University of South Carolina Libraries
THE Vt AR IN AFRICA. A Review of Last Week's Events-Scraps of News Tnat Have Been Received. t ? _ London, Feb 24 -Spencer Wilkin? son summarizing tbe weeks events ii tbe war with south ?frica tonight said : "On the eight of Thursday? Feb 15, Gen Cronje marched out from Magerefontein between Gen French, who had just entered Kimberley and Gen Kelly Kenny, then at Kilip drift on the Modder river The next day Gen Kelly-Kenny pursued him, attacked his rear guard and delayed bim anti! the Highland brigade was on its way io stop bim on the south bank of the Modder, aud General French could pass bim on the north bank. "After a three days' running fight Gen Cronje was stopped at Koodos rand, near Paard?berg, where he was surrounded His force was between tbe fiver bank ; which gave him a defensive position facing either way, so> that attacks on bim involved heavy toss, bot be was held until on Tues day, Lord Roberts arranged to grip kim with a girdle of infantry in bis position, while cannonading bim with fifty guns enfilading the river bed. Ia the meantime Lord Roberts with a spare division or two beyond the ? three brigades helping Cronje, set himself to intercept and drive away any Boer reinforcements "This was the situation on Wednes? day and it offered a reasonable prob ability of the capture ot Cronje's ?bree, and of the defeat of any rein? forcements. "We have little news beyond Wednesday On Thursday the shell ing of Cronje was continued at in terv??s, continuons shelling probably involving a too lavish use o? ammu uition. Boers have been giving themselves op by fifties a day On Tuesday Lord Roberts drove off rein forcements coming from Colesberg and from Natal. "A Berlin report declares that Cronje has forced his way through This is improbable, but may refer to a small party who may have escaped in the night. .'Lord Roberts' advance has drawn away some of the Boer forces from Colesberg, Sterkstroom and Natal, as is seen from the diminished resist? ance to the British at ali those points ^ "Gen Buller, after taking Inhlawe hill, has crossed the Tugela, and ac? cording to the iatest telegrams, has been fighting continuously since Thursday morning This looks like a decided attempt to relieve Lady? smith, wherein 1 expect Gen tJuller will succed if he does not, a9 before, interrupt his advance by stopping to count his losses and declaring that he has lost enough A general has never lost enough to justify the giv iog up ot his enterprise, so long aa his troops are willing to go on with him. Ladysmith can probably hold out for several weeks longer, and in that time the effect of Lord Roberts* advance wiil probably be even more marked than it has yet been London, Feb 25, 4 35 a m.-Since 2 15 o'clock yesterday afternoon noto ing bas been received from tbe scene of*what the L'jodon papers call Gen? eral Cronje's death struggle, the war officiai* announcing at midnight that they had nothing to give out They stated that they believed ic impossible for Cronje to escape from the grip ot Lord Roberts The report circulated in Berlin that Cronje had succeeded in making bis escape, came irom the Boer h?adquar ters in Br?ssel?, where it was stated that details were still lacking The oaly news from otb r part? of the seat of war received daring the night is a special dispatch from C"!eo so, under date of Feoruary 24, stating thit the British io spite of strong op position, were advancing slowly bu1 surely, and driviog tbe B-ers from the kopjes between Grobler's kloof and Hlang wane Ladysmith reports by heliograph on Friday that the B~ers were .retiring northward, in large numbars Mean? while the certainly of relief is PO strong at Durban that the authorities are actively preparing train loads of provi sioos, Inzuries and medical comfort for dispatch co the beleaguered rowo as soon as communications are reopened. HOT FIGHTING CONTINUES TO THE NORTH OF COLENSO Colenso, Natal, 25 -The Boers who had been reenforced made a strong attack Thursday at Gobier's kloof and on a range of bills ranging e*s; Toey bad been forced from ail their posirioor on (he right. Gen Lyttleton*? division on Tbu^day advanced under cover of the kopje-. The Boers fired a Creusot and a ' Lonu Tom.'" The British artillery was well sheltered io the action at daybreak and until late in the afternoon, wb<n a heavy rifle fire on both sides developed. Tbe British infantry bad ad vaned a mile and a nair and a continuous fire was kept up until aft?r dark The Boers stuck to their positions Tbe British artillery fire was irregular. A few salvos were sent toward the thickly wooden spots aod ravine^ from which the Boer fire was heavier. The Baers seo t sbe?s into tbe headquarters baggage, dose to the hospital, but no material damage was d^nc GeDerai Wynne was H?:?rbtiy wounded. The B^er postil?os- are out eor sidered strong, with the exoeption of G ."bl er's kloof. The bilis eastward are Dot so high and cannot bo intrenched so well a9 the mountains which the Briti.