TWO BOOKS ON THE WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 32

TWO BOOKS ON THE WAR

T “The Settlement After the War in South Africa,” by M. J. .Farrelly, L.L.D. Ltfndon: Macmillan and Co. Wellington: Whitcombe and Tombs. ' , , c H —“Twice Captured,’ by the Earl ot Roslyn. Edinburgh.. Wm. Blackwood and Son. Wellington: Whitcombe and Tombs. Mr. Farrelly’s book, “The Settlement After the War in South Africa’ U-) is a, ‘weighty contribution to the discussion of a very serious and difficult problem. The author went to South Africa some four years ago with the intention of studying on tne spot “some of the developments which have filled on feoutih Africa the eyes of the civilized world Boer and llitiander in the Transvaal Imperial or Republican factor, Dutch or British predominance in all South Africa —black and white —missionary and antimissionary—lndian and anti-Indian capitalist and labourer at the diamond fields of Kimberley, and on the Gold! Reef of the Witwat erst rand—Roman — Dutch an- British law* in all South. Africa. ’ Mr Farrelly, who is an English lawyer of good standing, acted for a time as advising counsel to the Transvaal Republic on the legal question axising under till© Conventions with the Ixnperial Government) and claims that he did his best to warn w ith “all the force I could command, the Governments of the two Republics against the fatal course into which they were led by counsellors of the-ir own race.” He has interviewed and been in intimate and friendly relations and counsel with nearly every leading public man in South Africa and is, by reason of his training in international lav/ and his personal knowledge of many of the more important questions at issue, specially qualified to write with authority on the subject with which he now deals. His literary style is somewhat ponderous, perhaps even a little pompous, but there is no gainsaying the freshness and cogency of many of his arguments. On the question of the British suzerainty lie holds that technically the Boers were right and the Colonial Office wrong, but lie supports the views of previous writers in holding that the Dutch throughout South Africa undoubtedly desiredand intended war and looked forward to the result of the war being the downfall of British power. He strenuously defends the British Government from the ■charge of having wilfull3 r sought an appeal to arms and those foolish and often very ignorant persons who find a mean pleasure in reviling Mr Chamberlain would do well to study Mr Farrelly’s facts and conclusions with Honest attention and care. On one point he differs very materially from previous writers in the course of the war. It has been commonly imagined that the Hollander clique at Pretoria were the main instigators of the war policy, but Mr Farrelly maintains—and quotes fairly conclusive evidence in proof of his contention—that it was the Young Afrikander rather than the Hollander who was mainly to blame. He points out that in 1898 three Hollanders, Messrs Leyds, Van Leeuwen arid Yan Boeschoten, were succeeded at Pretoria by three Afrikanders, Messrs Reitz, Smuts and Grobler. Air Farrelly says : “Charges were also made in their respective offices; but what really made the alteration of the personnel important was that the conduct- of the negotiations with the Imperial Government—and necessarily, therefore, the policy to be adoptee, towards the Uitlander cause in the hands of the Imperial Government—fell to the militant Afrikanders instead' of to the trained Europeans who had preceded them.” The Uitlanders at first welcomed with delight the shelving of the Hollanders but as events proved, they were wofully mistaken in thinking that the Afrikanders would treat them and their, claims with more fairness. Mr Farrelly's remarks on the Boer distrust of the British-and upon the vexed question of Boer versus" Uitlander are extremely interesting, indeed throughout his book one is constantly coming across new. ary? peculiarly intelligent opinions upon matters hitherto shrouded in comparative mystery. The chapters on the policy which Mr Farrelly considers should be adopted by the Imperial Govrument after the war is concluded are lengthy and full of interesting points. JL firm government, if necessary even a severe, government he contends must be established, but underlying'both firmness and severity must be the qualifying base of justice. The appendices to the book pro per contain extracts from state documents, and threw much valuable light in

many points hitherto neglected by those who have written on the war. Mr Farrelly’s contribution to South African history is lengthy, and, as we have hinted, is the reverse of light reading, but its perusal is desirable, almost necessary, to all who wish to get at trie truth as to one of the most remarkable events in Her Majesty’s reign. The price is high (10s 6d), and it is to be hoped that the publishers may see their way later on, to issuing a cheaper edition.

