THE WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22206, 27 February 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

CRONJE DECLINES TO SURRENDER. HIS FOECE SUBJECTED TO FEIG-HTFUL. FIRE.. London, February 2.3. After receiving' Lord Kitchener’s reply in regard to- the armistice Cronje replied he would fight until he was dead. Lord Kitchener thereupon concentrated an awful fire from howizers with lyddite sheila on a spot a mile square, which was held by the BoorsUpon receiving a second message sugg< sting surrender, Lord Kitchener invited. Crunje into the British camp to arrange details of capitulation.. Gronje then declared there was a mistake, as he had not. the slightest intention of surrendering.. Lord Roberts thereupon decided to crush all residence, and directed a terrific fire at a distance of 200’ yards, enfilading the river bed and banks. The Boers have abundance of water but it is difficult to get food in the trendies except at night The prison ei-s captured by Lord Roberts in the late fighting include part of Commandant Lou : s Bothnia commando, which was recently engaged against General Buller at Spionkop. Botha, with 500 men, were routed from a kopje a mile southeast of Cronje’s laager. The British reinforcements- have been increased, preventing the possibility of the Boers arriving from Natal and reinforcing Cronje. The Daily News correspondent states that Cronje marched 33 miles from Magersfontein without outspanning.

His 8000 troops lined the banks round a semi-circular bend of the river, the laager being situated at the easterly end of the bend.. The Highlanders and Welsh Fusiliers and others attacking marched northeastwards into the bend:.

Colonel Donien’s force, while crossing the river, was subjected to the enemy’s fire from both sides.

The infantry lay still, while the artillery drove the Boers out of their laager, the shell fife boing concentrated thereon.

The seizure of the drift by the Welsh Fusiliers cut the Boers in half, iho mounted corps and artillery cir cling 1 the surrounding kopjes, and exit off their retreat, and General French, marching- from Kimberley, completed tho circle, hemming* them in. The Boers were finally driven to take shatter between the- river banks, subjecting the attackers to a hail of bullets, but equally preventing them from escaping-.. CABLE FROM THE' AGENT GENERAL. Mr W. Gray telegraphed as follows at 10.30 a.m : F Rowing from Agent-General. Please m -ke public r “London. Feb 23, II p.m. “ General Cron jo fought well on Sunday, and defeated attacks. “ Meanwhile General French got to.the east of him. “ Cronje expected to surrender, as the British truops outnumber his by five to one.’ 7 GENERAL BUTLERS ARMY.. General Bullrr has muv got his heavy guns across tho Tugela. Tho Naval Brigade occupy the hills towards Ladysmith. CRONJE DETERMINED. TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT. SIX FIELD BATTERIES AND HOWITZERS IN ACTION.

CRONJE DEAF TO HIS WIFE'S APPEAL.

AND WILT; NOT SURRENDER London, February 24.

On Tuesday three field batteries and fwo naval twelve pounders from the sou h bank of the river, and howitzers, tin e field batto:ie9, anti three 4.7 inch trims f om the north bank, poured shot into Or >U’s position.

On Wednesday additional guns were brought to bear, and a continuous do vast-ini; fire was kept up.

The green fumes from tho burs'ing Ivddito shells were seen rising along the gully where the Boers were entrapped, while shrapnel swept the edges of tho river bank, and shells searched the ravines and bushes. Doserters from the laager describe Cronje’s grim determination as over mastering the wishes of his folk wws, wlio are fighting wi’h frenzied and Ingic courage, the Boer laager being a ma's of flames.

Cron jo’s wife on Tuesday night pleaded to him to captiulato and’thus save the lives of his men, but lie wasdeaf to her entreaties.

Lord Roberts, recognising the necessity of rapid movements, altered the plan of the whole campaign. ' The prisoners declare that his unexpected mobility dealt a death blow to the Free Staters* resistance, and spoiled Cronje’s and Jouberfs proposed combination.

The British, in consequence of rapid movemenfs and excessive heat, exhausted a terrible number of horses.