The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1900-08-31 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

COPYRIGHT.'  CTRAPTRR LTV.— A COUNOIL OF WAR They were a curlous group ga•hered round tlit ter general. in that sheltering amp. ordi sary Boer le never spruce in his dress and appear btu these men had been through a Lampaige which had left its marks upon them front top Li. in dilapidation and d rt. Gloomy. ilcpreased; and sullen, they sat waiting for the general tc speak. "Well. said Cronje. roughly; well, what is it to be" What can it be?'• asked Bailsman, wiih slightest traeie of mockery. Shall we cm our way through these rooineksr asked Cronje. •• Wlth our women and our wagons and out guns' returned Hausman. grimly. If WP could take them by stir young Transvaal commandrt.. "We can surprise them, said Cronje, though a trite doubtfully, and with but little of his old swagger and assurance. Perhaps,- said Hausman. " But you thought you could escape them, and lead them into a trap lope. You have to imrprise Roberts—soh—he is a Innl man to try surprises ou. There are hundreds of eves in the British camp wt citing you now.Ahel as if to po.nt his words, a shell lit on the high ground just behind them. raining sand and stones about their ears. o far the conversation had been confined to the Transvaalers. Now, for the first time. Cronje turned to a Free State commandant.  began I  "Well"' he said. "Surrender.- was the laconic reply I "You say that' r "My men say it. For myself. my two sons lie yonder beneath the waters of the Modder. the.r mother is dead of grief. I care for naught else. Bit nit- men will have to surrender.•• They are erclommed cowards,- said Cronje, spitting. They did not act the coward at Belmont and Graspan and Magerstontein," replied the old Free Stater. " And ii I refuse to surrender•:"Then my men will shoot you—and go them. selves... The word. were uttered placidly. and win no eppettrance of heat. hut one or two of the Transreal commanclams rose angrily to their feet. Cronje scencei them with a gebtnre. and turned to Hausman, •• What say he asked. I say surrender,- responded the German. looking- the 'Boer leader square in the eyes. "I do not object to fighting, but to suicide I have a very big objection." •• And you, Albrecht' - "Surrender," was the quiet reply. that is left to you. General. Cronje sat for nearly five minutes in dead silence, none of the others venturing to interrupt him. At the end of that time he arose and shook himself as one who wee casting off a 'burden. It is fate.- he staid. " The children of men kick uselessly against the decrees Of God. Go you ti the rooinek camp once more, Colonel Hausman, and tell them that 1 ion ready.He clenched his hands with sudden anger: "1 whc liars hated them so. N.k ho have despised them so-----He shrugged his shoulders with a sudden resumption of his tranquillity. and turned to give his final orders to-Ithe German. "I wonder how they will take the in Pretoria' Hausman said to Albrecht. as he prepared for his journey. "Oh. Paul Kruger will find a text to fit even the.- the other German replied. mockingly. "Yes.- paid Hausanen, who was no enthusiast about the Boers: " • Take tip thy bed and walk,' I shouldn't wonder. He's had a special train to Lonrenco Marques weaning him t.his two months. Well. I suppose von and Cronje will get to Carte Town after all. though your entry will hardly be MI gou expected." Albrecht shrugged his shoulder,. " One hopes fsr a lot, and t %pacts but little in this world, if one is a wee mem he said. Next day. February 27th. 1990, the news of Cronja. -surrender was flashed across the world, and men, even the bitter:nu foes of the British, were fain to admit that at last the tide had turned. In England there was no fe:vid outburst of joy. They were amaiting there an even more ,plendid to-morrow.  "It i. all