File:Battles of the nineteenth century (1901) (14595622350).jpg

Identifier: battlesofninetee06forb (find matches)
Title: Battles of the nineteenth century
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Forbes, Archibald, 1838-1900 Atteridge, A. Hilliard (Andrew Hilliard)
Subjects: Battles Military history, Modern
Publisher: London New York : Cassell and Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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o be stubbornly attached to old andfamiliar methods, and do not realise the necessityof adapting themselves to altered conditions.As the successful leader of his countrjmen inmany native wars, as a soldier of the war ofindependence, and as the victor of Krugersdorpand Doornkop, he enjoyed a reputation in theTransvaal that ensured him a high command.But he was closely wedded to the purely de-fensive tactics by which he had secured victoryon so many occasions. He had never graspedthe fact that defence without attack is doomedto ultimate failure ; and he did not seem torealise the value of time and the very fleetingcharacter of opportunity in war. A more enter-prising leader would have seized the manychances offered to him from the outbreak of thewar up to the day when he was invested atPaardeberg. But throughout he was content toact on the defensive, and even after his victoriesdid nothing to reap their fruits. When he advanced upon Mafeking inOctober, 1899, the place was practically an
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2^6 THE BOER WAR. open town, and lie lir<l sufficient force tostorm it. But insteaii of tliis he camped beforeit and began to dig trenches, as he had doneeighteen years before at Potchefstroom. Whenhe took over the command before Kimberleyhe did ne.xt to nothing to harass the garrison,but again dug trenches, and slaked his hopeof reducing the place on a long blockade. Theforces which were employed on the OrangeRiver might have spread the flame of insurrec-tion far into Cape Colony, but kept idle in thelaagers round Kimberley. When .Methuen ad-vanced to the relief of the place, Cronje barredhis way at Magcrsfontein ; but .splendid as he war was not fitted for high command. His realplace would be as a subordinate leader, carrvingout the plans of some man of wider views. Hadhe escaped from Paardeberg there is little doubtthat his high reputation would have ensuredhis succession to the chief command on thedeath of Joubert, and Lord Roberts would havehad an easier task than with an ente

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