The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-15


the way, will consistently remain strictly
on the defensive, rather than risk doubt
full engagement
AN IMMENSE ADVANTAGE.
All sorts of surmises are current regard
ing the detailed strategy about to be en-
ployed. One authority says the hostility
of the Orange Free State confers an i'm
mense advantage on the British, as 1t will
enable Sir Redvers Butler to so direct
through that country into the Transvaal.
WORK WILL BE HEAVY.
The Naval and Military Records, in the
course of a most interesting article, writ
ten by an army officer, who compares the
forces, says:
There is little doubt as to on which
side the work will be heaviest. Our troops
will have to adopt the role of attack on
prepared POSITIONS while the Beers, at
the very outset, by means of their mobili-
ty, may be able to make a dash into
Natal, retiring with comparative ease
if pressed. But 1t is hard to believe that
they have staying powers sufficient to
prolong opera tions for any length of
time.
Gen. Butler will eventually be strong
enough to invest any fortified towns or
positions taken up by the Beers and to
sit down and wait until exhaustion sets
the Veldt with total area scarcely equal
to France, it is questionable If 10000 typi-
cal yeomen, trained in the service of
arms, can be raised throughout the whole
Transvaal. The rest are city men, with
the vices, greed and love of ease en-
gendered in centers of urban life.
1T is far from true that the Beers are
a Cody, clean-liVing and generous race.
They have openly given it out that the
i-l, TO ho Tod
branch, and the oft-repeated phrase, TO
every man, damsel, dame or two, there
was a lurid light on Mr.. Kruger's pious
front.
1--WE enjoy the sublime advantage of
eventually posing as the attacking party,
and it remains to be seen how far the
Beers are fitted for the wearisome task
of passive defense, which sooner or later
will be imposed upon them.
IRON DISCIPLINE
1.-THE revolver of the troops has been
exchanged for one of ten chambers, but L
do not believe there will be much hand-to-
hand fighting, for Gen. Butler believes
that in close rushes much of iron dtscl-
pine is lost. We do not intend to allow
the Beers to close in on our infantry,
though cavalry charges will be necessary.
1t is to be hoped that the British-lnd1a
troops will be detailed as an advance
guard. for they are we'll trained In am
bush work
Although Sir Butler has gone, most Of
the corps is still here The Associated
Press learns that the admiralty has final
" fixed upon Oct 20 as the first day of
regular embarkaion, this continuing each
day thereafter from Southampton, which
will be literally red and khaki and brown
with departing troops. On Oct. % and Is
there will be embarkations of a large con-
tingent of men and equipment at T1lbury.
These two ports will be the only outlets
of any Importance.
The Outlook quotes a member of the
cabinet. whose name is not given, but who
is evidently Mr. Chamberlain, as saying in
private conversations:
absolute equality, nothing more and
nothing less, is what we intend to secure
in South Africa There can be left no
doubt regarding British sovereignty over
all South Africa. When these aims have
been attained, a policy of magnanimity
and consideration, such as has made the
French Canadians loyal British subjects,
will I have no doubt. be applied with
equal success in South Africa. To destroy
ruthlessly the best traditions and amour
propre of the Beers would be an act Of
the supremest folly
The Shipping Gazette says that the call
ing out of the reserves is seriously affect
ing the shipyards and engineering works,
especially the latter, resulting in q slack
ening in the rate of ship production.
The plethora of money in England IS
evidenced by the fact that the Mansion
House fund for the relief of the Cape
Town refugees already reaches more than
$50 C00 while G3, 600 has just been paid for
a private orchid collection, G175 going for
one plant.