IN THE FREE STATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 22

IN THE FREE STATE.

. -. • LONDON, February 26. , General Cronje is using rockets to indicate his position and- attract assistance. 1 His forces have burrowed into the river's banks, which have been converted into a ihell-proof rabbit, warren.

A balloon sent up from the. British ranks Indicated the position of four ammunition waggons in the river bed. The British exploded them all within an hour afterwards.

Latest advices state 'that the Engineers' Corps are sapping towards Cronje's laager.

" Lord Roberts has allowed the German ambulance to assist General Cronje.,

In addition to the casualties already cabled, the Canadians had 20 other men wounded in their advance attack on Cronje. February 27.

The cordon around Cronje is daily drawIng closer. The Gordon Highlanders rushed 200 yards beyond the Shropshires' advance.

: Several thousand Boers made determined but ineffectual efforts to relieve the position, but were everywhere repulsed with loss. • 1 Five thousand troops were ■withdrawn from Natal by Friday, From all directions commandos are hastening towards Bloemfontein, -and concentrating 30 miles outside the "town*.

The. Free State Government are moving From Bloemfontein to Winburg.

After desperate fighting, General Cronje surrendered unconditionally, with his entire force, to Lord Roberts.

Lord Roberts's despatch is dated February 27. He states : " General Cronje and all his force capitulated unconditionally at daylight to-day, and General Cronje is now a prisoner in inj r camp." v

The Commander-in-chief hopes that " the Government will consider the event satisfactory, occurring as it does on the anniversary of Sir George Colley's defeat at Majuba Hill."

Her Majesty has forwarded a message of congratulation to Lord Roberts for 'his services, and to the men for their conduct in maintaining the best ..traditions of their race.

There is an outburst of patriotic enthuliasm throughout London and the provinces over the news from South Africa.

It is supposed that there are 6000 prisoners taken, besides guns, munitions of ,war, cattle, and stores.

Lord Roberts received 36 guns from Capetown last week.

•„ Lord Roberts' explains that the defeat of the reinforcements so demoralised the Boers that he rapidly tightened the cordon, and 'pushed forward -the trenches at night, precipitating . General Cronje's surrender -at aawoT :

February 28. ' Lord Roberts cabled that four howitzers received" from De Aar intensified the bombardment of Cronje's positfon. At 3" a.m. on Tuesday the Canadians, Engineers, Gordons, and Shropshires dashingly seized a point 80 yards from the Boer crenches. The Canadians lost eight lulled, and 30 wounded. Cronje at daylight offered to surrender. 'He was told to come .to the British camp ; that the Boers must leay> their laager, and lay down their arms. ■ Cronje, with seven of his force, entered the British camp, and asked for kind treatment for his men, also that his- wife, grandson, and secretary be allowed to accompany him. Lord Roberts agreed, and deputed General Pettyman to accompany General Cronje to Capetown. Lord Roberts's despatch adds that about 4000 prisoners were taken, including 1150 Free Staters. All were sent to Capetown.

Among the prisoners are 48 officers, including, seven Transvaal commandants, eight field cornets; eight Free State commandants (including Albrecht, director- of artillery), and seven field cornets.

The guns captured comprise three Transvaal Krupp nine-pounders and one Maxim, and one Free State Krupp and one Maxim. Lord Roberts's message was read in Parliament, amidst prolonged cheers, which were especially enthusiastic Wihen the gallantry of the Canadians was recounted.

It is supposed Cronje's heavy guns were ■buried at Magcrsfontein, while others were thrown into the Modder River.

It . is believed that during Cronje's retreat many Free Staters deserted, and returned to their farms.

The prisoners proceed to Capetown, formed as commandos, under their own officers.

The Times states that 5000 Boer prisoners constitute a danger to Capetown, •and urges %it they, should biTsent to' St. Helena.

Lord Roberts described the Canadians' final rush as a gallant deed, worthy of our colonial comrades.

There were 740 British rank and file casualties at Paardeberg, on the 18t*h inst.