-h have taken The Somerset* were the first across tbe pontoons on Wednesday. Tbey were subjected to a heavy fire for five hours io an isolated position it was tbe first time tbey had been under fire, and they behaved excellently Early on Friday a severe rifb fire was resumed on the right and front, from tbe positions held over night, by both sides The British naval guns, howitzers, mountain and field batteries shelled the Boer trenches incessantly. Tbe Boera replied with two heavy guos, 60me of their thetis burstiog over tbe hospital. As a result the British wounded were removed. Daring the afternoon the Fifth brig? ade [oniskillins and Dublins leading, began to advance np the bills Io spite of the constant shelling the Boers stood op io their trenches aiming deliberately down the hills. The infantry advance waa farther covered by parties on the right and left firing volleys. It was slow, the British taking advantage of every bis of natural cover The Boers on tbe crest of the billa, as well as from tbe trenches part of the way down, poured lead along tbe advancing Hoe At dark the British infantry bad reached within a few hundred yards of the first line of the Boer trenches. London, Feb 26, 4 35 a na -Per? haps never before in the course of the present campaign have such crowds visited the war office as went there yesterday As the Times re marks today, "the dearth of newe is somewhat-trying at a time when a j considerable success was generally I regarded as imminent " No diminution cf confidence in Lord Roberts is felt, however, and the pubiic is ready to believe that be has good reasons for not mentioning Gen Cronje in the official dispatches Probably he is in no hurry to end a situation which is daily bringing small parties of Boers in a vain en? deavor to reeufcrce Gen Cronje These he can deal with in detail Lord Roberts has already captured over 500 Boers, and at this rate he will soon have quite a respectable array of prisoners to be held as host ages for the 3,000 British already in Pretoria. Gen Cronje's refusal to accept t^e offer of Lord Roberts regarding the women and children iudioates either that the position is less desperate than has been supposed or that he hae been able to dig an absolutely safe place for them - Everything goes to show that Gen Butler's advance is most stubbornly resisted and mort cautiously carried out It is hoped that he will soon be in .a position where Gen White will be able to assist him materially The campaign is now approaching I a mest interesting- phase In about j a fortnight tbe congress of the Afri ! kacder bund will meet, and it ie j rumored that Mr Iiofmeyr will then I propose peace terms on the basis ot j the republics retaining absolute itide i j pendence, but offering to disarm If I these terms are rejected it is uuder stood that a manifesto will be boldly issued to the Dutch throughout South Africa, calling upon them to throw off .their allegiance to Great Britain. Probably these rumors are e^ag gerated, but there is no doubt that the greatest anxiety prevails io Cape Town regarding coming events Germany, through the semi official Beriiuer Post, reiterates that all re ports of German intervention are quite without foundation. Capt Raymond Harvey de Mont? morency, who was killed in Gen Gat acre's recontJO?89ance Saturday, was the heir of Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, and was the fourth heir to a peerage who has falien in tbe course of the campaign. London. Feb 27. 