Arizona republican., 1899-12-05
A Correspondent Thinks War Will End Soon.
A LOST OPPORTUNITY
Jealousy Between the Transvaal and the Free State Which Prevented The Burghers Joining Forces and Invading Cape Colony Saved Eng land Grom Grave Disaster.

London, Dec. At is not improbable that when the Boers are compelled to withdraw from Natal they will ask the British government on what terms peace can be secured. By that time President Kruger will have recognized that his great plan of driving the Brit ish out of Natal into the sea has com pletely failed. and it is quite likely that the Transvaal government will endeaV- or to ascertain on what conditions the British government will grant peace. In such case the party in this country who are in favor of a moderate and reasonable settlement might make their voices heard with some effect.
 The Boers themselves and their friends here must recognize that it is impossible simply to go back to the settlement of 1884 A state which makes an attack on another and fails must be prepared to pay a price for its fail ure; but many liberals think that a set clement could be effected which would not be dishonorable to the Boers. and which would accomplish the professed objects of the war.
 Whether equal rights can be secured in South Africa without universal Brit ish citizenship is a point on which diff ferences of opinion exist. It is true. however, that General Joubert, before the beginning of the war, told a news paper correspondent that the solution to which he had looked forward was South African federation under the protection of this country. If this view were shared or accepted by the Boers, it might form the basis of q settlement. It would practically place foreign affairs and the control of armaments in the hands of the protecting power. It is still possible to communicate freely with Pretoria, by letter. and the best thang that President KrUger's friends can do is to urge him to offer a reason able settlement before the invasion of the two republics begins. If he did, a powerful party in this country would urge it's acceptance, and it is believed that Lord Salisbury himself does not "lSll lO dIlN z d NcI lI1lt u bsiL ScA4ll- IT, however, the war is carried out to the bitter end, the settlement is likely to be all the worse for the Transvaal.
 It has been said by some of the sup porters of the government that no peace will be made until it is dictated to the conquered Boers at Pretoria. This is not probable. It is quite likely that any conditions Of peace which the British might offer would include the demolition of the forts at the Transvaal capital, but that is a different thing from declining to make peace until the town itself is occupied. No government could refuse, if solicited by the govern ments of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, to say on what conditions they would be prepared to end the War. It is probable that in twelve or fifteen days the Boers, from the attacking, will become the defending force. and when that takes place a natural oppor- tunity arises for reviewing the situa- ton.
 A correspondent has had an oppor- tunity of learning the views of a dis tinguished officer who has had excep- tional opportunity of studying the Boer character, on the general situation in South Africa. There will be, in his opinion, heavy fighting in Natal, but from a strategical point of view the Boers have already been beaten. since they have failed to carry out their in tentiOn of overwhelming Gen. Whites small army and overrunning Natal. As to Sir George Whites ability to hold Ladysmith. he was emphatic in assert ing that not the smallest anxiety ueei be felt on that account From his per sonal knowledge of the Boer character he believed that an unsuccessful as sault on Ladysmith would be followed by the return of large numbers of the Boers to thei. farms. They had been misled, partly by their own ignorance. partly by their previous experience of fighting against British troops, and partly by the Pretoria officials as to the character of the fighting they would have to do, and when they realized how mistaken they were he was frn.- ly convinced that the Boers would col lapse. T give the war to the end of December-and no longer" he declared This is certainly not the view which finds most support, but it is interesting as rehecting the carefully formed opin- ion of d clear and cool-Ecaded observ- CT who has had better opportunities than most men of forming an opinion that is entitled to respect
 General Buffers plan of campaign has been modified, and will probably be greatly changed, by the military )35i- tion in Natal and on the frontier If Cape Colony. His first duty is to re- lieve Ladysmith and Kimberley, and his general advance into the enemy's territory must be subordinate to these objects.
 By the end Of this week 9 force of 5000 or 10000 men should be at De Aar,