Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1900-03-02
STORY OF THE CAPTURE.

STORY OF THE CAPTURE.
Paardeberg, Tuesday morning, II
O'Clock. From information furnished
daily to me by the intelligence depart
ment it became apparent that Gen.
Cronje's force was becoming more de-
pressed and that the discomfort among
the leaders was rapidly increasing.
This feeling was doubtless accumulated
by the disappointment caused when the
Boer reinforcements which tried to re-
lieve Gen. Cronie were defeated by our
troops on February 20. l resolved,
therefore, to bring pressure to bear
upon the enemy. Each night the
trenches were pushed forward toward
the enemy's lager, so as to gradually
contract his position, and at th Q same
time l bonn barded it heavily with artil-
ery, which was materially aided by
the arrival of four six inch Howitzers,
which had ordered up from De Aar.
In carrying out these measures cap
tive balloon gave great assistance by
keeping us informed of the dispositions
and movements of the enemy. At 3 a.
m. today most dashing advance was
made by the Canadian regiment and
some engineers, supported by the first
Gordon HighIanders and second Shrop-
shIres, resulting in our gaining point
some 600 yards nearer the enemy and
within about eighty yards of his
trenches, where our men entrenched
themselves and maintained their posi-
tons till morning, gallant deed
worthy of our colonial comrades and
which, am glad to say, was attended
by comparatively slight loss.
This apparently clinched matters for
at daylight today letter, signed by |
Gen. Cronie, in which he stated that
he surrendered Internationally, was
brought to our outposts under flag of
truce.
In my reply told Gen. Cronje he
must present himself at my camp
and that his forces must come out o,
their lager after laying down their
arms. BY Z a. m. l received Gen.
Cronje and dispatched a telegram to
you announcing the fact. In the course
of conversation he asked for kind treat
ment at our hands, and also that his
wife, grandson, private secretary, ad-
him wherever he might be sent. as
sured him and told him his request
would be complied with. Informed
him that general officer would be
sent with him to Cape Town to enable
his being treated with proper respect
en- route. He will start this afternoon
under charge of Major General Pretty
man, who will hand him over to the
general commanding at Cape Town.
The prisoners who number about g.
900, will be formed into commanders
under our own officers. They Will also
leave here today reaching Modder river
tomorrow, when they will be rallied to
Cape Town in detachments.
The above dispatch was read in both
thu house Of lords and the house Of
commons today. The reference to the
conditions evoked much applause.
Mr.. A. J. Balfour, the first lord of
the treasury, said he had no informa-
ton relative 10 the Boar guns.
London, February 27.-6:25 D. H.
1t is now announced that Lord Roberts
has notified the war department that
the number of Boer prisoners approx
mates 1000, of which about 1, $50 are
citizens of the Orange Free State. The
remainder are cltizens Of the Transval.
Twenty nine Transvaal officers were
captured and eighteen Free State Off
GERS were made prisoners.
The guns captured from the Trans
vaal force were three 7.75 centometre
Krupps, nine 1-pounders and one Max
i'm gun. From the Free Skaters the
British captured one 775 centimetrt
Krupp and one Maxim gun.