The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-27
Beers Assembling
Near BlOemfOnfein

invasion Of Lord Roberts. This inteih-
gence comes from Pretoria by way OF
Lorenzo Marques The commanders are
described az Fastening from all quar-
ters OF the two republics"
No estimate Is made Of their numbers.
but the withdrawal OF the Beers from
most OF the places where they have been
in contact with the British except the
district near Ladysmith may raise the re-
sistlng foce 10 5000 men. THIS figure
assumes that the Beers have between co.,
600 and 7O.OOo men In the field.
The gathering OF this army across the
path az Lord Roberts gives significance 10
General Cronje's steadfast defense. He
has engaged the CORPS Of Lori Roberts
for ten days now and whether he Is re-
iieved or not. he has given time for dis
pcrsed Boer factions to get together and
Il prepare positions TO receive the Brit
,sh advance when Cronie Is overcome AMI
Lord Roberts moves forward.
II Is difficult TO conceive that the Beers
are strong enough 60 take the offensive
and TO rescue General Cronje from his
precariors situation
The war office had nothing after mid
night to Indicate his collapse and he may
hold out for q few days. The cores
pondents seem to have no exact mforma-
tion respecting his resources. Some say
he has plenty Of food but is short OF am
munition. Others assert that he abandon
ed his food supplies but kept abundant
supplies OF cartridges
General Butler on Saturday faced the
last strongest position OF the Beers who
bar his way TO Ladysmth The strenu-
GUS lighting Indicate battle between
armies rather than rear guard actions
protecting a retreat
On Thursday and F-iday he lost thirty
three officers killed ana wounded repre-
senting probably a total loss of frem 400
20 zoo.
General Whites guns worked on satur
day upon the Boer positions and a hello
gram from Ladysmith reported that the
Beers were retreatlng and that larger
ratfons were being issued In view OF the
fact that relief seemed az hand
Nothing has been heard from Mafeking
since February n. .he movement on the
veidt away from the railway Is becoming
difficult for large bodies OF troops. as
HAht kidNH ~ hFs NtiNiAl EAfiAh
has 20 wagon forage for mis- horses. and
even the infantry finds the long marches
harder than before. as forage for -..e
transport animals must be carried
This requires the formation OF garrison.
ed depots
The ordinary campaigning season II ov-
er. and the slclSly season for both mer
and animals has set In.
Technical military writer's take these
things into consideration n forecastinl
events.
The DAILY Chronicle says II learns from
private letters that British rifles and am
munition has been landed on the southern
coast OF Cape Colony, presumably for the
Dutch colonists
Lord Roberst has recently received sew.
enty-two additional pieces OF artillery
whether all has been sent 10 Paardebera
is not known.
PROBABLY tine eighth division VIII ieSv'
England next Monday.
KRUGER's GRANDSON KILLED.
LONDON. FEB g7.-winston Churchill
In a dispatch 20 the Morning Post from
Frero Camp. says;
THE idea that the Beers are raising the
siege OF Iadysmth Is premature THE
advance is being pursued I'm the face o
the most stubborn opposition and oi
heavy loss President Kruger's grandson
Is among the Boer killed"
Mr.. Churchill then proceeds 10 describe
heavy lighting last Friday. In which the
Inniskillings approached within 900 yards
OF the sumit Of a rocky Boer position and
then gallantly charged in the face OF q
hall OF bullets. Nevertheless they refused
TO retreat but lay down on the slope. be
hind a shelter OF walls The Connaught'
and the Dublin fusillers were sent 10 thei
support, but the light faded and the nigh
closed IN before the main attack devel
oped."
GOVERNMENT MOVING.
LONDON. FEB. IA dispatch TO tn
Daily News from Lorenzo Marques. dat
ed February .. says:
II Is reported here that 500 Burgher
have left Ladysmith for the Free stat
The Beers are concentrating their force
thirty miles outside OF Bloemfpnteln an
the Free state government Is moving 1
Winburg
lleinforcements are passing throug
Bioemtontcin houilS, tffalutht Ht'N
has teIegraphed President Kruger tina
Lord Roberts IS within a few hours O
Bloemfonteln and he urges that ever
male Irrespective OF nationality, shout
be Communicated.
President Steyn IS said 20 favor peace
The Boer general who was in comman
az Colepso sent a message 20 Presider
Kruger saying that he had been smoshe