The death is announced of General Piet Cronje, the Boer
leader who surrendered to Lord Roberts at Paardeberg. He was a grim and energetic officer in whom his followers had deep confidence, but mere stubbornness was not enough to serve him well. The investment of Mafeking which he established was useless. He himself moved south and took command of the Transvaal and Free State burghers at Magersfontein. The battle of Magersfontein was by far his greatest success. Afterwards he sat still and waited while Lord Roberts organised his conquering army, and, when the time came, his flank was easily turned by Sir John French. Too late he bestirred himself and tried to retrieve what, through lack of imagination, he had failed to foresee. He was caught in a trap, but for ten days he resisted the over- whelming British attack with memorable gallantry.
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