Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-05
IN SORE
STRAITS
Ladysmith Garrison Is
Seemingly in It's
Last Gasp.
Disease Debilitating the
Men J at Fright
full Rate.
Butler Seems Near Relief
Roberts Next Move
Unknown.

London, March 1.-Gen. Buffers dis
tinct success in storming Peters hill
brings the rescue of Ladysmith near
but the war office intimated late last
evening that immediate relief could
not be expected The goings to and
fro at midnight of officials and mes
sengers suggested that important news
had been received. AS his message re-
veals, Buffers successful attack came
after hard fighting Friday, and was
improvised and it's execution begun,
during the armistice Sunday. In pro-
posing the armistice, the British COM
mander stipulated that both sides be
any shooting. He was therefore with
in his privileges in transferring his
troops.
Buffers tidings come weighted with
his long list of casualties. He loses in
four attempts to get Gen. White out,
an aggregate of 1000 men. Lady
smith is in desperate stress. Gen.
Whites force is almost at it's last
gasp This is not so much on ac-
count OF any lack Of provisions or am
munition, neither of which is yet ex-
hausted, as because of the poisonous
waters of Kip river. Even those who
escaped fever, dysentery and diarrhoea
are in state OF low vi
tally. They can still man the
trenches and would probably hold
their own against last desperate as
sault, but they can initiate nothing.
Butler now knows that, as units, the
regiments will be of no use to him for
months The water of the Kip river
is not available for drinking, and to
boil it is impossible because OF the
scarcity of fuel. 1t is thick with putrid
animal matter, caused by sewage from
the boer camps.
There is no authoritative indication
yet of what Lord Roberts will do next.
1t seems likely that a branch railway
will be built across the veldt to lessen
the difficulties of transport. The
strain on the western railway is seen
from the fact that Kimberly, two weeks
after relief, continues on short rations.
D0Io ~, 20 hoy Ivy
partially fed.
Loss Nearly $4,000.
London, March 1.-The rapidly
growing casualty lists are being class
flied as quickly as possible. They
show the total number of casualties
is 1884, of which 2,319 were added
during the last fortnight. Ten of the
eleven Scotch regiments lost 1850
men, and eight of the Irish regiments
2000 Then come the Gloucester and
Northumberland, while of nearly 200
colonials, the British Canadians lost
i21, and the Victoria mounted con-
tingent, &c. The casualties classified
thus far are: killed, 1893; wounded,
6,83S; missing, 3,173; died from dis
ease, $50.
How Cronje Surrendered.
Paar derberg, Feb. 27.-The British
camp was awakened by a continued
rattle of rifle fire at daybreak, the
Canadians, while building a trench
close to the enemy, being fusilladed
at range of so yards. The Canadians
CALAMITY worked forward and occu-
pied the edge of the trenches along
the river entirely enfilading the beers.
This movement was followed by ces-
sation of fire. Suddenly the regiment
stationed on the crest of the hill, per-
ceived a white flag and burst into
cheers, thus first announcing the sur
render of Gen. Cronje. Shortly after
wards note reached Lord Roberts.
bringing tidings of the beers uncondi-
tional surrender. General Pretty
man was sent to accept the surrender
| At Z o'clock a small group of men APP
| peared in the distance crossing the
plain towards headquarters. Being
appraised of Cronje's approach, Gen
| Roberts went to the front in the mod
est cart in which he sleeps, and or
dered a guard of Seaforths to line up
| A group of horsemen then approached
On Prettyman's right rose an elderly
man clad in a rough short overcoat
widebrimmed hat, ordinary tweed
trousers and brown shoes. 1T was the
redoubtable Cronje. His face was
burned almost black, and his curly
beard tinged with gray. Lord Roberts
walked to and fro in front of his car
until the boer general arrived, wher
the British commander advanced grace
fully and kindly saluted the boer com
mander. Cronje's face was absolutel!
impressive, exhibiting no sign of his in