New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
MIXING POLITICS AND WAR.

The mixture Of politics and war Is generally
nm evil one, though 1t is often made. In the
present case It was inevitable. The war In
South Africa had its origin in politics. and
political considerations go hand in hand with, II
they do not actually precede, military judgment
Our London correspondent, with his accustomed
perspicacity. early characterized the attempt
to hold Dundee and Glencoe as dictated by
political rather than military requirements.
That was exactly true, and the same may pe
said Of most Of the moves made In the great
game by both the British and the Beers.
The invasion Of Natal and Bechuanaland and
Indeed. Of Cape Colony itself. by the Beers was
purely political in its motive. Military 1udg-
ment would have dictated that the Beers re-
main in their own land strictly on the de-
fensive, because they would be much stronger
there In the hills. than in the open. and be-
cause such defence Is the natural attitude OF
the weaker party But the Pretoria politicians
hoped by fierce rush across the border to
arouse a general rebellion in their aid among
the Dutch of the British colonies. In that they
did not succeed. But they are still attempting
the same thing by proclaiming the annexation
of Bechuanaland. and part OF Cape Colony ana
the wedge Of Natal. to the Boer States by
which expedent they hope to make 1t appear
that Dutch residents Of those regions who join
them will not be liable to prosecution for trea
son. In that too. they are likely to fall. TOT
the British Government has promptly made 1t
plain that no such pretext will avail to shield
any disloyal subject from the consequences OF
his treason.
Political motives have been correspondence
potent on the British side The first thought
was to counterfeit Boer intrigues and keep the
Cane Dutch loyal. Nothing would do that more
effectively than A brave show OF resistance to
the Boer invasion and ringing victory or two
at the outset So the attempt was made TO hold
the Dundee -Ladysmith line with ten thousand
men against an attacking force OF thirty thou
sand. And so the fierce onslaught was made
at Glencoe Junction to the cry OF Remember
Majuba" That onslaught was successful. first
in checking for the moment the oncoming nosts
Of the Beers: and. second. In bracing up won
derfully the wavering loyalty OF the Cape
Dutch. Perhaps the gaining OF the latter point
was worth the heavy cost Of that engagement
a cost including. as we now learn. the life OF
the gallant General Symons. In Ike manner
poltical reasons caused the foolhardy holding
of Mafekng with a mere handful OF men. pos
sblv at the cost of their destruction or capture
Had sound military considerations alone pre-
vailed all forces would have been consolidated
on the east at Ladysmth and on the west at
Kimberley, and there they would have re-
mained. as General Sir Redvers Butler ordered
them to remain. strictly on the defensive until
reinforced by the army corps which is now at
sea on its way thither. 1t is true. however,
that had such policy been pursued General
Butler on arriving at Port Elizabeth. might
have found the whole Cape In flame OF in
surrection. and 1t may be- therefore. that the
political policy has been the wiser one.
However that may be, the war will soon
reach a stage at which politics will be aban-
doned and the rest Of the campaign will be
fought out on purely military lines. That will
be either when all the political schemes have
been worked out. In either failure or success.
or when General Butler gets to the scene with
an army equal, and more than equal. to the
Beers In numbers. One or both Of those points
will be reached within the next two or three
weeks Meantime we shall continue to watch
a war under political rather than military con-
trot