The times., 1899-06-21


A British officer. who has seen service
in South Africa, while sojourning few
days in Chicago has confided to one of
the papers of that city some personal
views on the situation in South Africa
which are worth consideration. He says
that, aside from the fact that the Beers
are, every man Of them, born fighters and
perfectly willing to lay down their lives
for their country, they are certain to be
favored by considerations of isolation,
topography. and many other things which
would prove grave obstacles to the opera
tions of an invading force.
From Cape Town TO the yaal River is q
stretch of one thousand miles, and there
is no practicable intermediate base of sup
plies. The officer who gives this informa-
tion states that an aggressive campaign
would compel the British commander to
carry most OF his ammunition and pro-
visions on pack mules, of which thousands
would be necessary, and would have 10 be
brought from South America. He thinks
that the task of reducing the South Afri
can Republic TO obedience would be use
less one to attempt with less than force
of sixty thousand men.
This, indeed. does not present an en-
couraging prospect for the British arms,
but. perhaps. it may be more pessimistic
than need be. The whole white popula-
tion OF the Transvaal State in 1886 was
stated at only 245,397 souls. of which
1871, ,947 were males. OF the total, the single
English mining town of johannesburg con-
| tanned 1O2,O7S inhabitants, 1886 of them
being males. and a large proportion
men. as is usual in communities of that
kind. If these Uitlanders are in the way
TO get arms, and that is one of the first
considerations which would appeal to the
home Government, their Boer oppressors
might be kept busy looking after them
until a sufficient force of imperial troops
could come 10 their assistance.
Whatever may be the difficulties in the
way, no one need think that our English
cousins will not surmount them if put to
the test. II sixty thousand men are re-
| quired they will be forthcoming. and will
( be armed and supplied without fuss OF
scandal. There will not be found any
rotten beef contractors in control of the
! British War Office There is a military
| inspection in the Queens army sufficiently
intelligent and severe to shut out foreign
earrion from purchase for soldiers rations
As for Englishmen. the first individual
caught furnishing such stuff as poisoned
our troops in the Spanish war. would
spend the remainder OF his life in Port
! lard Prison
OF the evils and abuses incident to out
military staff system in the recent past
the British army is quite free. Appoint
ments to responsible army positions ar,
not within the grasp of persons whose onl!
qualification is political influence. anC
Lord Salisbury is not burdened with en.
relatives likely TO divide the profits witt
thieving army contractors. Moreover. on
might hunt all over the Horse Guards il
London and not find any Alger or any
thing resembling it.
For all of these reasons. while we hop
that war may be averted in South Africa
we are confident that when John Bull find
he must undertake ii, the business vii
be conducted without any of the humili
ating incidents that have marked our owl
exploits in the same line.