The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-23

q CrODje Asked for Armslice.
LONDON. FEB. "a a. m.--General
Cronje is seemingly making bis last stand.
He Is dying hard, hemmed In by British
Infantry, and with shells from sixty guns
falling into his camp.
on the third day OF the fight the Boer
chief asked for an armstce TO bury his
deaf Fight TO finish or surrender un-
conditionally, was Lord Kitchener's re-
ply. General Cronje sent back word that
his request for truce had been misun-
derstood, and that his determination then
as before, was TO fight to the death.
The battle went on. This was the stu
alton Of General Cronje Tuesday evening,
as sketched IN the scanty kilograms that
have emerged from the semi-silence OF
South Africa.
Officially, Lord Roberts wires that he
has scattered the advance commanders
of the relnforcements that were striving
to reach General Cronie. It is regarded
as singular that Lord Roberts wiring
Wednesday should not mention the APP
peal for an armstce on the previous day
and also that the war office should with
hold good news, II It has any.
without trying 20 reconcile even the
scanty materials at hand It seems plain
that G oerai Cronje is in a bad, and even
despei,. e situation and that the Brit,
ish are pressing their advantage.
While the attack Of General Cronje pro-
ceeds, there is e race for concentration
between the Beers and the British.
The engagement with General Cronje's
FIVE 10 eight thousand entrenched men Is
likely TO become an incident in battle
between the masses. The separate frac-
lions OF the Boer power are rapidly draw
ing together to attack Lord Roberts.
VIII General Cronje be able TO hold out
until the Boer forces appear. or IL ne does
will they then be able TO sucoor him? The
British are facing the Beers on ground
where the arms, tactics and training Of
the British are expected to give them the
advantage.
GENIAL Butler according TO a dispatch
from Chieveley, dated Wednesday, hnds
the Boer In position north Of the Tugela
largely reinforced. This seems strange.
The war office for the first time, has
givn out an official compilation OF the
British losses The total Is ll,2OS to Feb
II. This does not include. therefore
Lord Roberts recent losses, nor the Wilt
shire prisoners.
The press association learns that the
British losses at Koodoosrand were 7Oo
Three thousand fresh troops will EN-
bark for South Africa today.
The relative position Of the combatants
is lkened to chess players 3ne of whom
from time TO time adds pieces 70 the
board, while any loss to the adversary 8.
irreplaceable.
LONDON TIMES COMMENT.
LONDON, FEB. 23.--The Times says
editorially:
The fact that the Beers started TO re
inforce General Cronje from Natal days
ago is an additional reason why Lort
Roberts should finish with him a.
promptly as possible Small bodies o.
Beers, such as have already been broker
up. are not very formidable. but larg
body with guns and supplies would cal
genial work.
Lord Roberts at present has the ad
vantage Of being nearer his base than tn
Beers are to theirs, but that advantage
will be greatly in proportion 10 his east
ward progress and Il is important tina
bodies Of the enemy should not hover ol
his right flank.
Commenting upon Lord salisburys re
ply to Lord Teynhams question regardin
the assertion that Great Britain wa
bound by secret treaty with German
which would secure some measure OF in
dependence for the Beers, the Times says
There would be no precedent for an
intereference unless the Beers were crush
ed, even II anybody felt bold enough, q
strong enough to try 90 rob the victor
under unctious pretexts Of humanity an
mercy to the vanquished. Nobody, "
imagine does feel strong or bold enoug
TO try who Is at the same time too host
TO England to wish 10 try
The Times then proceeds 70 urge ch'
the Brdtish navy was never stronger tina
Il IS at present, adding:
'aThls war has given an immed ate e'
perience, which will tend to make Gre'
Britain stronger than ever before IN
military sense, while the Ind an trooI
and the colonists have evidenced the
loyalty IN a time OF adversely while