Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-02-26
DESPERATE DEFENSE.
General CroDje Fighting Great
Battle Against Fearful Odds,
Beers Make Daring Efforts to Re-
inforce General cronje.
Cecil Rhodes Delivers q Speech At Kim
beriey Denouneing the Beers.
LAprsMIrH NOT YET srLIEvnD.

London. Feb. 28-If the latest dis.
patches from Paardeberg throw any light
on the situation General Cronjs's forces
have far more protection from Field
Marshal Roberts heavy flre than the 6rst
dispatches indicated.
A dispatch from Paardeberg says:
THE balloon has discovered the enemy
well covered by system Of burrowing
In the river bank. which resembles rab
bit warren and affords she'll proof posi- =.
tions." This perhaps more than any
other circumstance explains why what is
looked upon here, as Cronjs's death
struggle, Is prolonged. Small bodies OF
Beers apparently are able TO escape,
causing comparison here between the
Beers method Of Investment with their
quickly dug surrounding trenches. i'm.
passable barbed wire fences, ETC.. and
those OF the British. As Cronje is re.
ported TO have plenty Of food. the plan OF
starving him out can scarcely avail, 30
Roberts must either wait until Cronje's
ammunition. which Is said to be short,
runs out, or those who are counselling
surrender prevail. Meanwhile engi-
neers are sappiDg steadily toward the
Boer lsager and the Gordon Is drawing
closer.
Buller's march on Ladysmith Is being
marked by sharp lighting. A Pietermar-
itzburg dispatch OF to-day says he is still
heavily engaged lighting. In 6rooblers-
kloof. Butler seems to have discovered a
hornets next.
Ia Cape Colony. the British army is
steadily advancing. Barkley Esst Is
now In their possession, the Beers evacu.
ating the place, retreating on Lsdygrey,
and wiring President steyn for rein
forcements to prevent their surrender.
The Pretoria government proclaimed
February % and February 27 days Of
Thanksgiving and prayer. presumably In
memory Of Msjubs hill.
A dispatch from Kimberley says that
Its Inhabitants have planned to erect q
statue Of Cecil Rhodes in recognition Of
his services during the siege.
BoERs TRY TO HELP CRoNJE
Psardeberg. Saturday, Feb. 24.-Yes.
terdsy there was most interesting series
OF fights along the British front. Thou
sands OF Beers. commanded by General
Dswet, who were known to be- operating
In the immediate front, at early dawn
yesterday, determined to attempt to
break through the British lines and aid
General Cronjs. Their efforts tn occupy
kopje were frustrated by Scottish bor-
derers. Vigorous shelling accompanied
by British fusilsde completely silenced
the Beers. Eighty Beers surrendered,
but many, 1t appears, escaped. Most Of
the prisoners had Just arrived from Lady.
smith. They complained OF the bad gen.
erslship OF their leader. Nearly every
man carried explosive bullets, and fiye
British soldiers were wounded with these
missiles.
RHODES SPEAKS.
Kimberley, Feb. 4.-Cecil Rhodes,
presiding at a meeting Of the De Beers
company. delivered speech which was
received with enthusiasm. The years
profits Of the De Beers com pany, he said.
amounted to 100000 pounds. The
Transyaal and Free State we're not re-
publics, he declared, but oligsrchies, and
had been long conspiring to seize British
South Africa. Kach government was
simply small political gang who hum
buggsd the poor Dutchmsn, appealing to
their patriotism and dividing the spoils
among their coteries. The Afrikander
had been working twenty years for In.
dependence. He said former President