Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-01
The End in South Africa.

| the English army under Lord RoDerts.
and the precipitate flight OF Presiueh'
Kruger and his disorganized forces'
the war in South Africa may be
deemed practically at an end. That
boasted stand in the last often was
not made. the worthy burghers evil
IDENTIFY feeling that discretion was the
hotter mart of valor. when they saw
the great British host sweeping
through the Transvaal in such irwin
chile fashion. The failure of the Beers
| IN keen their threat to blow up the
johannesburg mines was expected.
Such a course would have involved
manv international troubles and would
have set the whole world. instead of
England alone, against them. But it
was hardly expected that they would
evacuate their capital without striking
a blow in its defense. long and
arduous siege was generally looked for
and the fight of Dom Paul and his
army Indicates complete disorganiza-
ton.
II remains to be seen whether the
Beers will trek deeper into the wilder
ness and harass the English by guer-
rilIa warfare, or whether they will
make the best of the consequences of
their folly and sue for peace. The war
n:
sooner than was generally expected a
short time ago. Lord Roberts has
justified the expectations of the en-
pire. and out of the chaos of overcon-
fidence and poor leadership which
made the beginning of the campaign
so disastrous, he has brought an over
whelming and speedy victory. AS to
the future of the Orange Free State
and the Transvaal republic, there is
little doubt that they will be made.
and Will remain, Crown colonies, gov
erned as India is, without a shred of
independence remaining. However
harsh this fate may SEEM it is certain
that Presidents Kruger and Steyn
courted it. There could be no other
end to their unjust and shortsighted
policy.
The war has not been long nor its
cost crushing as great wars go. 1t
has been bad enough and President
Kruger has kept his promise to make
the English pay dearly for their vic
tory The Boer defence has rapidly
crumbled away Of late. and the British
advance from Kroonstad to Pretoria
at the rate of 20 miles d day staggers
those who expected the Beers II resist
desperately every step of the way.
There is no way of knowing the losses
sustained by the Beers and the many
foreigners fighting with them 1t is
very doubtful if the exact figures are
ever known. AS to the British loss.
the latest statement from London
May L, since which time they have
been very light. Up to that date. 1922
British soldiers had been killed on the
field. and Sal had died Of wounds re-
Ceived in action, making a total of
only 2.S93 who can be regarded as
killed in battle, on the most liberal
construction of the term. In addition.
there have been 2,595 deaths from
| other causes in the British army.
bringing the deaths to a total Of 5.5SS
| from all sources. The strength of the
British forces has been further de-
| plctcd by 4,330 men missing and pris-
| orcrs, as well as by 1901 men sent
home as invalids. and 1870 men re-
ported as wounded. with deduction for
the sal who had died Of their wounds.
| The three classes number 23.361. and
if these be added to the j.5SS deaths
the grand total of the casualties will
stand at 2S,949 But it must be re-
membered that a large proportion of
the wounded, will, in time, return to
the ranks, and that the prisoners near
Pretoria will be released at once, 50
that the loss of 10000 men probably
amply covers that sustained by the
British.