THE FORTUNES OF WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4608, 12 March 1902, Page 4

THE FORTUNES OF WAR.

The disaster which has overtaken the troops under command of Lord Methuen is regrettable. Such incidents have been characteristic war. While to some extent they may be attributable to the reckless bravery of our soldiers, the British generals are nob altogether irresponsible. It is easy, of course, for our stay-at-home generals to tell us that Lord Methuen is entirely blamable for the calamity that has befallen himself and his forces; but those who have followed that officer’s career are warranted in affirming that the ability which he has hitherto displayed would not desert him in the hour of danger. It is true that after fighting two memorable battles at Graspan and Modder river, Lord Methuen experienced a severe reverse before Cronjo at Magersfontcin; but the reputation of a general is hot to be made by one victory, or marred by one defeat. This general has fought with considerable success since Magersfontein; and having succeeded in clearing the west country of the rebels, he has been co-operating with the other British generals in giving effect to Lord Kitchener’s plan of crushing the Boers in the wilder regions of the Magaliesbergs. In the neighbourhood of these hills, he encountered General De la Hey, one of the most alert and dashing cf all the Boer leaders still in the field, and was overwhelmed, no doubt, by a much superior force. The overthrow of Lord Methuen has in this instance been apparently complete. Thirty British were killed or wounded, and many weto captured, Lord Methuen himself being among the latter. We have lost many promising and experienced soldiers in the war, but the capture of Lord Methuen will rank as orle of the most outstanding British losses in the conflict. His being wounded and captured will not, however, retard the prosecution of the war. It will not even deter Lord Kitchener from tightening that iron girdle of blockhouses he is throwing round about the enemy. It ought to induce our generals, however, to exercise greater Watchfulness in rough country, and to proceed more cautiously. Further, and this is the worst feature of the incident, it will stimulate the Boers to greater activity and incite their leaders to reiterate their demands for complete independence as the price of peace. But all this will avail them nothing. While, therefore, deploring Lord Methuen’s reverse arid capture, it is not to be imagined that, it will in any way impede the progress of the struggle as far as the British are concerned 5 and the fact that another regrettable incident” has occurred will not in any Way affect the confidence the nation has reposed in Lord Kitchener to complete successfully the most difficult task that has even fallen to any general in modern times to accomplish.