Washington sentinel., 1900-07-28
IS ENGLA MIS-
FALL AT HAND7

GFedl bTkdIU
law is feeling as she
FALL AT HAND7 has never ieIt
b, fore the anX.
ieties OF empire. The English people
are fairly staggering under the white
mans burden" Distracting crises arise
on every hand. Resources apparently
inexhaustible dWindle as if by magic
before the endless calls for money, men
and supplies. Then. too, there are
several points from which no reinforce
ments may be taken, at which the pres
ent number OF regiments must be kept.
The Indian Empire is always menaced
by Russia or Aighanistan or both, from
the north, aud by internal dissensions
among thS Hindus, who have had sew.
era. decades OF starvation. and begin to
murmur. Ireland must be garrisoned
as il it were an alien land but lately
subjugated, and the native unrest in
Iugeria, Central Africa, Ashanti and
the Soudan, to say nothing OF South
Africa, requires a constant stream Of
red coated recruits to replace those
falling bv force, enteric fever or the
assegai. The great outlay Of money
made on the South African war has been
met thus far by taxing the colonies.
But even the more loyal Of these are
beginning to grumble. Troops which
the majority of the British people have
never seen, have hitherto been taken
the ranks OF the hotheaded. But the
steady flow Of casualty lists and discOur.
aging bulletins to the effect that the
"Boers have again eluded our advance"
put damper on many OF the most
ssnguine, and whereas a year ago the
recruiting officers could not sign the
applicants for glory at IL cents day,
cOnscription is now the rule in the
colonies, and even in the home prov.
inces Of England, Ireland and Scotland
II as is said, call Tor 100, 900 extra
troops is issued, the British Government
may have trouble in raising them, and
as to the enormous outlay OF monev
Occasioude, Il can only be had bV bor-
rowing at exorbitant interest or by tax
ing the discontented colonies. The
British papers at the opening oil the war
in South Africa were full Of the enthu.
siastie manner in which the colonies had
responded to the call Tor volunteers.
Yet, as a matter OF fact, the bill to send
a contingent to the Transvaal passed
the Australian Assembly by one vote.
Canada sent les than a regiment to the
front, and the volunteers from Iudla,
,.ths1a Nhaut .a
troops, were regiments from the regular
army who had no say as TO marching or
remaining at home
In South Africa the British claim 10 De
fast nearing the goal, although It is
possible that there is still a good deal
more fighting before them. They seem
to have conquered the greater part OF
the old Free State and about one fourth
OF the Transvaal, including President
Kruger's capital and the city OF gold
mines, which was tine source Of the Boer
Republics wealth There are ssIll,
however, two centers or resistance, one
in the Orange River Colony IN the
northwest corner Of that territory, where
President Steyn. with the stalwart OF the
Free Staters, sets England at defiance
and menaces the communications oi
both Lord Roberts aud General Butler;
the other IN the eastern Transvaal
where General Louis BOlha with good
sized army OF burghers, still offers a
bold front AS soon as one or the othsI
Of these forces has been finally captured
or destroyed, the Euglish may look fol
the return ofsome Of their divisions, bu
not till then. The outlook Tor thu
Transvaalers is no more hopeless thar
it was for Washington at Valley Forge
and the rise of more menacing force
abroad may be the means Of securing
victory for Kruger just as French inter
ventIon in Europe made things easie
to Washington in 1879.
In Ashanti the situation is still NOR
uncertain, and Kumassi is a new Lady
smith. which urgently demands relic
The force which was intended to set
Tree from its troubles has, like Geners
Buffers army 10 December and Tanuar
last. been more than once repulsed, b.
is now being strengthened to such
point as to render success reasonabl
certain. Il has 10 contend with gres
difficulties. The rains this year hay
been unDrecedentedlY heavy, and,
there are no chains OF fTowning mou