OUR MAIN ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 53, 3 March 1900, Page 5

OUR MAIN ARMY.

FRENCH AND KITCHENER AT ARUNDEL.

HIDEOUS CONDITION OF CRONJE'S LAAGER.

Received 9.50,

LONDON, March 2.

Lord Roberts complimented the Canadians, whose dashing action was mainly instrumental in the surrender of Crorije earlier than it would otherwise have occurred.

General French's cavalry, consisting of Jthe New South Wales Lancers, Queenslanders and New Zealanders, actively patrolled the country to prevent Cronje's escape.

Many of the Dutch farmers participate in the rejoicings throughout the Cane.

Seven thousand Boers have concentrated ten miles from Lord Roberts' right and front.

General French is in touch with the enemy's troops at Arundel, and Js preparing for a rapid advance northAvard. ,

Received 9.30.

LONDON, March 2.

The New South Wales Medical Corps accompanied the Canadians and : Gordon Highlanders in the attack on Cronje's laager, and were amongst the first to enter the trenches. They removed the Canadians wounded. Lord Eoberts eulogised their hospital. He said that he was pleased with the tortoise tents, which are a novelty. ■ '

"Dr. Fiaschi, of vSydniey, who is chief of the corps, accomplished many surgical successes.

The Rt, Hon. Cecil Rhodes entertained Lord Roberts, the Command-er-in-Chief. at Kimberley. The British hold all the kopjes for miles around Paardenberg, the main camp of Roberts' army south of Koodoosrand. Siipplies are plentiful and the veldt is green with grass. The cbuef need is more hoTses.

"" % LONDON, March 1. Lard Kitchener has arrived at Arundel. - • The Boers are retreating to Norvals P°nt" LdNDON, March 1. Cronje's camp at Koodoosrand was jx, scene of pollution, the carcases having collected in the shallows of the rivers. The Boers welcomed their deliverance. , The trenches were real underground dwellings. Twelve British prisoners in the camp were kindly sheltered. Cronje's laager was simply a charnel house. The food was exhausted, with the exception of meat, but there was plenty of ammunition. Remarkable trenches were being constructed, affording splendid protection from shells.

The/Boers were delighted at the surrender, and abused Cronje as a hard man, deserving to be shot. When they were assured of their safety, they became almost frolicsome. ' ■ They regard the war as hopeless. ~No women or children were hurt during the bombardment.

It. is admitted that 50 men were

killed.

Major Albrecht, the foreigner in charge of the Boers artillery, told Lord Eoberts that the British tactics were stupid until lie appeared. He declared there were still 75,000 Republicans in the field.

Albrecht considers that Cronje made a mistake in locking his men in a hole, instead of occupying the

kopjes.

The Boer prisoners captured in Cronje's laager total 4300, many old men, and boys being among them. Cronje is terribly depressed. He has been imprisoned on the flagship Captain at Capetown.

The women of Cronje's laager were

frightened, expecting- their husbands

to be shot. They wept bitterly when not allowed to accompany them into captivity. The British troops displayed great kindness to the prisoners.