THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9302, 15 November 1901, Page 4

THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.

NEWS, NOTES, AND OPINIONS.

A REMARKABLE FIGHT. A party of Boers was discovered on some islands in the Vaal river, near Parys. A detachment of Yeomanry was sent across th^river to prevent their retreat. Wearing nothing but their bandoliers, the Yeomen stormed the islands, and eventually captured twenty-five of the enemy. — Reuter's Special. CALL TO HUMILIATION. The Archbishop of -.York's pastoral, proposing a day of national humiliation, because of the slow success of British arms, and of penitence for national, sins, has been received with, astonishment, . especially as he openly suggests therein -imitation of the Boers, who proclaimed August 9th as. a. day of humiliation. The Archbishop quoles the Boer proclamation in full for the edification of the British clergy. "It is easy," he says, "and not uncommon, to denounce these . people as hypocrites and to laugh to scorn their open Bibles and meetings for prayer. If, without hypocrisy, we had long ago taken a similar course, it might have fared better with us than it has done." . WINSTON CHURCHILL'S OPINION. Referring to the war, Mr Winston Churchill, in a speech at Oldham, said it would not be ended by proclamations, threats, or greater severity. The important thing was not to punish Boers we had caught, but to catch those still in the field. It would be ended solely and simply by military vigor in the field, reinforcing the army with suitable men and material . Great numbers was no solution of the difficulty. He viewed with great. pain the increase in our national burden and expenditure, but he would be the last man in the world to think of drawing back from the task we had set before us in South Africa, no matter how long, how sad, or how painful it was. WHY WE DON'T CATCH THE BOERS The Globe learns that the following remarkable order, numbered 380, was recently issued from Pretoria by Lord Kitchener to commanders of columns throughout South. Africa: — "The Commander-in-Cbief in South Africa desires to impress on officers in command of mobile columns that the object of such columns is mobility ; that he has learned that such forces- carried about with them furniture, kitchen ranges, pianos, and harmoniums, which nullify that object; that these articles must be handed over to the nearest stores, etc." The Globe adds "That this extraordinary state of things is very general is evidenced by the fact that the Comman-der-in-Chief has felt justified in issuing the order to commanders of mobile forces throughout the whole field of operations." THE MURDER OF AN OFFICER. Mr Edgar Wallace learns from Heidelberg details of the brutal and cold-blood-ed murder of Captain Miers, of ■ the South African Constabulary. It appears, that Captain Miers was holding a post at Riversdraai. One morning three Boers approached with a white flag, halting at a distance, from the post. A corporal went to discover the purport of their visit, but the Boers said they wanted to see the captain alone, as they wished to make a confidential communication. Captain Miers mounted his horse and went off. When he reached the Boers he dismounted and entered into conversation with the men. Hardly had he done so when one Boer lifted his rifle and shot the captain through, the back, while the others shot his horse. The party then galloped away. SWISS OPINION ON THE WAR. A Swiss gentleman who has recently returned from the Transvaal writes to the Swiss Liberal of Neuchatel that if the present situation is not more favorable to the British it is due entirely to their unpardonable magnanimity. He adds: — "To create camps of concentration for the protection of Boer women and children is an act of high humanity, but it-is not war. "I repeat that this misplaced magnanimity of England has prolonged the conflict much — very much — longer than it would have lasted if England had employed all the rigor to which she has a right." A Swiss volunteer who fought in the Boer, ranks and has just returned home says the burghers are systematically supplied with aims by European ships calling at Walfisch Bay. NEITHER WAR NOR BUSINESS. At various stages of this war the public have been so accustomed to inconclusive combats that they have come to be accepted as normal. In reality they are nothing of the kind. The defeat of B&tha's attempt upon Fort Itala ought normally to have been followed by a hot pursuit of his shattered forces, ending in its practical annihilation. But, as a matter of fact, there was not attempt to utilise our victoiy, and Botha halted his defeated army only thirty miles away with an immunity from molestation which apparently continues to the present moment. This is not war, and it is not business. We do not suppose for a moment that the blame rests with our commanders on the spot. Had the .means of pursuit existed, it is practically certain that pursuit would have been carried out. The blame rests with the system which survives the accumulated experience of two years, and still denies to. our troops that effective mobility which lias from the first been the great desideratum." — The Time*. THE EXAMPLE OF MR BROEKSMA. The execution of Mi- Cornelius Broeksma for the crimes of breach of the oath of neutrality, treachery, high treason, and inciting to the breach of the oath of neutrality is considered as being an indication of the determination of the military authorities to deal steridy with these crimes, which have such far-reach-ing effects. Mr Broeksma's offence was an aggra^. vated one. Enjoying all the privileges afforded to neutral residents, and while openly protesting his loyalty and regard for the British, and even endeavoring to obtain a post under Government, he was secretly encouraging the Boers to resistance in the field by the publication of iuilununatory pamphlet*. He was also aoting as a medium between the commandos and intriguing agents in Europe. • After his conviction Mr Broeksma was treated with every consideration by the authorities, and previous to his execution he was visited by a Dutch minister. THE LESSONS OF THE WAR. General Sir Charles Warren contributes to the October National Review a striking article on the lessons of the war. He holds that England's failures were due in great part to her educational system, which crashes out individuality and produces a dead level of mediocrity. He shows that, while efficiency was displayed in rapidly bringing a large force into the field, there were grave political errors, political questions having

been allowed to override military expediency. He thinks General Buller did right to operate in Natal instead of risking all on an invasion of the Free State, which would not have automatically relieved Ladysmith. The strength of the Boers at their strongest he places at 81,000 men or more, of whom, in January, 1900, 39,000 were in Natal. Dealing with frontal versus flank attacks, he points out the extreme difficulty of finding the flank of so mobile an enemy as the Boers were. The British generals were hampered by a drill-book which enjoined defective tactics. He thinks 150,000 good troops and 200 guns should have been sufficient had the British training and regulations been better adapted to the requirements of war. He protests against the system of confidential reports in the British. Army as tending to sap the character and individuality of the officer. TO CULTIVATE THE TRANSVAAL. The success of the Government farms in supplying the military has induced the Civil Administration to start on the same lines. With a view to supply the community, men, time-expired from . the irregulars and the volunteers, are being placed on farms in groups of three, one in each group having colonial experience. The idea is to train the men with a view to future settlement on tlie* land. There are already fifteen farms under cultivation, with oats, barley, potatoes, and mealies as the chief products. Great difficulty is experienced in the cultivation, the trek oxen being poor, but improving with the new grass. . Rinderpest is also a hindrance. The Government is taking vigorous precautions, and inoculation is proceeding -with success. Steam ploughs are being used where possible, and about 150 tons of seed potatoes have been imported into the Transvaal and distributed to farms and also to private people,, on payment, for their gardens. This will principally benefit the poorer classes, but it will tend to relieve the railway "by helping the country towards self-support.