4 20 a ra -The Boers are assembling an army near Bloemfontein, with which to dispute the invasion of Lord Roberte Thie intelligence comes from Pretoria by way of Lorenzo Marques The com mandoe8 are described as "hasten ing from ali quarters of the two re publics " No estimate is made of their nnm hers, but the withdrawal of the Boers from most of the places where they have been in contact with the British except the district near Ladysmith, may raiee the reeieting force to 30 000 men This figure assumes that the Boers have between 60 000 and 70, 000 men in the field The gathering of this army across the path of Lord Roberts gives significance to Gen Cronje's steadfast defense He has engaged the corps of Lord Roberts for ten daye now, and whether he is relieved or not. he has given time for the (iiepersed Boer factions to get together and to prepare positions to receive the British advance when Cronje ?8 overcome and Lord Roberts moves forward It ie difficult to conceive that the Boers are strong enough to take the offensive and to rescue Gen Cronje from his precarious situation The war office has nothing after midnight to indicate hie collapse, and he may hold out for a few days. The correspondents seem to have no ex act information respecting hie re sources. Some 6?y he has plenty of food but is short of ammunition. Others assert that he abandoned his food supplies but kept abundant sup plies of ^cartridges j Gen Buller on Saturday faced the ! last and strongest positions of the j Boers who bar his way to Ladysmith. The strenuous fighing iudicates a battle between armies, rather than rear guard actions protecting a re? treat On Thursday and Friday he lost 43 officers killed and wounded, repre? senting probably a total loss of from 400 to 500 Gen White's gun's worked on Saturday upon the Boer position, and a heliogram from Ladysmith reported that the Boers were retreating and that larger rations were being issued in view of the fact that relief seemed at band. Nothing has been heard from Mafeking since Feb 12th The movement on the veldt away from the railway is becoming increasingly difficult for large bodies of troops, as the grass is burned up Gen French has to wagon forage for his horses, and even the infantry finds long marches harder than before, as forage for tue transport animals must be carried This requires the forma tion of garrisoned depots The ordinary campaigning season is over, and a sickly season for both men and animals has set in. Technical military writers take these things into consideration in forecasting events. The Daily Chronicle says it learns from private letters that British rifles and ammunition have been land? ed on the southern coast of Cape Colony, presumably for the Dutch colonists Lord Roberts has recently receiv. ed 72 additional pieces of artillery. Whether all have been sent to Paardeberg is not known Probably the Eighth division will leave England next Monday. GEN CRONJE'S POSITION PRO? TECTED FROM BRITISH SHELLS. v Loodon, Feb 26 -Dispatches from Paardeberg show that Gen Crooje's forces have far more protection from Field Marshal Lord Roberts' heavy fire than at first indicated. A special dis? patch from Paardeberg, published in the seocnd edition of the Daily Chron? icle and dated Saturday, Feb 24, says : *'A balloon bas discov?red the enemy weil oovered by a system of burrowing in the river bank which resembles a rabbit-warren and affords shell proof positions " It will not be much of a surprise if today or tomorrow which is the anni? versary of Majuba hill, will be marked by ?be surrender or annihilation of the gallant band so overwhelmingly hem med in. though the closeness of the investment appears open to criticism. Small bodies of Boers, apparently, are able to make their escape, causing com? parison here with the Boer method* of investment, with their quickly dog sir rounding trenches, impassable barbed wire, eic , aod those of the Br if i?h. Lord Roberts ho'ds a position almopr analogous with that held so long by I the Boers at Ladysmith As Ger. Cronje is reported to have plenty of fiod, the plan of starving him out can scarcely r.vail, as Lord Roberts mu?t either wait until his ammunition, which is said to be short, rune out, or those of Gen Cronje's foroes who are coun selling surrender prevail So indefi? nite is the information that either of these alternatives may occur at any moment. Meanwhile Lord Roberts" engineers are sapping steadily towards the Boer laager aod, accordiog to a spacial from Paardeberg, dated Suoday. Feb 25. the cordoo is gradually drawing closer. Gen Butler's march on Ladysmith is being marked by sharp fighting. A Pietermaritzburg dispatob of today's date says be is still heavily engaged in fighting. In Gobler'e kl -of Geo Bul 1er seems to have discovered a hornet's nest. In Cape Colony the British arm9 are steadily advancing. Barkley East is now in their pos? session, according to a dispatch from that district, the Boers evacuating the place, retreating on Ladygrey aod wir? ing President Steyn for reenforoements to prevent their surrender. DEADLY ROAD TO LADYSMITH London, Feb 26 -Gen Buller, in a dispatch from Colenso dared Suoday. Feb 25, reports that the British casual? ties Feb 20 were 12 killed