FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21. THE WEEK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7394, 21 February 1902, Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21. THE WEEK.

It is now apparent that though 200 British per mile were entrenched along tbe line of Kitchener's drive, the mesh was not close enough along fifty milea of rough country to prevent the Boers, to the number of 1400, says the Standard, creeping back. With the 600 Boer casualties, this would account for De Wet's 2000 reported to be the driven enemy. It is impossible for the Boers to long continue anything approaching organised opposition in the face of such losses as those in the drive, however large the heart, stubborn the will. And the "winter is approaching, when their horses will fail from lack of fodder and the men from cold and want.

After a brief silence, Methuen is again heard from with a success against his mobile enemy De la Rej. The latter 1 s ammunition is reported scarce, and both he and De Wet have commanded their men to further break up into small parties and avoid large bodies of the British. Ihe weekly report of Lord Kitchener gives evidence cf the adoption of these tactics in ihe small number killed and wounded among the Boers in comparison with those captured and surrendered In the Northern Transvaal the British do not appear to be making any ag-jre3sive movement?, and the Boers bave recommenced the game of train wrecking which the line of block houses will render difficult of extending.

Whilst at present nothing seems proved, there appear.3 to ba evidence of corruption in many operations for the supply of material for the war, especially in remounts. The investigations into the meat contracts continue, and all corrupt purchases, in meat as well as horpe?, seem to centre round peculiar favour shown to Houlder Bros., shipping owners. Though Nelson Bros, seem satisfied that the colonies will have their interests safeguarded during the currency of the ne w contract, British newspapers doubt if the guarantees are stringent enough, and it is even hinted that the two first shipments went from the Argentine.

Whilst Mr Wason, M.P , is telling the British pub!i3 through The Times that, owing to cheap land, low taxsa and wages, the colonies oan no more compete with the Argentine than English gardeners with Chinamen, at the southern end (f the Argentine territory 500 British subjects, Welsh in Patagonia, are petitioning for transport to enable th&tn to flee the country and settle in Canada. The Canadian Government will supply land and facilities for settlement; but fraws the line at finding ships, whilst the British Government has ceased assisting emigrants to self-governing colonies. Mr Chamberlain discloses a feeling of chagrin that they are not desirous of settling in South Africa, where land and assistance to stock farms is available.

In speaking of the Anglo-Japanese treaty, both the Commonwealth Premier and the Leader of the Opposition appear to avoid the issue touching Japanese immigration, which would tint a white Aust-alia yellow. The Commonwealth will take as few chances as possible of Japanese " vigour and progression ;" but that it must carefully consider the question is fully evident in the British intimation to the Cmadian Premier that British Canadian bi'ls pro'- ibiting employment of Japanese will bo disallowed unless amended.

Europe can afford to look with a complacent negligence upon Spanish troubles with strikers, but it is far different with such outbreaks in Trieste, especially when the Austrian Government declares them revolu tionary. Any such movement in that quarter would but anticipate the dreadful struggle which all expect on the death of Franz Joseph, the venerable Emperor. Trieste is the port to which the ambitious eye of Germany is turned as the Fatherland's outlet to the Mediterranean, and though Austria has held it since the 14th century, Italy will look to its possession as part of the inheritance of ancient Home. And tha social air of the town is far more Italian than German.

There has been an immense amount of German epistolary effort to tone down past German arrogance and meddling in order to sweeten the ways pf the German Prince Henry

in his progress to, and sojourn in, the land of Uncle Sam. There is an unwelcome feeling in the States

that the Prince is entrusted with some diplomatic mission, and they wish to prevent their President listening, or dealing with, international matters.

Whilst it is reported that Germany is in favour of the repeal of the sugar bounties, Austria will only give way so far as to reduce the Customs duties. Tha latter operation would simply allow of the competition of cane sugar with beet in the countries where beet is grown, but if the bounties are simultaneously maintained, the beet sugar would still find ifs way to compete with British grown cane pugar in the larger markets of the world.

Wh lst the all- red Pacifia cable ib being pushed " on with v vigour which promises to have tha line open for the despatch of messages long before contract time, and the Canadian Government has initiated operations for the laying of an Atlantic cable which will result in the business being kept in the hands of the combined states from start to finish, the contraot entered into by New South Wales with the monopolist Eastern Extension Company is embarrassing to the Commonwealth.