THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1902.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11878, 1 February 1902, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1902.

If it had been suggested when the First Contingent left New Zealand that the February of 1902 would see five hundred men march through the streets of Auckland en route for the front, and that these would be but a quota of four times the number mustered and mustering to swell our contribution, few of us would have taken the suggestion seriously. But, on the other hand, if,the Boers had been warned that struggle as they might the lapse of years would find Britain as determined as ever and her colonies only increasing their efforts, they would have laughed the warning to scorn. Our early misconception was after all a minor one, theirs a fatal one. On our part, there was only the very natural failure to understand that men of a European stock near akin to our own had so far relapsed into barbarism that they would abandon all their domestic responsibilities and resort to a guerilla warfare little removed from brigandage. On their part, there was the amazing belief that because we had borne with them so long, because in 1880 peace had been made after they had defeated a number of regular troops, the British Empire only existed on sufferance and would go down like a house of cards at the first impact of Afrikanderism. And the outcome is that the Empire is stronger and more united now than ever before and that the North Island Battalion of the Eighth Contingent leaves our port amid an enthusiasm which vibrates from end to end of the Island. If the Empire had asked for more men they would have. been promptly and unhesitatingly sent at any time. But we need not conceal from one another that there is in every loyal heart a deep feeling of satisfaction in our having the opportunity to give this timely answer to German slanderers and Pro-Boer pretenders. New Zealand is plumping for "unconditional surrender," not with mere paper resolutions, but with Two Thousand picked horsemen, of whom five-hundred sail from Auckland to-day. This, morning our European cablegrams again renew the subject of terms. The subject has ceased to interest the colonies because it has ceased to delude us. Every man of this Battalion, as every loyalist in South Africa, is able to give to every Boer the only terms authorised by the Imperial Government and approved by the colonial peoples. Those terms are: disarm and surrender. We disagree altogether with Lord'Rosebery in his contention that there should be other terms, for Ave are dealing with a tricky and contentious enemy. As for Dutch assistance in. terminating the war, there is no necessity whatever for the Dutch Premier's mediation. If the Pro-Boers ceased their agitation, if they discontinued the slanders and calumnies which excite the ignorant, if they confessed their sins and wickednesses, and joined in the loyal determination to end the war once and for ever, the Boers in the field would speedily surrender. Mr. Seddon very properly pointed this out in his despatch. As we have said, the Boers can all surrender to any man of our North Island battalion or to any other man who loyally serves the King,, whether in or out of uniform. Since they will not do so we must hunt them down, one by one, and as far as New Zealand is concerned we intend to do so. Possibly the phrase is not nice, possibly the Germans may quote it as another instance of our brutality— we do not shoot them like rabbits when we catch them as the Germans did the franctireurs, and .we do not starve our prisoners while our own men have food, as the Germans did in the week following Sedan. There is no need for us to assert that all possible mercy will be shown and full justice done to a conquered foe. The Boers know better than any can tell them how their women are treated, how prisoners are treated, how easy it is for them to end their distresses. But they are buoyed up by the inventions of their leaders and deceived by . the ProBoers of Britain and the Continent. And they are experts at guerillatactics; wherefore we look to our New Zealand troopers to show themselves worthy of the Imperial confidence that the men of the colonies can beat the men of the veldt at their own game.. t

We refer to the terms question because there is a gathering feeling, arising from the Kuyper and other episodes, that the war is drawing to a sudden close, and that our Eighth will never see active service in South Africa, This, of course, is quite possible. Collapse is bound to come, sooner or later, and may as readily come in February as in June. But, on the other hand, these impressions have gained grounds so often, only to be followed by a recrudescence of Boer activity, that we are inclined to look for such a recrudescence in the near future rather than for a collapse. Much as we would like to see the close of hostilities, we anticipate that a considerable amount of arduous work lies before both' the Eighth and the Ninth. And if it be true that the Boers in the field . are losing heart and trying to reopen negotiations, it is only an additional reason why the Tenth Contingent, hinted at by Mr. Seddon, should be mustered and despatched the instant it is required. ! For our colonial action iis an important factor in • breaking down the Boer resistance, and ,> we may, by a striking . demonstration of energy, tip the balance in many I a hesitating Boer mind. We would suggest to Mr. Seddon, an Minister for Defence, that instructions might be . given in the enrolling of the Ninth to provisionally enrol enough tested men to.form another contingent and that the Colonial Secretary might be informed, that a Tenth was ready to take the field at once if needed. The loyal utterances of the Premier at Wellington are approved in their entirety by every Loyalist in the North, and we agree heartily with him in at the more men we send the sooner the war will be over and the lighter will be the burden of it. In which spirit, the people of Auckland gratefully appreciate the patriotism which drew from their peaceful homes the men of the parting battalion arid join with one voice in wishing them God-speed.