The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-24
SAYS Beers WILL WIN
COMMANDANT JAN KRIGE Lee
TUREs ON SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
Describes Present Situation, and
Maintains That the TransvaaI
Cause Is Gaining Ground
Everywhere.

Mozart hall was filled last evening with
an audience apparently in hearty SYM
paqhy with all Jan krige, commandment
IN the Boer army had to say in favor
Of the Boer side of the South African
war. G. d. O'Brien was chairman of
the meeting and introduced the speaker.
others On the platform were Thomas r.
Kane, Judge J. w. Willis, T.. F. Koch
and w. f. Bergmeier of the Voiks-
zeItung. Mr.. Krige is a soldierly look
ing man. He speaks very good English,
although with strong German accent
ana Tor the most part he gave am unim-
passfoned account of the war and it's
causes from the Boer standpoint. He
pretaced his lecture with a short history
OF the troubles that led up to the war,
giving as the chief cause the rapacity of
the English. AS an instance of this Mr..
krlge stated that in 1867 the English
stole the diamond mines of the Free
state, giving in compensation $4,000
winch was not equal to a weeks out
put of the mines. He gave an account of
the war of 1880 and of the defeat of the
English on Majuba hill. This contest he
said, opened the eyes of the Beers to
Englands intentions. AS am instance of
the Beers lack of prejudice he stated
that some of the powder which they
purchased to carry on the war was pur-
chased from Joe Chamberlain. Later the
sending of Sir Alfred Miner as high
commissioner Of the Beers was looked
upon by them as almost declaration Of
war, for Miner was VIGOROUSLY out of
sympathy with the people of the Trans
QaaI. In his account Of the war the
speaker ridiculed the so-called masterly
retreat of the British from Dundee. He
said that so close were the Beers at
their heels that the British officers left
all their belongings benInd them. An ex-
ceedmgly vivid account was given of the
death of Waunchope, commander of the
Black Watch. a crack Highland regi-
ment which was almost annihilated by
the Beers
Commandant Krige vigorously denied
that the Boer war was near its termina-
ton. The war, he said, was the cause
OF Queen Victoria's death and it would
not be over until it had caused the dis
solution also of the British empire.
England was finding it difficult work to
keep her soldiers supplied with ammu-
milton. She was carrying on the war at
frightfui cost. Her victories had been
dear ones. Her policy of concentrating
Boer women and children in certain
places, her Indifference to their welfare
was losing her the few sympathisers she
had. Yet Commandant Krige admitted
that she would not give up easily. For
she knew that once the Beers were free
she could not expect to hold Australia
or even India. And in a general freeing
of the colonies from the mother country
was there not hope, said the speaker, for
even the little Emerald Isle? The sug-
gestion was applauded.
In conclusion Commandment Krige de-
ciared that the Beers were fighting for
their independence, just as the American
colonies fought for theirs, and were en-
titled to sympathy and aid from all free
dom-loying people.
Commandment Krige will deliver sim
liar free lecture at Century hall, Mime
apoliS, this evening.