Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-08
CRONJE rs CAPTURED
LATEST MOVEMENTS IN THE
CAMPAIGN.
A Full Summary Of the Transvaal
War News-Proaress Of the Con.
hict From Day to naY-The British
Encouraged. lSt

The news of the relief {. I.adysmith
caused wild demonstrae as of JOY
throughout Great Britaif The bells
of st. Paul's Cathedral, !. Sion, were
fung, business was practically sus-
pended, and thousands of cheering
.nen gathered around the Mansion
House.
Lord Lansdowne, in the House of
Lords, has given the particulars of the
contemplated despatch of troops to
Africa this month. A total of $4,000
men is to be sent to the front.
Cronje is caught! The Lion Of
South Africa" has at las given up to
Roberts. The 1000 Beers who made
up his army could no longer hold out
against Roberts and 10000 British
troops.
The following is the dflcial des.
patch received from Lord Roberts an
bouncing Gen. Cronje's surrender
Gen. Cronje and all his forces capi
tulated Internationally at daylight
and are now prisoners in my camp.
THE strength of his force will be
communicated later.
Il hope that Her Majesty's Govern
ment will consider this event satisfac
tory, occurring as it does, on the an
hiversary of Majuba. ROBERTS"
Gen. Cronje sent an officer to the
British lines at dawn with a flag o.
truce, who informed Lord Kitchener
that Gen. Cronje was willing to sur
render. having found his position un-
tenable, with only defeat and capture
In prospect if he continued to fight.
A safe conduct was requested for
women and children. Gen. Kitchener
granted the request, but insisted that
surrender in all respects be absolute
!y unconditional To this Gen. Cronje
agreed.
I he German newspapers are disap
pointed at the surrender of General
CrCnie. They admit that Lord Roberts
has shown real military ability and
dash. and that the Beers have lost in
Cronie their most skillful leader.
1t is reported that Lady Roberts,
the wife of Field Marshal Lord Rob
erts, will shortly start to join her hls
band.
The all important questions are,
What effect will the capitulation
have upon the Boers?" and What
will be Roberts next moyers This
British victory does not mean collapse
Oh the part of the Beers. It means
the fraying of the Free State force
the removal of one of the most skill
full commanders and the return to
their farms of the weak kneed among
the Free Staters, but in the Free State
one other series of actions at least
will have to be fought, while the
march into the Transvaal means very
hard fighting and the loss OF many
lives. That the British government
appreciates this is shown by the an
Eouncement that the Eighth division
will be sent out SO soon as transports
are available. The concensus of mill
tary opinion is that Roberts will move
on Bloemfontein-Fren is reported
to be already on the way--perhaps
sending strong mounted force to re-
lieve Mafeking.
General Butler has at last succeed
ed, after weeks of continuous ham,
mering, in breaking the steel band
which the Beers have placed around
Ladysmith. BY his successful attack
he now holds the backbone of the
rugged country between Colenso and
I.adysmith. Before him lie some mi
nor hills, called the Besters Farm po.
sition. Then comes the open. valley,
Caesars Camp and Ladysmith. Low
hills and an open valley, commanded
by the great Bulwana Mountain. are
still occupied by the Beers, and un-
til the guns on that eminence are 81
fenced no stores can be sent to Lady.
smith. Butler. if he brings up his big
guns to his present position, which
would take some days, should be able
acting with the l.adysmith garrison.
to pour cross fire on the Beers and
silence their heavy guns.
General Butler continues his ad.
vance through Natal Colony towards
Ladysmith, the Beers fiercely contest
| ing his movements. His casualties in
clude many officers and men since
February 20.
The Pretoria Government pro-
claimed February rs and February y
days of thanksgiving and prayer, pre-
sumably in memory of the battle OF
Majuba Hill.
Fortune for Workngman.