The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-06
TRIBUTE TO CRONJE.
Millionaire Robinson's Graphic De-
scriptfon OF the Man-Brave, and n
Great General.
Especial to New york world.)

Especial to New York WORLDLY
London, February Isl. B. Robin
son. the African millionaire miner and
Cecil Rhodes rival, said today:
II have known General Cronje long
shake his hand and tell him how much
/, in common with every Englishman.
admire the courage he has shown. He
may be our foe, but England is gener-
gu enough to recognize the good quail
ties of the man against her. General
Cronje and his 1000 men have GER
tainly revealed heroism never sur
passed in the history Of our race.
Surrounded by an army OF 5000
men with ITO guns continually pouring
stood at bay for days. 1t is only what
those OF US who knew the man expect
ed. General Cronje will never Of his
will surrender. He may be COM
PEELED TO do il by his men refusing TO
fight longer, but Of that / am very
doubtful. He is supported by the old
guard of the Transvaal, and no other
Boer has such influence over his follow
ers- They believe him invincible and
they almost worship him.
GENERALS SHARP TONGUE.
The slightest sign of Sinking from
anyone under him brings a few words
from the general that cut like a ship
cord and brace up the waverer like a
tonic.
THE people at home do not seem to
be able to understand how General
CrOnje can bid defiance to Roberts
army for many more days. l believe
he can, if his men will only stand by
him, resist for weeks. He made for
the spot where he is now i~ntrenched
for two reasons. First, he wanted to
be as near Bloemfontein as possible,
a relief would soon come form
there. Next he was perfectly ware
that the situation he now holds was
best fitted for his defense. 1T is in a
bend of the river, n that means much
shelter. for South African i've are
not like the English. Here the water
comes up to the top banks In South
Africa steep sides mount up 10. 20 and
80 feet above the water.
In these banks caves can be easily
made, in which men n stores can be
placed. AS soon as Cronje reached his
spot he Immediately prepared to de-
fend himself. His stores having been
put away, each man would dig a shell
ter trench, n If t. had not been for
these trenches the men must have all
been quickly annihilated by our artil-
lery fire. But each shelter trench not
only goes down, but has a part scOoped
out at the side in which a man a lie
in safety while lyddite and shrapnel
are pouring OF the earth above.
SMALL DANGER FROM SHELLS.
Unless a shell actually falls into the
trench, it does the man no damage. In
these trenches the Beers lie, a few men
being placed as sentries above. The
moment the sentry gives the alarm up
they spring and pour a rifle fire on any
Storming party.
Picture a little man, quiet-looking
at first glance, almost insignificant
when you first come in contact with
him, n you might be inclined to dis
miss him as an ordinary man, but by
few words from him will show you by
their grasp, their d~ecisiveneSs, that
your first impressions were wrong.
LAS you look longer at him the type
OF f. ce seems familiar. In a flash it
comc over you that this is the kind
of = head seen in the paintings of Did
Dutch masters.
Mrs. Cronje is a fit mate for her
husband, and brave as he at the pres
ent moment. She is probably prepar-
ing his coffee or cooking his steak in
one of the W of the river bed.
IS A BLUE BLOOD.
Cronje, like many of the Beers,
has in him the best blood in Europe.
When the edict of Nantes drove the
finest subjects of France into exile
many of them went to Holland. and
from there to Africa. The Cronjes
were among these. The Beers in both
republics, as we'll as in Cape Colony
and Natal, are descendants from the
best families of Holland and France.
Among the Beers Cronje has been
long known as their fighting general.
His reputation was first acquired in
native wars and hunting expeditions,
when his comrades saw his fertility
Of n absolute disregard Of
danger.