The Wanganui Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1900. THE BOER WAR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10119, 22 August 1900, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1900. THE BOER WAR.

The eomplnhit* of the Loyalists in South Africa many months ago that tho British were acting with mistaken loniency towards the Boers who surrendered has proved only too true. Throughout the war the British have beon too forbeanng towards the pious and treacherous Boer, who, in many instanced, has taken the oath of allegiance and neutrality with the deliberate intention of using his altered condition to aid his brother Boer by j spying on tho British and again taking np amis on the first favourable opportunity. Had a few of the traitors nt the outset been shot, 111 place of being pordoned and allowed to remain in the conquered territory, we venture to say that the war would be nearer its close than it is at present. That the Boers have taken advantage oE British lenieiicy is evident from the statement of Burgher Do Loit at the court-martial on the plot to capture Lord Roberta and tile other officers in Pretoria. When asked abont the oath of neutrality in view of dmcovory, De Loit s.nd. "It only means transportation to Ceylon." In view of these circumslanccf we are not surprised to heal tint the army has received with ncclamntion a proelamntion issued by Lord Roberts to the effect that oathbreakeis will hereafter bo punished by death, inipiisonment, or fine, and that all biug-hcrs 111 unoccupied districts, unless they have taken the oath, will ur regarded iis prisoners of wur and transported. With the giving effect 10 of this proclamation we may now hear a little less of Boer treachery. As tci the situation generally, it seem 5 id nearer settlement than some months j back. Do Wet has completely out- | gcneralled Lord Kitchener find th.other British generals sent against him, and ns he has proved -lumsolf to be a commander of great courage, fl'i also n brilliant strategist, and full of resource, he may make things lively tor a time 111 the western Transvaal, where he will, no doubt, junction with other Boer forces. Though the Frc" State uo longer exists, and the Transvaal is ceasing to exist, the conquest of the latter is far from completo — only a small portion of its 110,00 a square miles being occupied by o>k troops. The scattered cominnndnes of the enemy may yet prove very troublesome, as theie must still be a large force in the field. Our cables informed Ms the other day that there were 80CKI Boers 111 a strong position north of Belfast, and the United forces of Do Wet and Delarcy will probably number about the same, m addition to which there are other commanders with considerable forces. The Boers yet in the field cannot number less than 20,000, which is a formidable force, considering the tactics they nre likely to pursue. It is interesting at thin juncture to endeavour to estimate the strength of the Boers when they first took the J field. The British now hold as prisoners about 12,000, many thousands hav- | ing surrendered themselves and arum and probably between 5000 and 6000 1 have been killed or wounded, ns official Boer papeis admit th.it from Jnnuary to .Tune 1000 Transvanlers were killed, and the fighting during this year hnu not been bo severe as at the end of lost year. It will thus be seen that at the lowest estimate gome 20,00!! have been killed, wounded, taken plfsoners, or laid down their arms, and with the number in the field at present the Boer forces must havo been very considerably over 40,000. If the subjugation of tlioao at present in the field wore as difficult as the conquest of thoso now hors de combat, tho vvi would last a long timo yet. But it is extremely unlikely that this will bo fao. 'Ihe lenmiuing Boors mny yet give a good deal of trouble, but harsher measures by the British and the lack of Boor supplies will tell their talc.