The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-22
BEGINNING OF THE END.

BEGINNING OF THE END.
The victory achieved by the British
forces over the Beers at Glencoe is doubt
less the beginning of the end. The Brit
ish government, having decided upon the
humiliation of the Transvaal and Orange
Free State republics, have taken such
steps as will doubtless secure their end
much more promptly than the friends OF
the Beers would wish Even to those
who most profoundly sympathize with
the patriots Of South Africa the tre-
mendous military force which is being
organized and equipped for the war
leaves but little doubt Of the ultimate re-
suit We believe that enough Is already
known to satisfy any intelligent observer
that the ultimate purpose Of the British
government is the establishment OF
British confederacy in South Africa.
When the work Of the military author1-
ties is accomplished there will no longer
be an independent nation in South Africa
Both the Orange Free State and the
Transvaal republics will have become
transformed into British dependencies.
There is but one possible serious OBJ
stacle In the path Of such a course. That
obstacle is the not very probable inter-
ference of one or more European nations
with the progress Of the British pro-
gramme 1t was for this end that war
was inaugurated, and to this end that
Mr.. Chamberlain Unanswered through
out the recent negotiations to maintain
inaction on the part Of the opposing
forces until the vast armament which Is
prepartng to land in Natal had reached
its destination.
Unless the prevailing understanding OF
Boer character Is wholly at fault, the
predictions INDUCED in by English rep
resentatives that the recent victory at
Glencoe will put substantial end to
the resistance are wholly unfounded. In
all previous engagements with the Brit
ish the Beers had come off successfully.
1t is not at all likely that the recent
reverse will have the result anticipated.
These people did not -enter upon this
contest looking forward to series OF
victories. On the contrary all their dec
larations showed that they had in view
possible experiences such as that which
has just befallen them.
The war will go on to the end. The
end will not be reached until the forces
now under supreme command Of Gen.
n
one believes that this end can be &C
complished at least before the landing of
the army corps Of $4,000 men. which Is
on the point of transshipment to South
Africa How long after the accomplish
ment of this result the end will be reach
ed remains yet to be seen. Confronted by
a force Of 1900 men, with artillery and
ordinance, in equipment and skill vastly
superior to that of their opponents, the
Beers will do serious damage to the Brit
ish army before the end has been reach
ed. Indeed, nothing short of. the dec
imatton of the Free State and Transvaal
forces will result in handing over South
Africa to the absolute control Of the
imperial government, unless In the in
terval other nations shall either peace
fully or by force intervene.
There is nothing extraordinary about
the apparent inferiority in equipment and
military skill of the native forces to those
who confront them. 1t could not well be
otherwise In the artillery arm Of the
service the Beers can never hope to show
their ability to cope with the British.
That arm of the Boer force has been
hastily gathered together. and does not
include anything like the perfected sys-
TEN which is at the disposal Of their
enemies Doubtless a few more general
engagements with results such as that
which followed at Glencoe will resolve
the contest into something of a scattered
warfare Even the most ardent lovers Of
peace who sympathize with the Beers in
their present struggle will hope that they
may give the best possible account OF
themselves before they have been over
whelmed by the vastly superior force Of
the enemy.