The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-14
LITTLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA.


past two weeks is of the meagerest de-
scription, and the temper Of the buster
ing Britons is at fever heat in conse-
quence. The Beers appear to be play
ing havoc with the British forces, and
the stalwart soldiers OF the queen are
sick and tired OF the campaign. Rob-
erts was asked if he could spare 10000
men for China. and the answer speedily
came that he could not. On the con-
trary, he wanted more men to finish the
stupendous task he has undertaken.
Many of his best troopers are lying in
the hospitals, and the medical attend
ance to the sick and wounded is far
from being good. Even the Canadian
colonials are suffering severely from the
outbreaks of fever and dysentery, 500
Of them being in the hospital at one
time Under the circumstances Roberts
cannot furnish any men to participate
in the Chinese war. That leaves Eng
land in sad plight, and hence it is that
she is so anxious for Japan and the
United States to take the lead. while
she is trying to conciiate Russia in
every possible way
These are dark days for pcr6dious
Albion. ior she is unprepared and pow
erless to look after her interests in the
East while all her soldiers are kept busy
by a handful of farmers in Africa. For
the sake OF the Beers the friends OF lib
crty all over the world hope that the
British army in the Orange Free State
and Transvaal may be reduced. II the
combat between China and the other
powers once begins England cannot al
ford to stand passive in the face OF the
world.
The Beers know what is going on
and therefore they will exercise the
greatest caution and at the same time
keep the 100000 invaders who are not
yet in the hospitals actively engaged
for the rest Of the year. A great effort
is being put forth for combined move
ment against De Wet to entrap him and
compel him to surrender but the latest
reports show he has successfully cluded
the baiflcd enemy. Botha is still in the
Transvaal. bidding defiance to the Brit
ish and Stcyn is in the mountain passes
watching the arrival of the tagging foe.
Had Chamberlain foreseen the Chi
nese imbroglio he would have thought
twice before sending all available troops
into the dark continent. 1t is now too
late for him to repent OF his action. If
an international war ensues over Chi
nese complications the star of England
will set beneath murky horizon never
to rise again in radiance for the enlight-
enment OF the world! Her glory has
been dimmed during the Anglo Boer
war; her prestige has departed; and now
she stands before the nations as a big,
clustering bully. totally unable to cope
with few farmers whom she intended
to rob OF their country for the sake OF
the gold lying underneath the veldts
She is no longer consulted by the ma
tons; she stands solitary and alone as
a wreck OF her former greatness; and
no power is so poor as to do her rev.
ercncc or desire an alliance with her
after displaying her weakness in the
South African campaign. Her navy is
no more formidable than her army, and
she needs it to defend her own coasts.
We feel like thanking the Almighty for
the fall OF tyrant which has wrought
so much harm in the world during the
lapse OF centuries. The day OF retribu-
ton comes to nations as we'll as men.
and that Of England appears to have
come at last.