Tlie Casualties at Paardeberg on the 18th. include Corporal Owens, of the New •South Wales Mounted^ JRifles, severely wounded, and Private Chesser slightly wounded. Major-general French is advancing on Bloemfontein. President Sleyn has, appealed to President Kruger for help. Some of Lord Robert's reaimenta out'

strippsd their transports, and were living Boers have assembled four miles further for clays on almost quarter rations. cast. Every man among the Kimberley re- I President Kruger has lefx, Pretoria to lieving force was exposed for three days confer with President Steyn. Many believe and three nights' to incessant rain and fcllis a preliminary to making overtures for cold wind. i F eace - General Hector Macdonald was shot in I Uis now stated that tlle Free Stflters the shoulder as well as in the foot, in Cron J e>s laa S er at Koodoosrand nearly -„ , - mutinied, desiring him to surrender. March 1. n . „ . . , , n „ , , n . t ■ . i Une ot t ne companies who attacked General Cronje, who was very quiet and r< . , , r j- - fl ,i „. i . „. , , , L-ronje s laager were conrposcd entirely of dignified, attired as a civilian and mounted -r, i ntn t i • * i.i t> •, • t tt French Canadians, on a pony, rode into the British camp. He saluted Lord Roberts, who went up to aim T , , , .„ i'aici o. and shook hands. , Lo , rd Robert& s pacificatory proclamation has had a good eftect in the lower portion The British Commander-in-chief con- of the Free Statej ]mi the northern dis . gratulated his foe upon his gallant de- tricfcs are stm warlike . fence, and invited him to partake of break- President Kruger has announced that' last with him. General Cronje surrendered owing to General Cronje regretted his inability <o J scarcity of ammunition and food, continue his defence, but admitted that he I General Cronje thanked Lord Roberts had had a very uncomfortable time, and for his considerate treatment of the Boer had* lost terribly. ' prisoners. The prisoners, under a strong escort, have started for Capetown, while all the women and children were sent home. Immediately after their evacuation Lord Roberts inspected Cronje's laager, and found it to be almost impregnable against assault. The wounded in Cronje's laager were in

a terrible plight owing to the refusal of the enemy to accept the aid of the British doctors.

Lord Roberts is caring for 170 of them

Thousands o" horses and oxen were killed by shells from the British guns during the bombardment. The Council of War overbore Cronje in his determination not to surrender earlier. * Some of the Boer officers captured allege that General Cronje had lost 8000 men since the commencement of the war. Cronje's camp at Koodoosrand was a scene of pollution. Carcases were collected in the shallows of the rivers. The Boers welcomed their deliverance. The trenches were leal underground dwellings. TAvelve British prisoners were in the camp. They were kindly sheltered from the appalling fire of the bombardment. March 2.

Cronje's laager was simply a charnel house. The food was exhausted with the exception of meat. There was plenty of ammunition. Remarkable trenches had been constructed, affording splendid ]3r<K tection 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.

Albrecht told Lord Roberts that the British tactics were stupid until he appeared. He declared that there were still 75,000 republicans in the field.

The Boer prisoners captured in Cronje's laager'total 4300. Many old men and boys were 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.

Albrecht considers that Cronje made a mistake in locking his men in the hole m the river instead of occupying a kopje.

The British troops displayed great kindness to the prisoners.

The colonials wounded at Klip Kraal on ' the 16th ult. were : — Privates Tweedie and Bull, New South Wales Mounted Rifles.' Missing at Arundel on the 26th — Lancecorporal Eraser, Privates Goodsall; Brack? D. Fra&er, M'Lennan. Slightly wounded, Lieutenant -Dove. All these are from the New South Wales Company of the Au&-* tralian Mounted Infantry.

The British hold all the kopjes for miles around Paardeberg.

Supplies arc plentiful, and the veldt? is green with gra&s. The chief want is more horses.

Seven thousand Boers have concentrated 10 miles from Lord Roberts's right and front.

General French is in touch with the enemy's troops. •

Lord Roberts highly complimented the Canadians, whose dashing action was mainly instrumental in the surrender of General Cronje.General French's cavalry, consisting of the New South .Wales Lancers, the Queenslanders, and the New Zealanders, actively patrolled the country to prevent General Cronje's escape.

The New South Wales Medical Corps accompanied the Canadians and the Gordons in the attack on Cronje's laager, and were amoiifirsl the first to enter the trenches. They removed the Canadian wounded as they fell. Lord Roberts eulogised their hospital, and said that he was pleased with the tortoise tents, which are a novelty. Dr Fiaschi, of Sydney, ac- \ eomplished many surgical successes. '<■ March 4. Lord Roberts has reached Osfontein, six miles east of Paardcberg. Five thousand