The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-05

The American army mule has always
borne an important relation toward the
progress Of events. especially of military
events, in our own time OF late he
promises to assume international proper
lions. The protesting voice of the Trans
immediate occasion Of Boer concern was
the American army mule. Now, how
ever, the situation has undergone ma
terial change. Since the capture of the
Royal Dublin fusileers and the Devon
shire regiment outside of Ladysmith, the
Boer hostility toward the American
mule has, no doubt, become materially
softened They may still regard him as
contraband of war; but at least they
are no longer as completely lost to his
good qualities as their German cousins
are, for instance, to those of the great
American hog.
Still. the question survives as to wheth-
er or not the American army mule is
contraband of war. The learning
OF the subject is not wholly
barren of precedent. The principle has
been securely established by a great
American commander that the American
negro IS contraband of war. And If this
principle obtains as to the American ne
gro, why not as to the American army
mule? Anything which is necessary to
the prosecution of war or to successful
defense the writer's on international law
tell rs is contraband. What is it in mod
ern military equipment either in South
Africa or elsewhere which is more neces-
sary than the army mule?
1t is in his heels that the army mule
possesses those qualities which make of
him so dangerous a foe, both for attack
ana defense; and those heels be used
with his usual energy when battling
with the blue Caribbean waters. The col
ored man and brother is known himself
to be endowed generously by nature with
heels; but who is so ignorant of the re-
Quirementc to d successful military cam
paign who does not realize the vast SUI
periority of the heel Of the army mule to
- any mere prehensile attachment of the
colored brother?
The Boer uneasiness at the appear
ance Of the American army mule in the
South African campaign is now. no
doubt, materially lessened. But natur-
ally enough that of our British cousin
is corTespondingly increased. Both sides
now realize that the effect of a charge
Of American army mules on the adj
vance lines of any army, made with
that reckless abandon and fiery energy
which distinguish the animal in his ma
tive state. IS easier to imagine than to
withstand. But when that charge IS
made as appears to have been the case
at Ladysmith. by the noble mule. at
tended by the guns and ammunition of
the enemy, 1t is, of course, shorn of
many of its terrcrs, except to the own
ers of the mule.
There was something grand and de-
cisive in that charge of the American
army mule at Ladysmith. It left no
ish owner, as to the contraband char
acter Of the animal. But whatever
changes of view on the question of In
ternational law involved which tho
charge of the mule brigade may neces-
state on the part of either British or
Boer, the mule is to be congratulated
on the result. Like his kindred in all
lands. the American mule is usually oh
hvious to other peoples troubles. He
does not concern himself as to the mer-
Its of the controversy in this case. and
Is more likely hereafter to be left TO
browse in peace on his native mas
lures If a substitute can at all bo
found for him, the British cousin is ouito
likely hereafter to leave him severely,
alone.
SUI, regarding him from every pos