Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29

supply services. To forward from the Cape
Of Good Hope the supplies needed for an
invading army is herculeau task The alb
senCe of fuel, forage and water will be Sc
verely felt by the invaders 1t Is clear
that England will be obliged at dispropor-
tionate expense to transport levies of vol
unteers from Canada and Australia, as well
as the troops Which can be spared from
India, in order to finally crush Kruger's
army. Thoroughly familiar with the coun-
try self-devoted and united the Beers will
undoubtedly destroy all the available re-
sources in any region exposed to the inroads
Of the British.
Famed as skirmishers, the Beers will be
enabled to not only harass and delay the
British advance, but to skillfully elude the
English commander in his desire to crush
the Boer power in one great field battle.
The operations of the Beers will be assisted
by every appliance known to modern me-
chanical ingenuity. The employment of
dynamite the use OF rapid-f guns, the
substantial aid of the entire population as
spies and the peculiar conformation of the
, lonely veldt will determine a campaign of
fierce surprises, harassing combats and a
stubborn resistance in which enormous loss
will be inflicted upon the invaders.
The ingenuity of the African trader and
his desire to coin a profit out of the
troubles Of others will cause adventurous
dealers of all nations to use every possible
means to introduce ammunition, high eX-
plosives military supplies, etc, into the
South African Republic, In the stormy six
months past the Beers have secretly sup
piled themselves with great stores OF war
material. The defense Of the disputed ter
ritory will be obstinate. The voluntary de-
struction of homes and towns will delay the
British advance and rob the invaders OF
their final victory. The destruction by the
Beers of the millions of pounds worth OF
machinery in the great gold and diamond
mines has already begun. The slender rail
ways to the east and south have been at
tackled by parties of Boer horsemen, and
every bridge and viaduct will be blown into
| fragments.
| Tremendous LOSS of Property.
| The loss to the outlanders by this sense
! less struggle will exceed any military raw
| ages snce the burning Of Moscow. The
final victory of the British arms will come
| only with the disappearance of the last
considerable bands of Beers able to '.'ar
arms, The relative losses of the British
forces engaged will be appalling. for the
! hardy habits OF the Boer soldiery will give
them a clear superiority in the detached
operations CT the irregular warfare.
1t is not, however, possible for the ad
herents Of Kruger to prevent the final oc-
cupation Of the South African republic b.
the British forces. The period which vii
be marked by Boer victories Is limited by
the final arrival of British troops in sui
! fcient numbers to guard and maintain the
double line OF advance from Delagoa bay
and Capetown. After six months the con
tinued arrival OF British reinforcements ant
supplies will enable the British commander
to firmly hold the ground gained and by th'
uso Of cavalry and light troops to breal
up the dlsorganized masses OF the Beers
However brave and skilful the pers ma
warfare, 1t is not possible for the inferior
forcea to finally make a successful stanC
against the British army, smarting undel
the severe losses OF many bloody outpcs
battles.
The Beers lack discipline, solidity am
familiarity with the practical branches Of tn
military art The only individual object o
the British Is to break up the masses Of tht
Beers and by advancing in force into th
country 10 coatter the interior enemies an
| allow priyltlon, sickness and the absence O
| military supplies to bring about the fna
extinction Of the Beers as an organized
! army.
The British commander who rashly ad
! yances or who divides his forces in the fac
Of this stubborn enemy may pay dearly Fl
his temerty. There is but one royal road Il
success for the English commander, and tina
Is with an Irresistible force to adyanc
slowly along the natural lines OF operation
covering his front with a strongly supporte