Of the now dozens of books on the war Lord Roslyn’s “Twice Captured; A Record of Adventure” (II.) is certainly not the least interesting. The young peer went out to South Africa in the capacity of “roving correspondent” of the “Dailv “Mail” and “The Sphere,” and if, as he suggests, a life of adventure was a prominent motive, he assuredly got his desires fulfilled. He joined Thorny croft’s Horse and was present, as a soldier, at Pieter’s Hill and the relief of .Ladysmith; iie made a most interesting trip through Basutoland by a hitherto almost untravelled track; he got through the Boer lines at Thabonchu, was taken prisoner at Dewetsdorp, escaped and was present at the Reddersburg disaster, where he was again captured. This time he was sent to Pretoria. After the capture or Pretoria he saw some service against Da Wet. Lord Roslyn writes agreeably, and it is impossible not to be favourably impressed by his desire to get at the bottom of things. He exaggerates his own mportance and is for once, almost tedious wtien lie worries his readers with Ins quarel with the press censors. Many of his rough and’ ready criticisms of tne actions of certain British officers, criticism in some cases based merely upon hearsay information, would have been better omitted. In one instance, it will be remembered, he has since had to tender a. detailed apology to those whom he had criticised too severely. But we believe he has meant honestly ancl. well all through, and although there is mlu.ch that is trivial in the book—the lengthy description of the voyage to the Cape: might well have been rigorously “blue pencilled”—the author gives some exceeding!}* interesting descriptions of more than one notable event, and his account of prison life at Pretoria is most readable. Lord Roslyn is evidently a generous-hearted, openminded young fellow—as witness his clever and sympathetic little character sketch of Colonel Blake, the Irish-Ameri-can soldier of fortune, and his frank recognition of the many domestic virtues and stalwart patriotism of the Boers. Many of his as to British War Office methods have been justified by events which have occurred since he left South Africa. Upon the ever-interesting question of settlement, some at least of his ivords are worth quoting. After advising conciliation..he says:—“But we must not conciliate in a way which will prove detrimental to justice. In the word lies wrapt the whole crux of the situation. The Britisher, the volunteer, the colonial, and, more than all, the Dutchman and loyal subjects must be considered. Not only must he be considered, but he must be compensated. No considerations of gold or —amond 'mines must damp the quick and thorough recompense for those who have served their country and suffered through the losses of the war. Colonial and loyalist first, millionaire afterwards. Moreover, the. position of the British taxpayer must not be overlooked. The war was forced upon us. We had to defend 1 or lose our possessions, and we did the right thing. Leave the Uitlander question out of sight. I hate the subject. It has l>een exaggerated. Deal only witn Kruger as an impossible negotiator. Have no sympathy with the Hollander, but. maintain the seat of Government at Pretoria. Lend a helpful hand to. the dopper Boer. Do all these things under a tactful Governor, and the great death-roll of 1899-1900 will not have been entirely unjustifiable. On the other hand, leave it to chance, and take the advice of the money-grab-br, and England’s prestige will have been lost forever. The country can pay six millions per annum without feeling it. Therefore conciliate, and do not conciliate from Downing Street. As time smoothes sorrow, so when you and! are old men, we will find that satisfaction will be the' offspring of sorow, and that the poor uneducated Boer will have learnt to realise the swindle of his previous Government and to enjoy the contentment of the British rule” .Lord Roslyn’s interesting and very readable book is liberally illustrated from snapshot- photographs taken by the author and by reproductions of pen and ink drawings. Many of the pictures are novel in subject and treatment, indeed the illustrations throughout constitute a very important and excellen feature of the volume. (Price 10a fid.)