The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-11-04
A,GLORIOUS BOER VICTORY.

AsGLORIOUS BOER VICTORY.
At this moment the army of General
Sir George White may have ignomini-
ously surrendered to General Joubert
at Ladysmith. In the battle Of Monday
some 1000 OF the best British troops
with six cannon, were captured by the
Beers after a terrific fight in the noun
tains. The British main army retrcated
into the town and, according to the lat
est news, the Beers are Smelling it with
renewed vigor. There is rumor that
the British may evacuate the town and
fly towards Durham, $50 miles distant,
but if they attempt the journey they
will be decimated by the brave farmers
of the Dutch republics. After mature
study OF the situation The Irish Stand
ard sees nothing for the British to do
but to bow to the inevitable and throw
UP their hands. OF course, that will be
hunliliating to the proud Britons, but
not more so than the surrender of Bur-
goyne to Gates at Saratoga when 5000
redcoats laid down their arms to the
American farmers OF the Revolution.
Every American with revolutionary
blood in his veins heartily sympathizes
with the Beers. Only the Mckinley
imperialists wish success to the
English Buccaneers. Had we
genuine Republican in the White
House he would recognize the
Beers as belligerents or declare their
independence as was done by France
with the American colonies. That act
would make England hesitate before
sending second army corps to Africa,
but Mckinley and his plutocratic con-
gress will do nothing of the kind. While
the people OF the United States desire
the defeat OF England, the present adj
by its attitude is giving
every encouragement to the British. 1t
is said that agents of our government
are buying mules for the British army
but the more mules go to Africa the
better for the Beers. The other day
they captured 1900 of these useful ami
mails and now they are braying Justify
in the Boer camp near Ladysmith. In
Mondays battle forty more of the stub
born beasts carrying six cannon and
other accoutrements srampeded and
found their way into Boer headquarters,
where they were received with a "caed
mile failthe' by Kruger's Irish auxili-
aries.
The Boer generals have displayed mil
itary skill of high order, and as tacti-
clans they have overmatched the Eng
lish from the very start. In the first
battle they MORALLY wounded Sir VIM.
Penn Symons and killed and wounded
every member of his staff except two.
Monday they captured forty-fve Off
GERS, besides manning and killing some
others. England is sending 145 officers
from home to take their places and is
trying to get continental officers for
$500 month. The English soldier is
not intelligent enough to take the place
OF a fallen officer, and the result will
soon be that the Boer sharpshooters will
leave the British invaders without off
GERS to lead them.
Much has been said in praise OF Brit
ish generals by the English and Anglo
American press. The fact is that they
are over-rated very much. Since the
Crimcan war British generals have made
their reputation and won their Victoria
crosses and titles in wars with Indian
and African tribes who fought with rude
weapons under unskilled commanders.
Now, it is entirely different. They have
white men to meet, and so far they have
got the worst Of it. They admit that
the Beers are using their artillery with
deadly effect, and they admit that they
are experts in the use of the rifle.
Though numerically weak there is every
probability that the Beers will tax Eng
land heavily to beat them. The battle
is not always to the strong, and long
before Kruger's army gives up the fight
for national independence European
complications may arise that will divert
England's attention from South Africa
Ii the Beers continue their victories for
a few months longer France and Russia
are likely to take hand in the fray.
The United States will not interfere,
though the administration would like
to do so. There are not enough Anglo
Saxons in this country to render much
assistance to the mother country in her
hour OF distress, and it would be utterly
impossible for Mark Hanna and his sub
ordinates to raise an army for the pro-
lection Of England from it's European
rivals. Before this issue OF The Irish
Standard reaches its distant subscribers
the decisive battle in South Africa may
have been fought and won.
Referring to the first battle in the