The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-16

YHEN Jameson raided the
Y" Transvaal the clock of South
Wv Africa was turned back ten
years Brlton and Boer alike
now realize that that untimely invasion
of the Chartered company's troops was
a mistake IL awakened dormant race
hatreds 1t compromised the British
colonial office. 1t confounded the long
laid plans of Cecil Rhodes. II put the
Boer on the qui vive 1t brought igno-
minious defeat 10 British arms, and,
what Is even more deplorable. IL paved
the way for the present condition OF ar
FAIRS tn sUuth Africa. -IeaaN- England
is reaping the aftermath of Jameson
reckless outlaNry.
The Boer is not afraid Of the Briton.
In fact, ne thinks he is worth two Eng
llshmen put together when il comes 60
fighting HIS experiences in the past
have been such as 10 bear out this in
genuous belief of his, for whenever
there has been a clash Of arms between
the South African Dutchman and the
Englishman IL has been the latter who
has suffered. Such a belief has not
been conducive to the peace OF South
Africa
There Is. OF course a slight dispropor-
ton between the actual lighting power
tie South African Republic. 1t is like
n fox terrier brstling up to a blood
hound. Great Britain, one would think
with her immenEe navy and her well
trained and long experienced army
could easily overcome such diminu-
tive opponent as the Transvaal. Why Is
it, then. that this tiny country OF Dom
Pauls has been able so successfully 20
Withstand every attempted encroach-
ment on the part OF the Britisher? Why
g. II that the union jack mas been hauled
down so often and SO ANONYMOUSLY
when il had once been carried north Of
the Naal river?
There are many answers to these
questions. The Britisher has his ex-
cuses, and the Boer has his boasts. Tho
most important one, however, n the
fact that the Boer fights as fights no
other man i'm the world To meet this
trained marksman OF the veldt in the
regulation manner has been and al
ways will be as stupidly foolish as
General Braddocks Quixotic march 90
Fort Duquesne. Like the red Indian.
the Boer never stands up TO fight He IS
too willy for that and knows that he
would be foolishly sacrificing all of
those peculiar strategic advantages Of
fered by the unusual character OF his
home territory II he did his campaign
ing in the orthodox manner. 1t is
with him. a case OF making the most OF
, environment for the procedure OF the
Bner I'm time of war Is admirably adapt
ed TO the land i'm which he lives. In tho
first place. 10 must be remembered that
the Transvaal and in fact. most of the
territory OF all white mans Africa" Is
broken and rough and nearly always
rocky country. Offering many chances
for ambuscade and intrenchmcnt and
almost preventing anything like tn.
regulation company formation.
Another thing 20 remember is that th'
Boer. from the oldest patriarch In Pre-
toria 60 the youngest lad on the veldt
IL sharpshootcr. He is also an eNpe.
horseman The child Of tho Transvaa
cuts his teeth ON cartridge ball OTTER
before he is 90 years old he rs able &,
handle "a rifle. and always before N.
is out OF his teens he thinks nothing o
b,fnslng down a. buck nj "a thous0u,
yards. when q boy of l3. Kruger him
self used to.go lion hunting and whei
President Steyu II the orange Fre'