Washington sentinel., 1900-07-28
is ENGLAN C'S
FALL AT HAND7

GTGdL
NS Law is feeling as she
FALL AT HANp7 has never felt
before 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 dWindie 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, and by internal dissensions
among tbs HIndus, who have had sew
era! decades Of starvation. and begin to
murmur. Ireland must be garrisoned
as il il we're an alien land but lately
subjugated and the native unrest in
I,Igeria, 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 grumbIe. 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 a dampsT on many of the most
ssnguine, and whereas a year ago the
recruiting officers could not sign the
applicants TOR glory at II 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 for Ioo.o 900 extra
troops is issued, the British Government
may have trouble in raising them, and
as TO the enormous outlay OF money
occasiOude, Il can only be had by bor-
rowing at exosbitaut interest or by tax
ing the discontinued colonies. The
British papers at the opening Of the war
in South Africa were full of the enthu
siastic manner in which the colonies had
responded to the call for volunteers.
Yet, as a matter oi 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 India,
while they were taken from the native
troops, were regiments from the regular
army who had no say as to marching or
remaining at home
In South Africa the British claim 20 De
fast nearing the goal, although II 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 TEansyaal, including President
KrugeT's capital and the city oi gold
mines, which was the source Of the Boer
Republics wealth There are still,
however, two centers Of resistance, one
in the Orange River Colony IN the
northwest corner ofthat territory, where
President Steyn. with the stalwart OF the
Free Staters, sets England at defiance
and mensces the communications of
both Lord Roberts aud General Butler
the other in the eastern Transvaal
where General Louis Bolha with a good
sized army OF burghers, still offers a
bold front AS soon as one or the other
OF these forces has been finally captured
or destroyed, the English NAV look TOR
the return Ofsome Of their divisions, but
not till then. The outlook Tor the
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
venton 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 relief
The force which was intended to set i
free from its troubles has. like Genera
Buller's army In December and Januar,
last, been more than once repulsed, bu
is now being strengthened to such
point as to render success reasonabl
certain. Il has to contend with RIes
difficulties. The rains this year hav
been unDrecedentedly heavy, and,
there are no chains Of frowning mouI