Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29
kdrbdCh
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cavalry screen and guarding against all pos
sible attacks upon his lines of communica-
tion.
In artillery and cavalry the Beers must
soon yield the palm to the invader. 1t Is
only by the most skilful use OF the entire
defensive infantry in positions admirably
chosen and whore the British artillery and
cavalry cannot be brought into play that
Kruger's generals may hope to inlict de-
cisive check upon the British advance. II
the British commander is not CALLED into ad-
vancing too soon, the final rate Of progress
toward victory will be materially enhanced
1t is naturally to be expected that in the
destruction and capture of private property
! in the minor skirmishes, and in all the de-
tacbed operations OF the British they will
often be taken at great disadvantage The
hnal outcome OF the campaign is a foregone
conclusion. The romantic assistance OF
women and children, the occasional help OF a
few restless adventures, the speculative eff
forts of outside supply agents, will, after ALL
but poorly replace to the brave and devoted
Beers the advantages OF solid numbers,
, sound military organization, and continued
/ and regularly furnished military supplies
The Result Inevitable.
The South African republic is natural
treasury Of gems and precious metals hid
den under the dreary cattle ranges of the
desc!ate and treeless land. But devoid OF
manufactures, with imperfect internal com.
munication, with no open seaports for H.
licit supplies, it is clear that the sharper
and more active the operations the oner
VIII arrive the period of the military ex-
haustion OF the country.
For many months after the final military
objects OF the British have been accom-
pllshed bands of determined cclonists may
keep up resistance inspired only by the
desire OF avenging their fallen brethren
and their ruined homes. But with the
meeting OF the two strCng British columns
sure sooner or later to force the boundaries
of the Transvaal, all capacity for organized
resistance will come to an end. The folly
OF an ultimate resistance on the part OF this
brave and unfortunate people is apparent
| with the first shots OF the campaign The
| hope that a devoted and chyalric struggle
may bring TO their aid the remonstrances
/ OF outraged International sentiment may
cause the Beers to fight up to the very
! last moment.
/ The jealousy of Russia and Germany
may cause either one of these great powers
| to intervene. with Russia presumably an
| tagonistic TO British interests 1t Is clear
! that in such juncture the balance of
! power would be left in the hands Of France,
should France decide to follow the car
! in any mandate which should forbid the
/ destruction OF the autonomy Of the Suth
African republic
1t is hopeless however, to imagine that
any moral resistance of an outraged civ
! ilization will hold back the British gov
! ernment in its purpose to finally posse9s
| itself Of the Transvaal. The LOSSES and
I expenses, however heavy, will be atoned
for by the surely gained profit in the ac-
! QUESTION OF the ri hest undeveloped terri
tory now open to the grasp Of any strong
naion. The geographical advantages Of
the move TO make the Cape to Cairo railroad
a national necessity as well as a preor-
dained success; and at whatever cost OF
blood and treasure, at whatever dispropCr-
tionate slaughter Of British troops, the dom
mating idea cf Cecil Rhodes will be car
ried out and that idea Is expressed in the
! declaration that. though stained with blood
and unfurled against the dictates Of national
morality, the British banner shall wave
! victorious from the Cape OF Coed Hope
10 tho minarets Of Cairo. The greater
includes the lesser, and the extinction OF
the BOer autonomy viii be but one bloody
page in the history Of the parcelng out
q Africa to the stronge5t.-Richard Henry
Savage, senior major United States yolun-
teer engineer corps.