PIET ARNOLDUS

CRONJE (c. 1840– )  , Boer general, was born about 184o in the Transvaal and in 1881 took part in the first Boer War in the rank of commandant . He commanded in the siege of the British garrison at Potchefstroom, though he was unable to force their surrender until after the conclusion of the general armistice . The Boer leader was at this time accused of withholding knowledge of this armistice from the garrison (see POTCHEFSTROOM) . He held various official positions in the years 1881–1899, and commanded the Boer force which compelled the surrender of the Jameson raiders at Doornkop (Jan . 2, 1896) . In the war of 1899 Cronje was general commanding in the western theatre of war, and began the siege of Kimberley . He opposed the advance of the British division under Lord Methuen, and fought, though without success, three general actions at Belmont, Graspan and Modder River . At Magersfontein, early in December 1899, he completely repulsed a genera] attack made upon his position, and thereby checked for two months the northward advance of the British column . In the campaign of February 1900, Cronje opposed Lord Roberts's army on the Magersfontein battleground, but he was unable to prevent the relief of Kimberley; retreating westward, he was surrounded near Paardeberg, and, after a most obstinate resistance, was forced to surrender with the remnant of his army (Feb . 27, 1900) .