The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-19
The Gravity Of the British Peril.

The reflection In our Stock Exchange OF
the disturbance OF the London Stock Ex-
change and the starting OF the expectation
OF gold hence are obvious indications that
serious military reverses cannot come to
England without our sharing In the calam-
ity. More especially Is this the conse-
quence now when It is not too much to say
that tho British Empire Is undergoing a
strain more severe than any other to which
it has been put before in this century
The succession of British defeats In South
Africa, OF which the shattering blow TO Gen.
BUTLER was only the latest, may be contin-
ued. and 1t is hardly possible to expect that
1t will not be continued, at least during the
month and more which must elapse before
the new troops can get to the seat OF war;
A further series Of reverses, some OF which
may exceed those experienced already,
may reasonably be expected before the new
army under the command OF Lord ROBERTS
can be made ready for the new campaign
which must be pursued. The defeat OF Gen.
BUTLER Is apparently Of omlnous signlf-
canoe for Gen. WHITE at Ladysmith, as IL
also the defeat OF Gen. METHUEN for Kim
berloy, and the signs OF the revolt OF tho
Dutch in Cape Colony still further compli-
cate the situation for the British and in
crease It's hazards.
It Is not improbable, therefore. that the
English people will yet be called on to suffer
from the repetition Of such black week
as was the last, and perhaps several OF
them, before Lord ROBERTS Ia able to get
his new campaign under way The vastly
increased armies which must now be main
tanned in South Africa will swell enor-
mously the expenses OF the war over the
original estimates, and its now inevitable
prolongation far beyond the time origi-
nally set for It's completion will bring up
its cost to so vast an amount as to necessi-
tate the borrowing Of great sums OF money
by the English Government. The amount
which will be required it is, OF course, i'm
possible to estimate, but es practically the
whole British army, outside OF India and
OF necessary garrisons in colonies, will DO
required, II must reach many millions OF
pounds sterling, and draw heavily upon
our gold supply for the benefit OF England
accordingly.
The new campaign under Lord ROBERTS
can hardly be expected to be organized
fully before the end OF January. Even II II
Is successful In checking the aggressive
campaign OF the Beers, the war may then
be only In its beginning. The Beers will
retire into their own country where natural
defences and artificial defences constructed
with long elaboration will make the at
tempt to conquer them arduous and may
subject the British to the losses and hard
ships OF q campaign lasting for many
months, and to cost for maintaining
greater armies than England has ever before
had in the field which will be enormous
The determination Of the English people
to persist in the war 10 now, however, vir-
tually unanimous Reverses experienced
have only intensified 1t. for the prestige OF
the Empire Is at stake. A serious set
back to British power would be calam-
ity in which we and the whole civilized
world would be forced to share, and
already We are getting a premonition
OF its consequences. To prevent 1t, how
ever, England may be called on to strain
It's financial resources to the utmost as It Is
now straining its military resources. The
greatest British armies ever put In the field
| will be In South Africa. and must be sus-
tanned at the same time that even greater
forces may be required in India, In Wow
| OF possible foreign attack while this su-
preme effort to retrieve British prestige Is
| going on.
The South African war; therefore, seems
now to have become OF proportions so
great and to threaten costly continuance
so long that 1t Is likely to be OF the most
serious Importance for 1900.