and 99 wounded, among the Somersets and Dorset8, and that Feb 22 and Feb 23, 12 officers were wounded. The war rffiae today issued an addi? tional list of the casualties sustained hy the Fifth brigade under Gen Buller Feb 23 and Feb 24, which ioolude 7 officers killed, 23 wounded and 1 miss ing. Gen Butler's death list contains the names of three lieutenant colonels, Thackery of the F-rst. Royal loniskill ing Fusiliers : Sirwell. of the Second Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and Tboroid, of the Royal Weloh Fusiliers An additional li?.r. nf the British casualties at Paardoberg, Feb 18, is announced and gives a lieutenant and eight men kill od, a lieutenant and srvon men missing, and 38 meo wounded BOERS STILL THERE London, Feb 27 -Winston Cburoh ill, io a dispatch to the Morning Post from Frere Camp, dated Sunday, says: "The idea that the Boers are raising the siege of Ladysmith is prematare The advance is oeing pursued in the face of the most stubborn opposition, and of heavy loss President Kroger's grandool: is among tbe B ers killed THE GALLANT IRISHMEN London, Feb 27 -The Times bas the following from Pietermarrzburg, dated Friday, Feb 23: "The Dublin Fus'liers have again distinguished themselves by volunteering to take Goblers' kloof, which they did. This gaLUnt battalion, whiob began the campaign 850 strong, can today be said to muster on parade only between 100 and 200 of its original members. A Bright Jeweler. A gentleman tells the following joke on a jeweler: A young man who was on the verge of matrimony went to the jeweler and bought a ring and left in? structions that in it be engraved the legend, "From A to Z," which, being interpreted, meant from Anthony to Zenobia. To his astonishment, on call? ing for the ring the next day he found it engraved like an Egyptian obelisk and on closer examination found that the jeweler had put the whole alpha? bet "from A to Z" on it. Music For Fish Bait. An eccentric hermit named William Schueller, who lives at Franklin, Mich., Is said to be one of the most successful fishermen in his part of the country, and he claims to call the fish to him by singing "Old Hundredth." He goes out in his boat and takes a station in fairiy deep water. Then he sings, at the same time keeping his eyes on the water in search of fish. Gradually the , fish crowd about his boat, he claims, and when enough are gathered togeth? er the wily fisherman casts a net and catches dozens at a single haul. The old gentleman lias a famous voice, and his neighbors are inclined to believe his strange story--Chicago Record. Bloody Battle in Mexico. Potam Somor, Mexico, Feb 25 - The Mexican Federal troops under Gen Torres have saved Goayamas from the Yaquis, but by dint of the fiercest fightifig of the war and at a sacrifice of 200 soldiers. The town here is filled with wounded and all the public buildings are utilized Torres anticipated the surprise the Yaquis intended. The Indians were accompanied by ten adventurers, miners and cowboys, who acted as commanders of separate companies of forty men each The Yaquis had also a Maxim gun, which had been smuggled through at Bisbee, Ariz, in a load of machinery The gun was manipulated the Mexicans claim, by two Ex Rough Riders Torres reached here Thursday afternoon and descided to divide his army of 700 men into two divisions. The first and strongest flanked by the frunboal Democrats, left here a?, daybreak Friday morning No scouts preceded tito force, and the first in timation ci the pretence, of Ine j Yaquis was a withering fire from the j Maxim and a rifle voiley from I concealed fortifications in a dense j thicket The first division retreated in confusion and was sheltered in the timber growth along the rivf r. More than 100 men fell at the first fire The Dem?crata then steemed! up and swept the thicket with her machine guns, but evidently ineffectively Her forward decks were swept and the protected upper deck peppered with bullets from the Maxim Ten sailors and First Lieut Rambolo, of of the army, were kilied. The Dem?crata drifted for more than a half mile until a bend in the river sheltered her Late in the afternoon hill signals showed the waiting com raanders of the first division tbat the second detatchment had reached the neighboring heights to the southeast in its flank movements I A simultaneous attacked was then J made from the front and flank, and the Indians retreated The Maxim gun, disabled and use less, was brought into Potana and seventy three Indians, the official report states, were found dead There was no pursuit and the