The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-16
HAND on sTEEL.
STR Rsdvers Butler Prepared to Crush
the Beers.

Copyright 1890 by the Ass,ciated rrzss.
London, October 14.-War has come at
last; and is now In full swing for the
subsection of the little republic whcss
military sun sets and risss at Majuba
hin. Great Britain has set going ma
ehinery more powerful than that which
crushed Napoleon and twice as strong as
that which won her Egypt and thu Sou
dan. General Sir Rsdvers Butler has
gone; and already the Bosr bullets have
sung song Of desperate defiance. That
the next few weeks will be. marked by
sharp fighting can almost be taken for
granted. That the result will probably
be for time net too favorable to the
British Is als) to be admitted, but ultl-
mate English victory is almost assured
by virtue of overwhelming strength.
A forecast of the length and nature of
the campaign shouli not be ventured
without knowled ge OF an extraordinary
circumstance communicated to the Asso-
lated Press on most reliable authority
though hitherto not printed in England,
~seNe oChtAAA bdAttN adb kOno w
take entire control OF the South African
situation. He will be as absolute as was
wellington and less hampered than was
Kitchener. Therefore not only the con-
duct OF the war lies in his discretion but
also virtually the future OF all South AZ
icn. and no representations are Of any
value without first taking into oonsld-
GRAFTON his personal character for obs;ina-
cy and frankneis.
Two months ago the secretary OF state
for war, the Marquis OF Lansdowne.
offered Butler command Of tina projected
army corps. Sir Redvers gave a point
blank refusal unless tbs war Office would
guarantees him between 90, 600 and 20, coo
men. He also said that II be were to 90
1t must be on the diltinct under standing
that he could ssleot his own san and
would be uninterferred with By the war
office.
His request regarding the staff, it is
said, was prompted by his suspicion
that Lord Nolss'ey would attempt TO pay
on old scorss By foisting upon him staff
officers antagonistic to him. Lord
LAnsdowne dsmuired but the stronger
man prevailed; and Butler, having gained
all the points hs coveted, accepted the
supreme command. Prior TO Lord Lans-
downe's assent, General Buller freely ex-
pressed the opinion that, whom he had
iriven the Beers into corner his hand
might be stayed by resce-loving cal inet
or well-intentioned war office. a condi-
tion of things he could not tolerate;
for, as he expressed IL, his hand was ''not
one of those that, once put to the pIow,
releases Its grip
1t appears that both the Queen and the
cabinet practically acquiesced in his de-
msnd, although retaining nominal con-
troll. Butler is pretty sure to out the
wires bshinG him and to be out OF touch
with London at critical moments, for
fear ths cabinet might change Its mind.
1t Is this man. then, whom some of his
own officers do not hesitate to call a
brute, however much they admire bis de-
termination, who holds the destiny of the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State in
his hand. He knows the Beers and he
hates them. He has campaigned over the
whole presenG battle ground and is ;,
above all, soldier from head to foot.
AS soon as he reaches South Africa he
will inaugurate q campaign of such ag-
gressiveness as the world has seldom
seen, but which he believes iustifahle
by virtue Of his own superior force. The
sternest measures will not be too stern
for him; and until the last yestige of
Dutch power, whether in the Transvaal.
the Orange FrOs State, OF the Caps Colo
ny is swept out, he will not stay his
hand.