The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-05-26
MAFEK1NG AND AFTER.

The relief OF Mafeking is a final tr-
umph Of Lord Roberts policy. Its fall
would have no direct result upon the
war, seeing that the main attack had
20 be directed to Pretoria, but It would
have been a feather in the cap of the
failing cause If the gallant Baden
Powell and the brave little garrison had
been forced to surrender. Lord Rob-
erts had to consider this, and wisely
took the course he did, which was the
course that Butler should have taken
at the commencement of the war If he
had entrenched a force on the south
side of Tugela the Beers would never
have crossed that river, and the adj
vance into the Orange Free State would
have drawn the besieging force from
Iladysmith, where the tremendous sac
rifice of life in the attempts to storm
the Boer position might have been
averted.
The three sieges, Ladysmith Kim
berry and Mafeking show that IL we'll
provisioned and entrenched, small bod
les of troops can defy large bodies all
AnOSL lnuGllHllGlys lnGIt tdI Dt ilO
doubt of the gallantry and endurance
displayed by the various garrisons. but
of course, the siege of Mafeking
eclipses the other two. It's garrison
was a mere handful; the length Of time
1t held out was longer, and the suffer-
ing of the inhabitants from lack of
food, were infinitely greater.
Baden-Powell is heroic figure in the
little picture a man of iron will and
complete determination, standing at his
post with the tenacity of bulldog His
last exploit of capturing an attacking
force, which had made a Judgment
among his defences, was about as bril-
liant an action as has taken place dur
ing the war. But glorious as has been
the defence of Mafeking, it is but an
incident in the struggle, just as the de-
fence of Kars was during the Crimean
war.
Another thing to be learned from the
sieges is that with properly constructed
trenches and bomb proofs, the danger
from shells is minimized. The number,
of casualties from shell fire has been
comparatively slight in all three cases.
The main losses have been suffered in
repelling attacks and making sorties.
Shell fire, however, plays havoc when
directed against populous towns. full of
brick buildings. Open towns, like any
of the three mentioned, are much easier
TO defend than closed towns, with mar
row streets and a closely packed popu
lation. When the Germans bombarded
truction.
The news of the relief of Mafeking
seems to have sent London crazy. The
British character in this direction
seems to have been changed from what
it was. 1t seems now to be subject
to extreme emotional excitement. The
incident was certainly a happy and
felicitous one, but to the conservative
Briton such exhibitions of emotional ex-
element rather jar. However, it was
long ago written, "tempora mutantur
ct nos mutamur in illis"-times change
and we change with them-and national
characteristics change with the rolling
centuries.
The war, of course, is not over, but
the end begins to appear. Lord Roberts
is making his force felt. He never ad-
Vances till he is ready, no matter what
criticisms may be passed. When he
does advance his progress is irresistible
The Free Staters are giving up their
arms, and very probably when the con-
verging forces approach Pretoria the
Transvaalers will recognize the strug
gle as hopeless and will give up. War
was one thing when it seemed to prom
Use SUGGEST it is quite another thing
when it goes steadily and relentlessly
in favor of your opponent, and troops
like the Beers are more easily .disheart-
ened than regular troops.
Another thing which will assist very
materially in inducing peace, is the
manner in which the surrendering
farmers are treated. If they give up
their arms and take the oath, they are
free to go to their farms Lord Roberts
can show the iron hand, but he also
understands that more flies can be
caught with honey than with vinegar
For the British the prospects are now
very bright.