The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-14
KRUGER WAS LION
OF SOUTH AFRICA


Stephen J. Paul Kruger. the Lion OF
South Africa. was one Of the most pic
turesque figures Of the last century A
man of intensely religious temperament.
he had with II rare executive and mar
tIal ability, wonderful mental power
and an fndomitable will. qualities which
raised him from an humble grass-rooied
cottage of a frontier grazier 10 the occu-
patton OF the presidential chair IN the
Transvaal republic.
While the life Of the former preSldeht
was filled with stirring incidents, II was
not till the war with England broke OUT
that ne manifested those steri4ns q1-iIi-
ties which won for MS name its place
on the list of the great men or South
Africa.
Field Cornet at Sixteen.
He was born at CoIesburg. Cape Col
onv. October 10. ISz5 At eleven the fu-
lure president was working with his
father on the frontier; at tom teen. hav-
ing attained the years of majority ae-
cording TO the standard OF his country,
he joined the army and fought in the
Punitive expedition against the Mata-
beles. From that time on ais life was
a military one At sixteen l,e was pro-
NOTED to the post of field cOnet and
few years later became CoTnmandant.
in 1SS3 the choice OF his country. the
South African republic, tel Hpon hlhl
and he was elected president. rms posi-
ht. held until 1909, when the fortunes OF
u,ar tIrrning against his land he WAS
forced TO fee from the country ana
take refuge in Holland Fterc ne re-
NAMED either AT Hilversum, Mentone-
or Utrecht until a short time ago whea
h.. Travelled TO ClareuS ia sSdrch ci
health bu. only 10 end MS nie. uiS-
hearteDed. weary and "full OF years
The former President was married
three times. His last wife died IN ne
sarIz- mart of 1901 and u u said that
mis- sorrow in his declining years has
tened the end of Dom Paul
Of Insurmountable Obstinacy.
Dom Paul was a man of great Nndh-
ness of nature. yet there was IN ais
makeup an insurmoUntable obstinacy
which made the Boer war the long
drawn-out struggle whcih Il proved 10 be-
Time and again. when British victories
were. scored. other leaders OF the forlorn
South African nope would willingly have
given up and surrendered 10 the inev-
table. but Kruger on each occasion pro
tested, and the result was that the mis-
erable war which had desenerated into
guerrilla lighting by the Burshers con-
tinued When. finally the Boers-bcatcn,
home 4eSS, and nc2rtDFoNell--lii doNn
their arms, It was even then in direct
opposition 10 the wishes of this ola
man who had. from afar Off. kept me
war spirit alive when all hope was dead.
Kruger was heartbroken at the loss of
his country, and with the end OF The
war began rapidly TO fail. and. with the
exception OF "A few reappearances of the
old liCn-like spirit the remainder Of his
life was spent I'm continual sorrow and
longing for what might have been.
Caustic Comment on England.
In the latter part Of 1902 Kruger ISSUED
what he termed his memoirs. and which
gave a good index into the irradicabie
hatred for the British and all things lug
lish which characterized his later years.
IN these he describes the late Ccch
Rhodes as ere of the most Unscrupulous
characters that ever existed. He re-
ferred 10 Lord Miner as the tool II
Chamberlain. and concluded. today lie
enjoys the satisfaction OF having turned
South Africa into a wilderness and
robbed thousands Of inEocent people of
their lives.
OF EDglands policy in South Africa