The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-19
ESCAPE OF CRONJE
Delay al Dekils Drift Allowed the
Beers to Retreat.
4----
CAPTURE OF BRITISH CONVOY.
Il Consisted Of Two Hundred Wagons
with Supplies.
A BOER COMMANDO FROM COLESBEpC
Made The Attack, Surrounding the Escort,
Which Made a Defense.
A B0ER COMMANDO FROM COLESBERC
THE Beers KEPT UP A RUNNING FIRE
The Times Correspondent Believes
Cr"nie Is Going To Bloemfontcin.
VIII be a Rear Guard Fight.

London, February ~. 30 a. nit Is
now confirmed that General cronje es-
capped, Every detail however, proves how
ably Lord Roberts plans were conceived
aud were succeeding But for the unex-
pected delay at Dckils drift. which was
almost impassabln for wagons, The whole
Beer force would have been surrounded.
The delay Of one day there gave them
their choice for hasty retreat.
There is something doubtful about tho
capture OF the British convoy. According
to Daily Mail correspondent with the
convoy which consisted OF zoo wagons.
each loaded with COCO pounds OF rations
and OF forage and each drawn by sixteen
mulosit was unexpectedly attacked by
commando supposed to have come from
lCol5sberg. The escort consisting OF eighty
Of The Gordon Highanders, forty men OF
the army service coipa and a few OF Kitch
enors horse, maintained defense until
tho arrival Of achievements, sustaining
insignificant casualties
The Standards correspondent at Jacobs
dal wiring Thursday says An attack was
made yesterday on the rear guard of our
main body by force Of 1900 Beers whe
were hurried UP from Colesberg They
captured some OF our wagons but Lord
Roberts did not delay his march to retake
these. There were few casualties on our
side, Tho last OF our supply columns arr
rived at Honey Meet Kloot today having
met with no opposition ON the way.
Specials from Ladysmith report an ap-
parent movement on the part of the Roers
toward the Free State, presumably with
the object OF asslstlng General Cronje.
London, February lg-.The Daily News
publishes the following dispatch, dated
Sunday morning. February IS, from Mod
der river:
Our sudden appearance seems to have
astouuded the enemy and thrown then
into a paoic All their positions wer'
hurriedly eyacuted and the big guns a
Mugcrsfonteln and Kimberley we're lef
behind. General Cronje moved his troop
consisting OF many hundred wagons, alon;
. u DAlh OF kOUlfn lPl VI vi lHt ~fRNN~" ~
ward Koffeyfontein, They got part of TIL
mounted infantry, but owing to the weari
ness had to stop Thereupon our artiller!
opened upon them. The main body Of TIA
Boer force kept p running IRE the whol'
day. uinly trying to escape Each tins
their advance guard sought to move OF
our mounted infantry galloped around an'
checked them. We never attempted =
stop their main movement contentng our
selves with trying to check them. Theil
position at Koneyfontein IS said TO b
very strong. They entertain wholesome
dred OF 10000 cavalry moving more quick
ly than they do themselves, We hope t
be in Blocmfontein shortly"
London, February l9.-The Daily New
has another dispatch from Modder rive
camp dated Sunday morning, which says
l"At dawn on Friday the Beers were OBJ
served taking wagons along the kopje to
wards Koneyiontein. Our mounted in
tantry vas sent out from Kilt DRIFT bu
@as driven back and the enemys wagon
passed General Knox's, Twelfth, brigadi
however. quiekly attacked the enemy
main body and severe hghting went on al
dag over the line, which was very ex
tended The enemy, making a desperit
attempt finally escaped owing to the ser
pentine bend OF the river. Toe MOUNTED
infantry suffered from the trying tankinl
movement. Our force has now been re
inforced."
London, February 1s-The Times cor
respondent at Modder river, telegraphinI
yesterday. says: General Cronje's arm
OF 10, 900 men. with thousand wagons.
In full retreat toward Bloemfontein, hotl
| pursued by General Kelly Kenny. II VII
: probably be a rear guard ight all the wa
20 Bloemfontein, Our cavalry has alread
returned TO Kimberley to join in me pur
) suit"
Q London, February ls.-Rumors have bee
! in circulation at the clubs and elsewher
i in London this evening that General cron
1e, with an army OF 1000, has been cap
tured Apparently they emanated fror
the continent. No confirmation has bee
obtained.
Chievely, February lS-General Buffers
Z casualties during the last three days cper-
: atIons have been about 50. The British
j. forces have now partly assembled MONTE
&c lChristo hill.
. IL IL Denied.
!, washington February lS.-The bratis
:, embassy, on inquiry being made tonight
Q authorized the statement that there wa
no truth whatever IN the story coutains
7. In The Paris dispatches that President Me
q KinIey had sounded SLord Pauncefots, ~
z British ambassador here, to ascertain no.
y az offer OF mediation IN the Transva>
~ difficulty on the part Of the 1pttco et9te