Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-14
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New York Sun: Both South Afr;o,,
and British indian papers refer to the
Keen interest taken by the natives in the
W. countries in the wal between tbs
British and the Beers. A regular system
OF communication is said to have been es-
tabllshed between stations on the west
n northwest frontier of India and the
nil country. by which all information
concerning the progress of the war is
transmitted with extraordinary rapidity
among the tflbesmen. How it is done is
a mystery yet unsolved; out one indian
paper atfirms that the news of the begin
nlng OF hostllities in South Africa was
already known across the frontier when
1t was received at Peshawur by telegraph.
Inc effect of it was seen in the agitation
that began among thetribes, and in a call
sent out for the Mullah of Povindah for
1900 men to assemble, ostensibly to
march against some recalcitrant chief
tains. He also issued a proclamation as
cribing the defeats of the tribesmen last
year to the want of harmony among
them. and pointed out that if they want
ed to recover their Independence thew
must rise all together. In consequence
OF this agitation a British force has been
sent to the frontier to the point threaten
ed.
A Rhodesian paper, in announcing the
outbreak of the war, laments the absence
or telegraphtc C communications between
Beira and the coast own of Natal and
Cape Colony, by which new could be re-
ceiVed Of the progress of hostilities, and
says that if all other means of commune
cation fail, they will have to fall back
upon the native houseboys. 1t SAYS that
1t has certainly been more than surpris-
ing in previous African wars how early
and correct was the information the ma
tives seemed to possess. Ar instance is
given in which during the last Mashona
NN1I= Tho Ia G n u 6 in TvH,t 10 -
Knew of theb battle at the Changani river
on the evening of the same day on which
it was fought. How such speed of COM
munication was secured is still a puzzle.
Whether it was done by shouting from
hill to hill, or by fleet runners in relays,
the result, the covering of 400 miles in
eight hours, was a marvel.
A writer describing the interest taken
by the Rhodesian natives in the war be-
tween the British and the Beers saws
that the war is to be regretted because of
the demoralizing effect it is producing on
the natives. One Of the greatest protec-
lions which the white man carries with
him among the Bantu tribes is the belief
that all white men are brothers, and thai
an injury to one will be avenged by all.
among the benefits which the
white man has brought to Africa is the
possibility of peace. War in all its as
poets has been for 50 many the
natural order OF things that it has more
than astonished the Bantus, to which
the Matabele, Mashonas, and other tribes
inhAbiting Rodesia and the n~eighboring
belong, to meet With people
who believe that peace mot war, was the
best condition of things. Now that the
natives have discovered that the white
men, too. can fight with each other, the
attempt to impress the natives with the
advantages Of peace will fall, and for this
reason the war is regretted. But the
danger of a general native rising is not
the security of the whites |
in the absence of union among the
variou kraals, the chiefs of which, while |
ready to fight each for his own land, can
not be brought to act in alliance with one
another or under the leadership of para
Mount chief.