Indians must have withdrawn in good order During the first fire of the Ysquis twenty three Mexican Federals were driven into the river in a panic and were drowned The total Mexican loss was 227. The Dem?crata has been sent to Guayamas for repairs This is the first time the Yaquis have made use of fortifications Shoe Store Again in "full blast," NEW SHOES ARRIVING EVERY WEEK FROM HEADQUARTERS All shoes that were on shelves August 1st sold regardless of what they cost. Walsh's Shoe Store Under City Clock. Sep 27-T li FI HS - -TO DUB FINDS. MR. EDITOR : You may have had us in mind when referring in a recent issue of your paper to the peculiarity of merchants in regard to advertising, in which you quoted them as saying that "in good times it was not necessary to advertise, and in hard times it did not pay." While we have always found that advertising paid us, we must confess that for the past sixty days any in- - crease of business that we might secure by that means, could not have been satisfactorily waited on, as our clerical force has been taxed to its utmost capacity. Now that the rush of cotton is over and we have an opportunity to say a few words to our friends in the country, we desire to acknowledge, through the columns of the Watch-. man and Southron, our grateful thanks to them for the liberal patronage bestowed upon us, for which we can offer nothing in return except our promise that their interests will be as care? fully guarded by us in the future as they have been in the past. It is particularly gratifying to us to acknowledge a very liberal trade during the months of September and October from our farming friends, to whom it was our pleasure to extend a credit during the summer. It proves to us that they appreciate our endeavor to be just and reasonable with them, when they need assistance, as we have always tried to be-our motto being LIVE AND LET LIVE Although we tried to anticipate this season's wants by buying a heavier stock than ever before, our trade has so far exceeded our expectations, that we have been obliged to re? plenish frequently and freely every department of our store. In Dry Goods We bought a very heavy stock of staples, a fair percentage of which we still have on hand and are selling at old prices, Those i Tar Heel Blankets Which you have been waiting for so long have come at last. It was not our fault that they were not here sooner as our contracts were made in May for September delivery, but the mill has been so crowded with orders it was impossible to deliver them sooner. These goods are made in A Southern Mill. From Sout?ern Wool, By Southern Men and there are none better. They are improving on the finish every year. We are selling at the same price as last year: but if we have to duplicate we will be obliged to charge an advance. We only have about FIFTY PAIRS, so don't put off buying, or you may get left. SHOES. Why the advance in cotton should have affected the price of shoes, but strange to say they too have gone up. We doirt know whether it was judgment or luck, bui our purchases for Fall were nearly double our usual contracts. We are buying now for Spring and paying 10 to lo per cent more for the same class of goods, but those 02 hand will go at the old prices while they last. In our write-up about Shoes last Fall we had something spe? cial to say about The Hv 0. Godman Line for Women and Children. Our increased sales for these goods prove that we told the truth. . Bear in mind we are still the SOLE AGENTS FOE THEM AND GUARANTEE EVERY PAIR THE L. M. REYNOLDS LINE OF MEN'S SHOES, sold exclusively by us, are trade-winners. The prices range from ?1.75 to ?3.50, and every pair warranted. If you want the I best ?3 00 shoe buy a Reynolds. CLOTHING. This has certainly been our banner season in the clothing business, and if there are any of the men or boys in the county who have not bought a suit, it has not been our fault ; but fear? ing there still may be a few unprovided, we are keeping up our stock by telegraphing orders for shipment by express. If you need an overcoat see us before buying, as we have some great values. In our Hat and Furnishing Ofoods De? partment will be found some values that compare favora? bly with the balance of our stock. This announcement would not be complete without a word about our , GROCERY STOCK. This department is up to the usual standard, and that is saying about all that is necessary for it. Our MILLBUKNE FLOUR, of which we believe there is more sold in this county han other brand, is pronounced by those who use it, unsur? passed. O'Donnell & Co.