Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1900. Cronje's Capitulation.

Manawatu Herald, 1 March 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1900. Cronje's Capitulation.

The news of Commander Cronje's capitulation on Saturday last, the news of which reached this colony yesterday from the Agent-General will be welcomed by every true Briton. The anxiety of the past week, ever since news was received tfiat Cronje had been surrounded, has been great even in this town so distant an outpost of the British Empire. Men have met men with the question " Well, what news?" and hearing there was none moved on with set faces. The fear that moved us all was not as to the result of a conflict between a British and a Boer force, but whether owing to the fearful contradictory telegrams we are always receiving, the news was true that Cronje was really surrounded. The latest news proves that the telegrams were correct, and the capitulation of the army seems to have been complete. Commander Cronje deserves a meed of praise for the stand, nearly a week, he made in the hole into which he had run to earth, and the news shows that he as well as his men believed they were in a helpless place. Possibly he sacrificed his forces under the spirit of duty to give his comrades time to strengthen their defences, but how far he has been justified will only be leafnt when the use of these extra days by the Boers becomes known. No more satisfactory capture than that of Cronje could have been made, as he is the one Boer leader most distrusted. He is credited with many acts that have been unfair both in abusing the use of the white flag and the Red Cross badge. That he is tricky is shown by the very summary reply he got to his request for an armistice, to bury his dead. To any other general this courtesy would probably have been extended, but the trust in Cronje's ttuth. and fair dealing was not sufficient to accord to one, who though a soldier was not a gentleman. We would not make such a statement without justification, and we therefore recall to mind that it was was Cronje who in 1881 treacherously tricked the garrison of Potchefstroom into surrendering by concealing the fact that an armistice had been arranged.

The capitulation will have a wholesome effect both on Boers and Boer sympathisers, and should make the end of the war nearer, as it will be found that the Free Staters will have had enough. The news of this British success curiously reached this colony on the 37th February, the anniversary of the day in the year 1881 when we lost the battle in Natal known as Amajuba Hill. It can be confidantly reckoned that the poor statesmanship shown after that reverse is responsible for the war raging to-day, and as our arms are now in the ascendant it is to be fervently hoped that no ear will be turned to any proposals for pe?ce that do not require a total subjugation of the two countries ntfw at war with us," and their annexation. Britons, the world over, have sent men, sent money, and have shown in every way their sympathy with the Motherland, and this has been done to secure the proud prestige that Great Britain has gained, and they are prepared to go very much further, if necessary, so that these men who have had the audacity to invade, and absurdly to annex, British territory shall not for the future have any status to invade or annex anything in the future.