New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-24
LESSONS OF THE WAR.

LESSONS OF THE WAN.
Nocaulav's words on Londonderry come TO
mind on hearing Of Glencoe and Elandslaagte:
"The victory remained with the nation which,
enough inferior In number. was superior IN
"civilizaton. in capacity for self-government
land in stubhOrnness Of resolution That IS
exactly true of the conflicts Of last week. For
however more numerous the British nation may
be than the Dutch States in Africa, the British
forces in the field are thus far much less nu-
merous than the Dutch. and there Is every rea-
son TO suppose that both at Glencoe and al
Tlandslaagte the victorious BritonS were great
IL outnumbered by the defeated Beers. mat
the British are superior IN civilization is SELF
evident since that is one Of the prime issues
on which the war was begun. 1t is now seen
that not superior numbers, nor familiar and "a
vorable ground nor passionate patriotism, nor
religious fervor can make up for lack Of scien-
tlhc knowledge Of organization and OF dis
cipline. The fine Krupp guns, finer than any
in the British camp. are Of little avail In the
hands Of those unused to them; and the leayen
Of European mercenarics. purchased Ike the
guns, with Transvaal gold, is insufficient TO
leaven the Boerish lump. In the one respect OF
stubbornness of resolution, II is true, the Dutch
peer Of any ever known in history. But Pre-
tora Is not Leyden and the Beers Of the veldt
are not the Beggars Of the Sea. The lotos
eating life Of later years on those enchanted
highlands has sorely Slapped the energy ana I'M
paired the resolution Of the sons OF those VINO
fought in 'Dingaan's day
We may observe, too, the commingnns OF
disaster and dsmay that comes upon the Beers
because Of their studied ignorance and their
blind clinging to superstitions. I'VE thought
the British flag was white' they cry be-
wildpred at the sight Of 81. George red. we
were told say others. that ne were 10 shoot
at men in white collars and red coats. Ana
vet again some say they had no idea the British
could shoot as they do; II they had known II
they never would have gone TO war. The fact
IL that. whatever the leaders may know, the
average Dutch burgher is profoundly ignorant
Of the foe he Is now called upon 20 face. The
old wives tales OF Majuba HILL repeated over
and over. have come TO be believed. The aver
age Boer has been brought to regard the Eng
lish soldier as a puny and contemplate thing
that cannot shoot straight and that is mt TO
serve only as a running target for a Dutch
rife. 1t is a startling and demorahzing sur
prise TO the Beers 10 find that the damned
rednecks." az they call the British. are better
shots and fercer fighters than themselves; 10
find. as they would themselves express 1t. that
IN going out to shoot an Gland they have come
upon den Of lions.
There were no such illusions, or decisions,
upon the British side. From Sir Redvers Butler
down 10 Tommy Atkins every one knows just
what the Beers are and what Is to be expected
Of them. EngHshmen knew and said in adj
vance that the Beers. despite their decline from
the stern herolsm of earlier years, are still
brave men. good shots and stubborn fighters
1t was with the full expectation Of meeting
such opponents that the British marched 70
battle. and their testimony since Is that they
have not been disappointed THE Beers fought
with great pluck and determination says a
British dispatch. "They were undaunted by a
fearful fire Everybody testihes TO the splen
/ did fghtng and stubborn bravery Of the
"Roers" That is the note that sounds all
through the voices Of British triumph. The
! British knew their foemen In advance. and do
! Justice 10 them now The Beers doubtless will
do justice TO the British now in their reports Of
them; hut they did not know them I'm advance
1t was that ignorance that made the war pos
sbe and that makes II fatal 70 the Beers. II
they had known the truth they would never
have gone 10 war. nor even have deemed that
there was cause for war. It was through their
lack Of understanding thar they were dragged
by worse than purbnd leaders into n war that
/ never should have been. It is that fact that
marks the pity Of II. that SO many brave men
and true should perish. and so many home
steads on the veldt should be made deSolate
IF we had known. Is the cry OF the astounded
Beers. and II will hereafter he their lament. n
the slow healing Of the wounds got through
| their self nursed ignorance.