The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-02-02
q as those Il Moder, the Tugela and

the ROYAL arms as those at Moder. the Tngela and
Spion Kop.
The announcement was made by Gen. Butler
NOT a fortnight ago that thereafter there would be
no turning back of the English soldier and yet,
before the home enthusiasm aroused by such ap-
parent confidence from so conservative source,
had spent itself, the army under his command nad
fought and lost the severest battle of the cam.
paign, and with 1900 men killed, wounded ana
missing had been compelled to retreat across ana
south Of the Tugela river. Not only tnat, out IL
was directly compelled to consider and determine
upon the ACCESSIBILITY Of abandoning the attempted
relief of Ladysmth, where Gen. White with about
1000 soldiers is shut in by the Beers and now al
the point Of starvation The fact is war was de-
clared and entered upon by the English without q
full appreciation of the dificu ties confronting
them. The Beers were despised. their lighting
qualities minimized and their ornaments and mill
tary supplies deemed antiquated and insufficient
In each OF these respects mistake was made and
no one now appreciates the blunder more than do
those who made it, In strategy, courage, marks
manship, equipments and logged determination,
the Beers have proved themselves proficient ana
in these respects have compelled the admiration
of the world.
However, it must not be presumed that the
Boer has accomplished this without AID from
other sources, not national aid but personal sucn
Lafayette rendered this country IN the years OF
the American Revolution. 1t has been SAID and
perhaps truly that Gen. Joubert, high in rank in
the Boer army, is an American, and there are
others not Beers whose military experience is now
spparentin South Africa. There are in every
country many persons with martial ambition, IN
fact adventures in quest of military fame, who are
ready upon occasion to offer their services IN any
cause, whose acceptance is probable. These the
Dutch have welcomed and their success SO far
have shown their wisdom in that respect They
are the strategists who plan, direct and possibly
lead and the Boer does the rest and does it we'll
In the end, however, there can be but one re-
suit. England must win out, unless other powers
interfere, which is not likely, unless they can md
cause of complaint from other sources and Tor
other reasons In other words, there will be no
interference for the sake of mere meddling.
1t requires an effort on the part OF the aver
age American not to feel an inward movement OF
latent sympathy for our kindred in this deploraole
strife; for there not intelligent citizen, who
does not appreciate the fact of the great service
rendered us by the barely concealed sympathy OF
the mother country with US when but a few months
ago Germany's hands were hardly kept out of our
little contest with Spain. That sympathy was
powerful deterrent force at the proper time and
should be honorably repaid at this time of danger,
especially when it may be done now AT such small
cost.
Yet again it is difficult to withhold sympathy
from the struggling Boer, the life OF whose little
republic is endangered as result of the present
unfortunate conflict in which both parties assert
their justification.