Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-26
ENGLISH NEARLY TRAPPED

LNOA4OA NGAhAx xhA1 Z GU
The Wonderful Defense of an APP
parently Hopeless Position by
Gen. CrOnje.
PAARDEBURG, Orange Free State
Wednesday, February 21.-The fourth
day of Gen. Cronje's fine defence OPP
ened in startling fashion. Soon after
dawn most terrific rattle of rifle fire
broke out, waking the sleeping camp
1t was the heaviest fire during the
war and all awaited with foreboding
the news of it's effect.
1t soon developed that the Glouces-
tiers and Essexes had lost their way
and had bivouacked, in error, close to
the Boer lager on the north side OF
the river. AS soon as they were per-
ceived by the enemy, the latter fusil-
aded Wonderful to tell the British
casualties were practically none.
There was desultory firing all day
long on both the north and south
banks, Gen. Knox's brigade holding
and pushing forward the line south OF
the river, while Gen. Smith-Dorrien,
on the north side worked toward the
lager. Meanwhile Gen. French ad-
near a kopje held by strong force
of Cronje's men, reinforced by a
Ladysmith contingent At the same
time Gen. Broadwood's brigade with a
battery of horse artillery, took up po-
sitions to the left and rear of the
same kopjes.
The front Of the hill was thoroughly
searched by raking fire. Suddenly
the Beers bolted from every side to-
ward Gen. French, who headed toward
the drift, Smelling vigorously. A great
number escaped but many were killed
by shrapnel, and about forty were
captured.
AS soon as the kopje was evacuated,
this correspondent visited it. The po-
sition was found to be wonderfully
strong naturally and to form the real
key to the position in the case of de-
Tense against Boer reinforcements adj
vancing from the east.
Our first contact with the Lady
smith Beers was singularly unfortun-
ate for them. A great deal of forage,
provisions and equipment was cap
tured, and the kopje was Nequently
dotted with blood, showing that many
wounded had been removed
The Boer method of removing their
dead is to tie a couple of reins to the
body, which is thus dragged off by two
horsemen at full gallop.
There were several pourparlers to-
day on the subject Of short armis-
tice 1t seems that Gen. Cronje is
willing to surrender, but that the
young Transvaalers refuse. The other
beleaguered Beers are anxious to give
up.
A British doctor, who visited the
Boer lines to see the wounded, found
the trenches along the river full of
wounded and saw many dead
A deserter who came into camp last
night says that yesterdays lombard
ment was appalling in it's effects, es-
pecially in the case of the howitzer
batteries enfilading the river.
The position to-day Is practically
the same. The Beers are strengthen
ing their entertainments around the
laager, but the case is hopeless. The
capture of the kopje to-day has given
the British a splendid position, and
will prevent a Boer relieving force
reaching Cronje.
Everybody admireS the splendid
stand of the Burghers, but from a hui
manitarian point of view it is consid-
cred that further resistance on the
part of Gen. Cronje will be criminal
Every shrapnel shot finds a victim
and unless a miracle occurs his force
must be wiped out or captured. The
former result is terrible to contem-
plate; but although it would require
a few days it would be easy to &C
complish.
To-day Lord Roberts sent Gen.
Cronje an offer of safe conduct for
the women and children together with
a free pass to any point for them and
also an offer of doctors and medicine
Cronje's reply was a curt refusal and
desultory Smelling was resumed.
PAARDEBURG, Orange Free State,
Thursday, February 23.-Artillery
Smelling continued during the early
part of last night As soon as the last
gun was fired, the Shropshires, who
had been occupying the river bed
since Sunday. seized On about 200 yards
of near ground and intrenched a fresh
position before daybreak. At dawn
Gen. Cronje found himself locked that
amount of space. The Shropshires
had done excellent work under a gall
ing fire since Sunday, and they were
relieved by the Gordons to-day.
The exchange of positions had its
amusing features, in spite of the dan
ger. The Gordons crawled on their
stomachs to the trenches and the
Shropshires erept out of these by ae-
tnally reaching over the GnrdnnS