THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Mail, 5 February 1902, Page 39

THE BOER WAR.

J Jhe Premiers remark at Auckland on Saturday that after the Ninth New I Zealand Contingent has left for South j Mnca, a lenth will be embodied and ; g t leady for despatch if required, is a . reminder that the end of the Boer war i “ lay T ofc be sa near as most people have ! b . een imping. It also lends support to | the rumours that have obtained curj rency, both here and in England, to the j c . ct Giat the work of closing the cami paign is practically to be left to colo- | ni. troops, moving lightly and opera tI mg in their own vigorous and independI ent fashion against the roving commaudoes that are still spread over the country from Cape Colony to the Iransvaal. One part of this policy was disclosed in the recent order to abandon ox-waggon trains in connection with the movements of British troops in the field. Air Bennet Burleigh, the war correspondent, tells on this subject a very significant story. A British officer, in tne course of a friendly conversation with a Boer field-cornet under a flag of truce, asked—-“ When do you think the war will be over?” “Oh,” replied the Boer, “when you people are able to catch a horse with an ox waggon; not before.” One London newspaper has suggested that the South African war should be. ended by following the precedent of the Alaori war—withdrawing Imperial troops from the active work of fighting and leaving the “colonials” to finally “smash the Boers.” No doubt the troopers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with those recruited in South Africa, would prove more adept than the average British trooper at the warfare of bush and veldt.' The peace negotiations, apparently opened on his own authority by the Premier of Holland, have come to nothing; and it is plain that there will be no paltering with the question by Britain. The Boer leaders must either surrender unconditionally or propose terms which afford a basis for discussion. The irreconcilable attitude of Mr Kruger and a few others, who decline to Entertain proposals that include the annexation of tho Boer Republics by England, is the greatest obstacle to an honourable peace at the present time; and so, apparently, the war has to be fought “to a finish.” While desirous that the weary struggle should cease, and while hoping that there will be no need to send further troops from this country, we recognise the great compliment paid to "our boys” by the War Office in entrusting them with the arduous and responsible work of finally subjugating the commandoes in the field; and we have no doubt, from tho eager way in which men are volunteering for the Ninth Contingent, that a Tenth Contingent could easily bo raised.