THE COST OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 10, 12 January 1900, Page 4

THE COST OF THE WAR.

It is only just beginning to dawn upon the British nation that the .war in South Africa is more hazardous and more costly than at first anticipated. When the negotiations with the South African Republic took a serious turn immediately after the Bloemfontein Conference, the British Garrison in South Afiica was a mere handful. Later on 10,000 men from India were sent to Natal, and it is this contingent principally that is responsible for the gallant defence of Ladysmith. After the Boer ultimatum an A.rmv Corps was despatched, bringing the British forces in South Africa to 50,000 men, exclusive of the Cape and .Natal volunteers and local levies ; since then the sth, 6th, and 7th divisions have beenisent to the seat of war, and the Bth division is timed to embark during the next ten days. In addition to this, 7000 volunteers, 7000 militia, and 10,000 Yeomanry Cavalry, besides the volunteer contingent raised by the Lord Mayor of London and ' the colonial contingents, are yet to be despatched. When all these additional troops reach the Cape Lord Roberts will have under his command 150,000 men or more. The lack of prescience or neglect to appreciate the enormous difficulties of the campaign was manifested from the first, and the vote of £10,000,000 obtained from Parliament was perhaps the most convincing evidence of the inability of the War Ofh'ce tp appreciate the task before' the nation. It was evidently thought that the first Army Corps would bo sufficient to 1 deal with' the crisis, but here we are with the campaign exactly three months old and practically not an inch of territory has been regained from the invaders, while 7000 men have, been either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. This is a heavy price to pay for War Office incompetence and neglect, and the tale of suffering dnd cost has yet to bo told. Frantic efforts ai'e now being made to repair the errors of the past, and troops aro being steadily moved to the front, and while this is an excellent exhibition of the wonderful resources of the Empire and the determination of the nation to face the difficulties whatever the risk, the British taxpayer will have to pay very heavily for the "family picnic." Nearly all the troops have had to be transported thousands of miles by sea, the commissariat for men and horses jnust be drawn from outside, and once landed at Capetown or Durban must be transported hundreds of miles into the interior. The purchase of mules, horses, waggons, and the other impedimenta necessary for an army in the field must have already entailed an enormous expenditure, and additional supplies must be Sent forward to make good the wastage that is inevitable. It is quite clear that the £10,000,000 voted by the Imperial Parliament will not nearly cover the ultimate cost. That sum must have been more than expended already, and the expenses of the future must be proportionately greater with the increased number of men in the fieTd. Assuming that the war will last six months — a generous assumption, and by no means likely to prove correct— the war in South Africa may cost the British nation not lesa than £30,000,000, and if pensions and compensations are allowed, the cost will be very much increased. It seems, indeed, not unlikely that one way and another the campaign will cost the Empire £50,000,000,' a portion of which might fairly bo debited to the two Republics. Annexation will certainly follow the successful termination of the war, and to saddle the new territories with a debt of even £30,000,000 with an Imperial guarantee might be practicable. In whatever manner the burden of the war is apportioned it is very clear that the Imperial authorities have greatly under-estimated the cost both in men and money.