New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-27
and he ought to be careful about putting mod
Missourian craftsmanship too sharply In
contrast with its former greatness.
METHOD IN CRoNJES MADNESS.

There now arises an inclination TO condemn
General Cronje for his prolonged resistance to
Lord Roberts. His case being hopeless, men
say, he should have capitulated days ago, 10
save useless loss of lfe True, there are reports
that he some time back wanted to surrender
but was kept from doing so by the young Beers
from the Transvaal. That may be So though
we should be inclined, from what is known or
General Cronje's disposition, to doubt it, Ii also
appears that he has curtly declined the British
offer of safe conduct for the women and chill
dren who are in his camp to place OF sarety
He prefers 10 keep them there under lombard
ment, a decision which we cannot admire or
commend These, however. are minor details
The fundamental facts IL the case are that ne
made splendid rush for freedom up the Mod
der River, and that when Overtaken and sur
rounded by the British he made so stout
defence as TO command the enthusiastic adm1ra-
ton of the British themselves 1t has been SAID
that his attempt to hold out against Lord ROD
erts was madness. But it was madness with
world OF method In it.
We have already recalled. by way of com
parlson, the charge of the Six Hundred into the
valley of death" That it was remarked, was
magnificent, but K was not war General
Cronje's stand In the valley of death Is mag
nifcent and it is war. General CrOnje is not
holding out through sheer stubbornness though
he is not deficient in that quality. He knows
that the fate of the Boer States depends upon
| him. and he means to discharge his trust at no
matter what cost If he surrenders, Bloem-
fontein is at the mercy of the British, the Boer
army in Natal will be exposed to attack from
the north as well as from the south, the Orange
State will be inclined TO withdraw from the war
and sue for peace, and the road TO Pretoria will
10 tba riff In cannot
defeat Lord Roberts But he has hope that by
holding his ground stubbornly, he can gain time
| either for the concentration of Boer army FOR
| his relief, with the cooperation of which he
! may cope with Lord Roberts, or, failing that
| for the fertilization and defence of BloemToh-
| ten so that when at last his army does sur
render or is annhilated there will be another
| line of resistance to the British advance
That is. no doubt, the method Of his mad
ness and 1t is sound generalship. 1t Is entalllng
dreadful losses. But what else Is to be expected
| in war? Reduced to its simplest elements, war
| Is a game of killing and being killed. Some
times men charge III "fOrlorn hope against
the enemy and get killed for the sake or the
Fatherland. Sometimes they stand still IN ii
forlorp hone, defending as long as they can an
ndefensible position, for the sake of the Father
| land. The one service is as honorable and as
| effective as the other No one would crtlcise
General Cronje for sacrificing two or three thou-
| sand men if thus he could win great battle
| Well, to hold the British in check for time Is
| lust now as important as the winning or a
| battle. And he has made up his mind to do 1t,
| even though it be at the cost of thousands OF
| his men, In so doing he is doing as general
ought to do. His cause may be wrong one
! We believe it is But at least he is uphodng II
| with skill and valor that must command the
admiration even of his foes.