The Irish standard., 1901-05-18

state OF siege for eight months, and
that the British have been unable to
relieve it. The Beers are quite active
in Cape Colony and in the two Dutch
republics, and the correspondent de-
clares that Kitchener sees the futility
of conquering them in the near future
and has advised the government to Of
fer them favorable terms.
But little has recently been said of
General De Wet, but it can he safely
surmised he is not idle. Botha has
not been mentioned for some time, but
his wife is said to have started for
Europe as peace envoy to President
Kruger. Another Boer general is COM
ing to the front who bids fair to equal
De Wet us tactician and strategist.
He is General Kritzinger, who has
prominently figured in the Boer inva-
sion Of Cape Colony and has shown
exceptional ability.
was holly pursued, cornered or
crushed by the British, he has invari-
ably escaped capture. One day he
will have 1000 men with him, and a
day or two later, when the British
think he is surrounded, they find the
Beers broken into small bands which
have disappeared among the noun
tains, where pursuit is useless.
One correspondent wrote at the end
of March that the chase after Kritzin-
ger continued undated and was full
OF curious situations. No fewer than
seven columns were in hot pursuit Of
him, driving him to the Orange river,
which was unfordable; but when they
thought they had him caught they dis
covered that he was fifty miles in their
rear threatening the railway after hav-
ing broken up his command into two
sections. Then everything had to be-
gin over again.
An officer who fell into Kritzinger's
hands gives an interesting account Of
his experience. He was on his way
to notify the local force in the Cradock
district of Kritzinger's proximity,
when he found the drift where he had
proposed to cross a river held by the
Beers. Endeavoring to swim the
stream at another point, he lost his
horse and narrowly escaped drowning,
being rescued by passing Kaffir who
CHANGED that way.
Later he recovered his horse, which
had landed lower down, and rode off
to warn the locals. He had ridden
barely ten minutes in the direction he
had to go when he was brought up
short by two men sitting on a bank
One called out "Good morning." and
the two advanced to make him prison.
er. One was the Boer commandant
and the other his right-hand man,
Krog. They were watching a large
British force which was crossing the
railway line in the far distance.
Finding there was no help for it, he
submitted with good grace and was
closely searched, but no papers We're
found on him, he having previously
destroyed those he carried. He was
deprived of his horse saddle and field
glass, but his watch and money were
left him.
The officer describes Kritzinger as a
fine-loolSing man about feet 10 inches
in height, broadly built and speaking
English perfectly. At the time of their
meeting the Boer commander was at
tired in lavender colored trousers with
yellow tanned CATERS, a we'll cut coat.
starched white linen shirt and a brand
new tallyho hat. He wore gloves and
carried hunting whip. His men were
we'll dressed and all their horses were
in splendid condition.
1t was believed that one of the rea-
sens for General De Vets return north
of the Orange river so soon after his
last advance into Cape Colony, was
his recognition of Kritzinger's ability
to carry on the operations without his
So long as De Wet, Botha,
Delarey, Kritzinger and others hardly
inferior to them are in the field the
British can make up their minds that
the war will continue indefinitely.