The Portland daily press., 1900-02-24
THE FIGHT TO THE DEATH
crenye's Grim Resistsnee To HIS Al
most Certain Fate.

ter the terrific nGhtfng Wnicn iasseu al
day Sunday, there was o sudden cessation
Of fire on both tides as both were
thoroughly tired and glad to rest. The
work Of collecting the deaf and wounded
proceeded and the men SLEPT where they
had fought the whole day. This action
was one Of ths most fssrfully contested
In the history Of the war.
The mounted infantry lid good work
and the Highland brigade fought steadily
and stsrnIy. The whole force behaved
we'll. Sunday evening the Gordon around
the Beers was completely closed on every
side In perfect silence. A few Bosrs Dame
into camp during the night and confessed
they were sick of fighting and that Gen.
| Cronjs was being urged to surrender.
An the animals and the men suffered
terribly from thirst and 1t was impossible
to transport water. A heavy thunder
storm In the afternoon, however, consid-
srabIy relieved their sufferings.
Lord Kitchener was present with the
forcs.
General Macdonald was wounded in the
foot, but not severely.
General Cronjss foroe oocnpied the
river bed. Our man marched splendidly
to overtaks the rstreAtinG enemy. De-
serters say that . great number OF the
Rosrs lest their horses.
Monday morning broke finding the
Beers In the same place, they having
during the night constructed entrsnoh-
| ments round the laagsr which was Still
threatened by General Smith-Dorien. The
infantrJ rested after the terrible hard
days fighting ON Sunday. the mounted
Infantry and battery OF horse artillery
started to observe the enemy, who was
holding kopjs, but while riding around
the southern side Of the kopjs they re-
osivsd a heavy fusilade and were obliged
to move further ont. They sustained no
casualty.
Pushing on, the detachment found
that the kopje extended considerable
distance west sloping gradually to the
plain. They seized a good defensive POSI-
ton, which was garrisoned. They con-
tinued the movement and completely
turned the Boers whose left was held
strongly by q farm house which was Wig
orously shelled. The detachment returned
to camp at night fall leaving q garrison
ON the ridge. Meanwhile q desultory
bonn bard mrpt OF the Boer position was
kept up and good deal q, rifle fire conosn-
tr ated where the Essex were attempting
to rush mp the river. About midday the
CRY that General French had arrived was
passed down the ranks but the division
operated out Of sight Of our force When
Lord Roberts arrived he addressed ssvera,
regiments and was vigorously cheered.
Eariy In the day General CroDje asked for
a twenty houTs' armistice In order to
bury his dead. Lord B.itoheEer refused
ard a little later came another message
with word to the effect that as the British
we're inhurnan enough to refuse an armis-
fioe for the purpose Of burning the dead
Gensral Cronjesaw No other oours Sc but
to surrender.
Upon receipt of his message Lord
Kitchener proceeded to the Boer Lager
in order to arrange the capitalization but
be was me. by messenger who an
nouncsd that Gensral CronJe said that
the whole thing was mistake that Cen.
Cronje had not the slightest intention of
surrendering but would fight until he
died.
General Kitchener returned and ordered
q bonn bardment Of the BOer position.
Three field batteries and q howitzer bat
terry took position directly In front Of the
Lager and began terrible fire the
howitzer using I4yddite shells freely.
The Beers were seen retiring from the
trenches TO the river bed In order to seek
cover but no cover could be found from
| the aocurats and deadly tire.
| The how,tzers especially dropped
Lyddite SHELLS with marvellous precision
into the very he'd OF the river and the
trenches wee soon filled with terrible
fumes and green smoke, but again the
enemy held grimly on.
| Again during the night desartsrs ar
rived. They were terribly frightened and
shaken by their awful experience. They
reported that they had water in Abund-
anne, but were only able to draw soanty
supplies froui THAR IAeger during the
night.
| Today was the third day OF General
Croale's imprisonment and grim resist
anos. Early this morning the infantry
engaged in the bed of the river, driving
him back q short distsnos.
The morning sun disclosed the Beers
toillug like ants on entertainments
ground their Lager. A few shells were
| fred to prevent them from continuing
| ths work, but most Of the day was quiet.
General Frenoh's artillery WAS heard of
10 the east presumably engaging the
| Roers' Yeinforcements.
Every opportunity was given the Beers
to surrender, but when towards afternoon
there was no sign Of any sueh intention
Lord Roberts determined TO crush once
and for all General Cronjes resistance.
| On the south hank Of the river at Arrange
of about two thousand yards, three field
batteries and two naval twelve poundefs
were positloned. On the north bank and
en1lsGing the whole river one bowitzar,
| three field batteries and three naval AT
| uns were placed. Then followed the
| 1907 -voadarff,l .oana MAS ever ma lot