognized that they We're unable to
prevail. Nevertheless, they refuse to
retreat, but lay down on the slope be-
hind shelter Of walls. The Con-
lluEhts and the Dublin Fusiliers were
sent to their support but the light
faded and the night closed in before
he main attack had developed"
Spencer Wilkinson's article in the
j arninS Post, today, is almost wholly
devoted 70 criticism Of Gen. Buffers
apparently mistaken tactics in sending
mall forces to take positions and then
these by details. Mr. Will
tinson admits, however, that Mr..
'hurchill's advices are too incomplete
I" enable a correct idea to be formed.
His dispatch breaks off in the middle,
eaving tho battle unfinished.