The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-11
The War Only Begun.


The progress of military operations in
South Africa has not changed at all the
conditions which have prevailed there
from the beginning. 1t has shifted the
scene Of operations. 1t has cost the
Beers some valuable leaders and a good
many soldiers. But II has not destroyed
ity with the country, and il does not
seem to have lnstllled into the minds of
British commanders any correct concep-
ton of the work that Is cut out for
them. At the first hint of sucsess they
fancied that they had only to march
on to Pretoria. That hope is as vain as
Buffers original boast 1t is now con-
ceded that there are months of cam
paigning ahead. To the observer at a
distance II looks like question only of
how long the Beers can hold out. For
that the British are unable to proceed
actively with the work of conquest Is
pretty clear In word. the struggle.
tHoukn Carried On III tne open, IL siege
rather than a war.
With the exception of Generals Rob
erts and Kitchener. there is a conspicu-
Gus lack not merely of ability but of
comprehension. Most of the British Of
ficers make the mistake 10 which the
British nature is prone. Where they
| do not understand, they are apt to de-
| spise. As Joubert said once, they not
only have little intelligence but they be-
lieve firmly that the enemy has none
at all. IL is a temper that offers tempt
ing opportunities to an alert and agile
foe. Hence the ambuscades. traps and
reyerses The British army is like some
huge, slow moving animal. whose might
Is irresistible as far as he can reach.
but who can be stung and pierced by a
swift though Pigmy Zoe,
The fact seems to be that the British
commanders are more embarrassed by
inability TO comprehend the strategy "
the enemy or to forecast his movements
than by his strength in the field No
one seems TO know where the bulk OF
the Beer force IS stationed or where 4
may be expected with reason tomorrow.
The greatest English army of modern
times Is encamped where small scout
irg and skirmlshlng parties ~ Beers
/ reach Within few miles OF Il every day.
and no one Is the wiser II IS haraSsed
| by the necessity 81 keeping intact us
| line OF communication with a base Of
supplies in the rear. I, does M, know
how soon after a forward movement
has been begun Il may ma itself sur
| rounded. The tide or t. successes his
been stemmed. and really great re-
verse is now reported by the triumph
ant Beers.
The end ~ thc war Is not set. The
| Boers ART making a resistance gallant
4 and successful out OF all proportion 20
their numbers. The English are not
making any impression % match their
strength. The caution. the hesitancv Il
Lord Roberts and the lmmobnity 90 the
host that he commands cause sinking
u hearts in London comparable 20 hat
which followed. the FIRST reverses a the
war The Transyaal is not yanqaished
II the Beers maintain yhe.r indomi,abfe
spirit the task that England has under
taken looks scarcely more hopeful now
than ii did three months ago. Those
hardy and liberty lowing Afrlkanders
are making tght that challenges the
admiration ~ the world,
The withdrawal of Or. McGi1ert from
the PRESBYTERIAN church settles the dt-
ncuity between them In what is prob
ahly the most expedient fashion. II s