WAR ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3237, 16 April 1900, Page 4

WAR ITEMS.

■ " » THE SURRENDER OF CRONJE. (From Home Papers.) Immediately the newa of the surrender was made known to the burghers they threw down their arms as if glad to get rid of them. They were of all sorts and conditions. Feeble old men, middleaged men, young fellows,and many mere boys— all Beemed glad of the prospect of obtaining food, for they were literally starving. Their food supplies had been consumed days ago. They had used the wagons as firewood. There vrere hundreds of dead horses m the river,and the whole place was m a fearfully unsanitary condition. There were numbers of weeping women, many of them carrying babies m their arms. They were m a pitiable plight and appeared much emaciated. The first woman we met was Mrs Cronje. She was seated m a buggy with her son, and, with tears m her eyes, asked news of her husband. She feared he would be shot. We reassured her, and she then aßked to be allowed to go to him. We conversed with many of the prisoners. All seemed heartily sick of the war and glad their part m it was over. Some inquired anxiously if they would be shot by the British, and they were glad to bear their fears were groundless. Women, m a state of terror, ran hither and thither begging for mercy. It took hours before their fears were allayed. One grey° haired woman, who looked about eighty years of age, piteousiy implored me to intercede for her and have her life spared. It took the interpreter half an hour to convince her she would not be harmed. The grief of the women who were mourning for husbands and brothers was heartrending. When asked why they remained m the laager, they replied that they preferred to share the privations of their husbands whe were fighting for their country. A nun* ber of old men scarcely able to wait were among the prisoners. Reuter's agent wiring from Klmberlej on March 6th states :— In a conversation which I had witfc one very intelligent young Transvaal prisoner he told me that General Cronje expected all the time to be reinforced but it was impossible for the relieving and beleaguered forces to join hands. A council of war was held m Cronje'* camp to see how many would volunteer to cut their way through, and aid the re inforcing army. Only about 100 agreed to take this risk. A second meeting was held, and the men then said that if Gen eral Cronje did not surrender they woulc do so, as it was impossible to hold oul longer. They pointed out that the fooc supplies were exhausted, and m a week'i time the whole force would be down witl fever. Hundreds of dead animals wen lying around, and produced a stencl which was unbearable. During the fight according to my informant, the be leaguered force lost 87 killed and 16 wounded. The latter had to tend there selves, as the Boer doctors had been lef at Modder River. Since their surrende the Boer prisoners have been treatei (said the Transvaal Boer m conclusion with the utmost kindness. The Brltisl soldiers, though on half rations, sharei their beef and biscuits with the captives and could not have behaved better. Th Boers could not have believed that Eng land could send so many soldiers againa them. Whenever one was killed ther was another ready to take his place whereas the Boers had no reserves, es cept civil servants, and all the men wh had been on furlough were now bac with the army. In answer to a question as to the ci fects of our Lyddite shells, my inform ant said they were good for burning, bo were of so effect for purposes of wai The Boera, however, were afraid of th shrapnel, which they called "he! scrapers." They did not mind the Lye dite ao much, because the smoke gay them time to take cover, and thoug the fumes were stupefying they got ove that by taking a spoonful of vinegai The whole river bank on both sides i honeycombed with trenches, but sue trencheß have never been seen before i; warfare. They are really undergremn< dwellings, and perfectly secure unless shell is dropped m from the openin above. Missiles with a straight traject ory were therefore bound to fail to read them. . I was the first correspondent to visi the Boer laager before the arrival of th guard to take away the prisoners. Th enemy were lying or sitting m group about the camp. Their faces were hag gard and worn. Nearly all were cryinj out for a drop of spirits. The iaage has been practically destroyed. Jo; that the end of the dreadful siege wa come was writ large m every face an< m every gesture. Men laughed an< joked on all sides, and hoped the; would soon get a drink of whisky Nearly all the Free Staters spoke Eng liah. They had not a thought abou the ultimate result of the war, not ; word about fighting for their liberty All was forgotten m the joy of presen deliverance. One man, shaking his fis m the direction of Cronje, exclaimed 81 You hard man ! You deserve to b* shot." There were several women and chil dren among the beleagured. I am gla< to say that not a single one was injared When the order came for the prisoner to cross the river to our camp a mos extraordinary scene ensued. Each mai took all he could carry, pots, pane blankets, &c., and threw his rifle on on of two heaps, which gradually increase to huge proportions. The drift, owin to heavy rain, was much swollen, and i was necessary for the prisoners to tak off their trousers to cross. The whol scene gave one the impression of a frolic rather than that of an act m the grin drama of warfare. Men laughed am splashed water at each other m crossing and appeared to look upon the whole sui render as a huge joke, but among tfr crowd were visible the stern faces of i few who looked with disfavour upon thi careless merriment of their comrades. The Boer position is an immense rab bit-warren, with holes burrowed every where, and saddles, clothing, and thou sands of rounds of ammunition lyinj about. One's chief wonder m the whole thinj is how it was possible for the Boers t< live m the frightful stench which pre vailed. Every ten paces lay dead horses mules, and cattle polluting the air. Th< river is swollen, and collected m ever] little Bhallow were heaps of swollen car cases of animals. The condition of th< whole laager and trenches was too fright ful for description. Referring to the investment of Cronje'* last carap, Reuter'a correspondent says — Wheu the history of Lord Robert'j movement comes to be written it will bt found that the marching power and mag nificent endurance of the British soldiei ar.e as great as ever. The march itsell looked at merely on the map seems no thing very marvellous, but it must be remembered that the whole original plac of the march was changed when Cronjt made his magnificent night march on the 15th. The whole army immediately swung to the left m hot pursuit. Some regiments marched twenty-seven miles m twenty-four hours, outstripping the transport and supplies, and living foi days on almost quarter rations. The constant fatigue and incessant hardships were borne with wonderful cheerfulness. The troops have been lying fully exposed to the drenching rainoi the last three days, and the terribly cold winds at night have severely tried them. They have borne all with admirable patience and pluck. Cn the suggestion of the Prince of Wales, Grand Master, the English Grand Lodge of Freemasons voted 1000 guineas to asslßt the local lodges m South Africa to relieve distress among brethren occasioned by the war. An amusing remark occurs m a Eeuter'a telegram from Colesburg of March 6th. There had been, it states, some despondency among the troops there, m consequence of British reverses, but a > a result of recent successes " both men and horses are improving m spirits. Ev«ry day it becomes more evident, saya a correspondent with Lord Roberts' force, that what is most needed for the successful conduct of the campaign ia the increased importation of horses. The late hard work and severe weather have wrought havoc among our mounts, and the British public must be prepared to respond m the most liberal and ready manner to ail demands for further horses. Our mounted force under General French has already done much to upset the enemy's strategy, and the lack of horses is likely to greatly hinder Lord Robert sb plans.