The evening times., 1900-02-27
Vipt0ry Qu Naiuba Day.

All England is in roar of excitement,
delight. and glory today. the nineteenth
anniversary of the fight and massa-
ere OF Majuba Hill. Cronje. after
heroic resistance. his food and ammunl-
tion exhausted, his guns damaged, his
wagons burned. and his force decimated by
a hail of British shot and shell, finally
surrendered to Lord Roberts at daylight
this morning. His capitulation included
one thousand women and children, whose
sufferings and terror during the battle
must have been too awful for realization.
According to our dispatches ii would ap-
pear that about eight thousand Beers have
become prisoners of war to the British
general From this it will probably follow
that The British prisoners at Pretoria viii
be released by exchange, unless Lord Rob-
erts should happen to borrow q leaf from
General Grants book and keep sll his pris-
oners on the theory that they are TOO
badly needed by the Beers to make their
enlargement good policy.
England has now one substantial victO-
ry to her credit, and in circumstances of
British advance through the Free State
should not be a difficult problem. and
BlOemfontein, its capital, will very likely
be taken before long. Incidentally. the
Boer disaster at Koodoe's Rand will almost
certainly call the Transvaal forces from
Natal. and it will be surprising if Sir Red
vers Butler is not in Ladysmith within the
next two days. But Cronje's surrender,
after all. may not bring the end OF the war
appreciably nearer. The second line OF de-
fence. planned by General de Brialmont.
corresponds with that of the Vaai River.
There viii lie stubborn fighting when he
Beers retire upon this line and even before
They seem to have some idea that Roberts
will turn back and attempt long turn by
way Of Kimberley and Mafeking What
reasons there ruay be for this theory, we
do not know. On the strength of past re-
views aud predictions perhaps the line ovei
re open veidt to Potchefstroom would APP
pear the more desirable for the invaders;
| but yhcre Is not much definite information
in regard TO typographical OF other phys
! i2al conditions north of Bloemfontein al
present within our reach. and the wal
beard 81 Pretoria may be correct in their
| prognosis of the situation.
While the Beers may still be able tc
make a long aud bloody fight. they must
! DC fully convinced that ultimate defeat is
| inevitable. and although they may be eN-
/ pccted to maintain a bold front. iheil
: agents in Europe and elsewhere viii not
| the less strain every nerve from now OF
| Ia secure foreign Intervention or media-
] tion We may confidently look for the
DEVELOPMENT of whatever designs in suct
a direction have been held in reserve 10y
! European cabinets. and it would not bt
! astonishing TO hear that Russia and france
had acted automatically TO secure ces
( sation Of hostilitics. The assumed anC
. probable intention Of these powers is 4
! prevent the absorption by England of tht
South African republics. and the eonse'
. ouent consolidation Of that part Of the
Continent under British rule. How fal
they are prepared to go in carrying ou
this policy may depend upon the extent z
/ which Germany will stand by Great Brit
ain. But The field of diplomacy. during thu
next few weeks. bids fair TO be as inter
ostiug as that of the South African war.