Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-03-01
BRAVERY OF BOERS.
GEN cRoNJE's GRIM VALoh
WINS ADMIRATION.
Free state Leaders, InfexibIe slonra-e
=, . Defenseless Position the
trapped BurGhers Are Sun1ec'eu - :
49,. Terrible Artillery Fire.

EARLY on the morning OF the 'iiiru u 49,
&c Cen. Cronje's grim resistahee -
british infantry engaged the eniny ,r,
tho dry bed of the Modder hl'ei' ~.
,noruing sun disclosed the boefs 'o a,i...
like ants on entrenchments arouhu 'ne
,aapers. A few shells were nfeu 70 Pr
won't them from continuing liie ~,
EYarv opportunity was given the bocrs
~ surrender, but when toward alteinooA
+born was no sign Of any such lntentlons'
ord Roberts determined to crush once
- for al Cen. Cronje's resistance. vi
49, so,+b hank Of the river at range OIL
ahout 1000 wards three field batteries
- two naval twelve-pounders were po-
:sa,aa On the north bank and ennia-
49, tba whole river, one howitzer, three
Ella batteries and three naval AZ guns
were placed.
u,bon followed a most wonderful scene.
Oyar 100 powerful guns concentrating
+ba;r fro upon sgot about mile square.
,rbe exploding lyddite shells raised grea'
clouds of green sntDk& completely hlllng
tho he'd of the river. The shrapnel burse
an the edge of each bank, except Tor
short space where the. proximity OF tne
British infantry made it dangerous. brlt-
ish shells searched every bush and every
ravine Of the river bed. The enhiadlng
guns must have done terrible execution.
The roar was deafening, yet with spirit
~ dasnerate madness now and again the
Roers would attempt to snipe the nayal
guns which were firing at range OF
/ 900 wards. The long line Of three pat
ferries belched forth death. while on eacn
side Law two battalions of infantry whose
Maxims sounded petty beside the roaring
hio guns What loss the Beers suffered
is not known yet.
There was a vague run1or current III
London Thursday night that zen.
Cronje with his 1000 men, mad sufreh-
dered. No official confirmation OF the
rumor could then be had. According 10
unofficial advices Gen. Cron1e was sur
rounded and his force torn and slaugn-
tered by the encircling steel fire, yet hold
ing out in grim determination to 90 MS
best to verify President kruger's famous
ante bellum declaration that the boers
reception to the British would stagger
humanity The BOer general apparent
ly had exhausted his ingenuity III trying
to secure all possible delay. lie asked
an armistice of twenty-four hours, ac-
cording to the unofficial dispatches, IN
which to bury his dead. When this was
refused. with slur on British 'lnhu-
manity.' 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 sol
diers on the battlefield. These negotla-
lions required time, and meanwhile 1t 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
fiat ground, across which the British
must move to rush the enemy's force.
1t was this unprotected stretch Of coun-
try which caused Lord Roberts to hest
tate. 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 distance he began to hurl lyd-
dite and shrapnel into the Beers lager.
In face of this belching out OF sulphur
Gus death Cronje's force held on-an ex
traordinary 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.