Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1900 — BRAVERY OF BOERS. [ARTICLE]

BRAVERY OF BOERS.

GEN. CRONJE’S GRIM VALOR WINS ADMIRATION. Free State Leader’s Inflexible Courage in a Defenseless Position- The Entrapped Burghers Are Subjected to a Most Terrible Artillery Fire. Early on the morning of the third day of Gen. Cronje’s grim resistance the British infantry engaged the enemy in the dry bed of the Modder River. The morning sun disclosed the Boers toiling like ants on entrenchments around their laagers. A few shells were fired to prevent them from continuing the work. Every opportunity was given the Boers to surrender, but when toward afternoon there was no sign of any such intentions, Lord Roberts determined to crush once and for all Gen. Cronje’s resistance. On the south bank of the river at a range of about 2,000 yards three field batteries and two naval twelve-pounders were positioned. On the north bank and enfilading the whole river, one howitzer, three field batteries and three naval -1.7 guns were placed. Then followed a most wonderful scene. Over 100 powerful gum) concentrating their fire upon a spot about a mile square. The exploding lyddite shells raised great clouds of green smoke, completely filling the bed of the river. The shrapnel burst on the edge of each bank, except' for a short space where the proximity of the British infantry made it dangerous. British shells searched every bush and every ravine of the river bed. The enfiladingguns must have done terrible execution. The roar was deafening, yet with a spirit of desperate madness now and again the Boers would attempt to snipe the naval guns which were firing at a range of 1,000 yards. The long line of three batteries -belched, forth death, while on each side lay two battalions of infantry whose Maxims sounded petty beside the roaring big guns. What loss the Boers suffered is not known yet.

There was a vague rumor current in London Thursday night that Gen. Cronje, with his 7,000 men, had surrendered. No official confirmation of the rumor could then be had. According to unofficial advices Gen. Cronje was sur--rounded and his force torn and slaughtered by the encircling steel fire, yet holding out in grim determination to do .his best to verify President Kruger’s famous ante-bellum declaration that the Boers’ reception to the British would “stagger humanity.” The Boer general apparently had exhausted his ingenuity in trying to secure, all possible delay. He asked an armistice of twenty-four hours, according to the unofficial dispatches, in which to bury his dead. When this was refused, with a slur on British “inhumanity,” he invited negotiations looking to surrender. Then when visited by Gen. Lord Kitchener he declared the whole business was a mistake, that he never thought of surrendering, that he intended to vanquish his imperialistic foe or leave the lifeless bodies of himself and his soldiers on the battlefield. These negotiations required time, and meanwhile it is thought Gen. Cronje Was awaiting the arrival of re-enforcements.

It is universally held that this Modder River battle is one of the most desperate of history. Cronje's position in itself was not of the best, but he was surrounded by flat ground, across which the British must move to rush the enemy’s force. It was this unprotected stretch of country which caused Lord Roberts to hesitate. He knew that men would fall there by hundreds if an attempt ‘were made to Traverse it. Accordingly he planted guns on commanding points and from a distance he began to hurl lyddite and shrapnel into the Boers’ laager. In face of this beichipg out of s.dphur-* ous death Cronje’s force held on —an extraordinary exhibition of desperate pluck that compels expression of admiration on every hand. Yet it is declared that he is open to grave censure for uselessly and wantonly sacrificing the lives of his men.