THE WAR-AND THE EMPIRE'S TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11346, 14 April 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WAR-AND THE EMPIRE'S TRADE.

The war, indeed, is one of the direst lessons ever presented to mankind. It represents the overthrow of existing military systems; tho introduction to a new era in strategy and tactics, and the consignment of the b-ilk of modern text books of scientific warfare to the lumber room. Never has the triumph of engineering science over brute force been more - signally demonstrated. Against modern weapons, scattering death and destruction with the pitiless accuracy and regularity of a machine, it has been shown that the most heroic personal gallantry may be unavailing. The elimination of tho human factor with its emotional impulses, the waves of reckless enthusiasm, the panic and dismay that in former days decided the issue of the battlefield, has gone far to become accomplished.

In wars of the future, mere animal courage, admirable and inspiring as its manifestations may be, will count for little, in comparison with trained intelligence and the cool and scientific employment of the potent weapons science has now placed at the soldier's command. War, henceforth, will be a combat, not of men, but of machines. From a prime factor, the soldier of the rank-and-file has fallen to the position of an accessory, for his own individual bravery counts for little in comparison with the value of his weapon and the skill exerted in its employment. The new conditions of warfare, too, will have an important influence on British oversea commerce. The power of defence in modern warfare lias been shown to be enormously increased, whilst that of attack has diminished in almost a corresponding ratio. The importance of the British Navy, therefore, has been minimised in one direction and enhanced in another. It appears tolerably sure that a successful invasion of this country, in face merely of the land forces at its disposal, would be an enterprise of a difficulty almost insuperable. If, therefore, the Navy should no longer possess the critical importance attached to it as a first line of defence, it would, on the other hand, be in a position to employ a larger proportion of its enormous strength in the protection of our merchant shipping from the marauding expeditions which form one of the most disquieting features of a possible European conflict with this nation. ■ When the war is ended, and South Africa —from Zambesi to the Cape— submitted to the mild beneficence of British rule, what is to be the commercial position in it of the country which has made such exertions and borne 'such sacrifices? Is South Africa to become the happy hunting ground of our trade rivals? America and Germany are like hounds straining at the leash, waiting impatiently till we have done the work to pour their capital and their manufactures into the land wo shall have thrown open to their enterprises. "Virtue," it has been said, "is its own reward;" it is frequently all it gets; but, speaking for ourselves, we shall not be quite content with so spiritual a satisfaction. Let us, too, take one concrete case, which will both justify our preceding observations and illustrate our position, which we gather from an anonymous source, but whose writer invited us to' independently verify his shipments, which we have done. He is dealing with the Randfontein Gold Mines in the Transvaal (known as the Robinson group), which comprise twelve separate properties, particulars of which he sets out: — "Some twelve months ago Mr. J. B. Robinson appointed Mr. Hays Hammond, Chief Consulting Engineer to these mines, to make a report on the different properties. The report advised that the stamping capacity of these mines should be increased by the addition in some casts of no less than 100 heads, and that, further, additions be made to the winding, pumping, and air-com-pressing installations. This report was drawn up in conjunction with Mr. John IS. I'ilchford, tho Consulting Mechanical Engineer of the Randfontein Estates Company, and Mr. Pope Ycaman, both Americans, Mr. Hays Hammond being himself a citizen of the United States. The expenditure for the total plant is estimated to amount to at least £1,500,000, and no British manufacturers will have the opportunity of bidding for the orders. . . . There arc firms in England who turn out stamp mills, winding and pumping machinery, air-compressors, rock drills, and all plant required at these mines (with possibly the exception of electrical plant) at least equal (in my mind superior) to American make, and certainly at the same or somewhat lower price. Under these circumstances is it right, considering the bulk of the capital invested in the Robinson Mines is English, that Americans should divert the large' orders for machinery they control to the United Stales?" This, though an important, is but an isolated instance of much that will undoubtedly follow the British occupation of conquered territories. The British people of England and the British colonies are making heavy sacrifices and incurring the gravest risks in their determination to secure for British subjects their legitimate political rights in the South African Continent, For this object, sacrifices are made in a willing spirit; but we think the citizens of the British Empire did not contemplate, as a necessary part of their programme, the clearing of the way at so much cost of blood and treasure for' their commercial rivals. The nation, we submit, U entitled to some compensation. The " op'.n door" is assumed to be an essential part of our commercial creed, though we do not think it has ever been officially formulated as such. As a matter of fact, Canada gives some British manufactures preference over those of other nations. Would it bo too much to expect South Africa to do the same? 7 -Fielden's Magazine. '