The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-28
Will Pretoria Be the
Beers last DitCh?"

HE latest utterances OF two
prominent men, one on either
y side OF the Boer- British contro-
versy, would seem to indicate
that the spirit Of neither Is crushed
and that the war will be pursued to the
bitter end. Says President Steyn OF the
orange Free State 1--WE will fight at
the Naal river. at Pretoria and after
ward,in the mountains We have MOTH
ing TO gain from peace--everything by
fighting"
safe within the guarded confines Of
the tight little island" thousands of
miles distant from the roar of battle
ana the din Of conflict, England's pre-
mier. Lord Salisbury, oracularly deliy-
ers himself as follows: Under the bril-
iiant guidance of Lord Roberts 200. 600
soldiers-a larger army than has ever
oefore been sent across the same ex-
Pahse or sea--are now engaged I'm re-
oucing TO obediency 10 the queen those
territories which never ought TO have
been released and in restoring to South
africa the only chance IL has OF peace.
development and tranquility
There is little doubt that these two
voice the sentiments OF either side
There is as yet no holding out of the
olive branch, and IL any one thing could
more enrage the sturdy Beers than an
other 1t is to be Informed that they are
10 be reduced to obediency To the
queen" which Is only another way n
saying that they will be expected 70
contribute toward supporting the royaI
Ianily or Great Britain. IL was inst
because these Beers would not consent
10 become the slavish and seryjIe adm
lators OF royal puppets and refused
obediency" TO a foreign sovereign that
tney "trekked" out from the Cape, and
then again far beyond the veldt and
INTO the mountains, where their capital
is now situated.
But II Is one thing for Lord Salisbury
10 declare what his intentions are ana
quite another TO force the Beers 20
terms. II Is now seven months since
war was declared and Generals Gatacre
ana Butler landed in Africa. with their
baggage marked Pretoria, via the
cape, seven long months since the
Warcry was raised-"On TO PRETORIA
ana what has been accomplished?
a, the very outset the British were
taken by surprise, and the bodies of
troops they had at different points ready
Tor invasion of the Transvaal instead of
Deing allowed to march forth to ravage
ana conquer found themselves, much to
'neir disgust, surrounded by over
whelming forces of the enemy. Then
ensued that long period of humiliation
10 which the British were forced. when
one. after another their ablest generals
walked meekly into the little traps the
Boers had prepared and were brought
TO standstill.
Inc iirst engagement of the war wa.
at Mafeking Oct. 10. 1899. when the
british were driven behind their I'm.
trenchments. General Yule was forced
10 seek refuge I'm Ladysmith. his men
almost naked and demorailzed. and
'here his superior. General White. after
several disastrous engagements with
the enemy, withdrew within his forti-
ncatlons and endured for months the
siege that has passed into history.
aeanwhile three large expeditions had
landed In Africa and were sent forward.
one TO relieve Kimberley. another to In
wade the Free state and another for the
relief Of Ladysmfth. The first. under
General Lord Methuen. had not ad-
vanced more than two days from its