Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-13
A wARLIKE OUTLOOK.

| Inc SOuth African situation IS as
sumlng a rather gloomy aspect Lon
don papers warn the public 20 look out
Tor a Russlan-French combination
against Great Britain. In case the Eng
lish in Natal should meet with further
reverses. They point 10 unwonted mill.
tary activity in Alglers, In Abyssinia
and Asia as a confirmation OF the sus-
plcions entertained. A third power, not
named. Is also supposed to be interest
ed in the anti-Britlsh compact Posi-.
bly, Holland Is alluded tothe only Euro.
pean power with strong enough pro-
Boer sympathies to risk war for
their cause.
Now, Immediately following the pre-
diction that the rivals Of Great Britain
are but waiting for news Of further
British reyerses In Natal. TO appear in
their true character, comes the news
Of the defeat Of General Methuen at
Modder river, last Monday. The de-
tails Of this last engagement are not
yet at hand, but the presumption is
that had Il not been a decided defeat,
the censored dispatch would have been
worded differently. II there is any
truth in the rumors Of European ac-
tlyity on behalf Of the Beers, every
setback to the British advance to-
wards Pretoria and Blomfonteln Is
doubly serious. The enemies that would
not think Of opposing the lion returning
victorious from a successful chase.
would probably not hesitate to attack
the king OF animals when wounded
and exhausted.
The mode Of warfare in Natal Is to
be considered In this connection. Prl-
yate letters from lancers who took
part in the battle at Glands
Laagte are now being received
and published In London. According TO
these 1t is evident that about sixty
Durshers were Killed after they had
surrendered. One officer writes that
after the enemy had been driven out
most excellent plg-stlcklng' ensued
for about ten minutes Another says
the Beers hid their heads with their
arms and cried for mercy, asking to be
shot rather than disemboweled by
lances. but I'VE just gave them a good
dig as they lay"
Such stories are bound 10 shock the
civilized world. and to greatly strength
en- the sympathy existing for the Beers.
A massacre after the enemy has sur
rendered is no longer Justified by public
sentiment not even on the pTetext that
war is hell;' for The demand now Is
for the Observance OF the civilized rules
Of warfare, such as they are, and the
power that takes the field ostenslbly
for the purpose Of advancing the cause
Of civilization against semi-barbarism.
must not forget, even in the heat OF
battle, the demands OF humanity.
Censorship is not sufficient to hide the
truth from the world for ever. and II
barbarlties ate being praetlced, the fact
VIII come out and when they do, the
enemies Of Great Britain viii have the
pretext for interference. for which they
are perhaps looking.
The prospects in South Africa are not
bright The situation seems TO be a
menace to the peace Of the world. The
great hope is that France viii not take
any step Injurious 10 her exposition next
year. But when the war spirit possesses
a nation, reason is often dethroned.
Too much reliance can therefore not be
placed In the efficiency OF the CONNER
clal and industrial Interests OF the coun-
try for the preservation Of peace.