The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1901. Are More Men Wanted ?

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10502, 25 November 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1901. Are More Men Wanted ?

It was stated lately that ono of the British colonies had offered to send a further contingent of mounted men to South Africa to assist in bringing the war to a speedy close. Ab the Commonwealth Premier has distinctly sfatcd that it was not an Australian offer, it was thought that perhaps it had been made by Now Zealand, which has already sent seven Contingents to the seat of the war, the remainder of two of which arc still doing good work there. -Mr Seddon, however, disclaimed any intention of sending- a further addition to the number of New Zealand Contingents »t present, and hinted that it was Canada that had made the offer above referred to. By cable this morning it will be seen that the Premier was correct in his supposition, and the British authorities have accepted the services of 600 Canadians.

The question is: are -more colonial mounted troops required in South Africa? We do not think there can be the slightest doubt' on that subject, as even at this moment efforts are being made to raise and send some thousands of mounted infantry to South Africa from England in order to try and bring the war to an end before tho date of the King's Coronation in June next, when it would no doubt be a fitting and pleasing thing were tho bulk of the British troops now serving in South Africa able to bo present on such a historic occasion, to which their presence would lend additional interest. The return of a victorious army has always -been made the occasion pi national" thanksgiving and rejoicings, and it is certain that tho victorious return of the British forces now endeavouring to stamp out the guerilla warfare in South Africa would be marked by an outburst of national ecstasy, such as the nation has not experienced during the last fifty years.

The question that suggests itself is: should these colonies send more men to assist the Imperial troops in South Africa in bringing the^war to a speedy close? "If the latter cannot do so quickly without tho aid of colonial mounted infantry, we think the colonies should strain a point to send further Contin- ' gents, as it is but cheap lip loyalty to declare undying allegiance to the British Crown, and neglect to. defend its wearer when necessary. These colonies, we admit, can ill afford either men or money just now, but there are times when economy cannot bo allowed to come between a people and their duty to their country. If it is necessary that Now Zealand should send another Contingent of mounted infantry to South Africa without delay, the cost should not prevent their being despatched, as the sooner the war there is stopped and peace firmly established the better, lest its continuance involve tho Mother "Country in a life and death struggle with one or more of the Great European Powers in sympathy with the Boer people. Such a war would be a serious thing' for the colonies, and cost them dearly in the dislocation of* trade and commerce, and greatly 'increased -defence expenditure. It would bo infinitely cheaper to despatch a few thousand .more colonial .troops at once to- the seat of war, than to hang back on the score of economy until the flames spread and threatened the. whole British Empire. This is the prosaic aspect of the subject, and from :that point of vio,w ought to open the eyes ' of our public men to Hie necessity Jo* prompt Action.

From a patriotic standpoint the question of money should not be considered.

Judging by the news of late from the seat of war in South Africa, our troops are not making much headway, which is not to be wondered at, seeing that the majority of them aro foot soldiers, and cannot be expected to cope with well-mounted men like the Boers, aho do not encumber themselves with heavy commissariat and camp requisites which the British officers cling so tenaciously to, and which the Boers find so useful, when hard pressed for food and covering. Lord Kitchener has been importuning the War Office authorities for large additions to the mounted infantry under his command, pointing <ut that a large number of those at the front are "war weary," having been' kept rushing about after the mobile and wily Boers for varying periods, without proper food and rest. It is necessary that these men should be . quickly relieved and replaced by a far larger number, as it is certain that the war can only be brought to an end by fighting the Boers in their own sty-?; viz., with a sufficient force of mounted, lightly-equipped men who can use a rifle intelligently.