The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-28
ENGLAND'S BIG CONTRACT.

goes ON, it is becoming evident
that England has a bigger con
tract on hand than she bargained
for and that the people of this
country knew little few months
ago about the land or strength of
the Beers. Now that maps and
history have been studied, it is
seen that Great Britain has enter
ed upon task greater than any
she has encountered or under
taken since the wars with Napo-
leon. 1t matters not what price
she must pay in blood and treas
ure, England must go on, or re-
ceive a shock that will be felt
throughout her vast dominions
and lower her prestige among the
nations. Self confidence at first
made her underrate the work be-
fore her, just as we did in the
Philippines and as did the leaders
in our Civil War when the first
call of $4,000 men was thought
sufficient to restore the Union.
Recent events show the Boer war
is not contest for the "Horse
Guards, " as was assumed in the
beginning, but one which will test
to the utmost the resources of
the Empire. Even now it seems
probable that England will have
to put not less than 10000 men
into the African campaign-one
of the largest armies she has ev-
er employed at one time in the
field or so far from home.
AT this moment, with English
reverses of a most serious kind
reported, the situation, political
lyand geographically, is decided
ly in favor of the Beers. With a
possible confederation ofall South
Africa, and insurrection at every
point, the war has assumed pro-
portions similar to that which
lost England her American colo
MES. 1t is true that she is rich
er now than in 1875, but her re-
sponsibilities are in proportion
and the jealousies and power of
her enemies are also greater,
which may lead to a diversion of
her energies to protect interests
already established Under the
circumstances, English states
men may as well admit the facts
frankly and make ready to con
front the worst which can be eX-
pected. England's standing army
amounts to 100000 men, supple
mented by volunteer force of
$50, 900 in a fair state of drill and
discipline. A large portion of
both these forces will be needed
the former to fight, the latter
to hold what is taken and guard
the base of supplies-for the mil
itary authorities estimate that
the Beers have now at least So
600 fighting men, while some
place the actual armed force at
$4,000. All are seasoned and
hardy fighters, excellent shots,
thoroughly acclimatized, provid-
ed with the best modern weap-
ons and with a good, if not large,
field artillery train, fully ac-
quainted with the topography of
the country in it's aspects of Of
fence and defence, and adopts in
that kind of defensive warfare in
which their strategy, so far ad-
mirably displayed, will find it's
most skillful outlet. They have
immense stores of arms and
munitions of war, as well as food
resources, their country is one of
the best in the world for defen-
sive operations, and they will
fight with the courage of despair.
The Beers have staked every
thing on this issue, and the dog
ged tenacity of their race cannot
be for moment questioned. TO
conquer such people under the
conditions which will rule in the
rear as the British attack pushes
on, the fighting power in the
front should be at least half as
great again as that of the Beers,
with enough force to hold the
communication intact and do
sr., n,n.t.,