The sun., 1900-08-05
EARNING B0ER HATRED.
ARROGANCE or ~ NOR BRITISH
OFFICERS ~ SOUTH AFRICA
Driving Many Who would Accept Peace Terms
Back Into the BOer Army-One Example
Capture and Wreck Of Train Near
kroonstad on which Our Consul General
at Cape Town Happened to he Travelling.
Special Cabl, Despatch 10 THE SUN.

Special Cdbf Desp1feh 10 THE SUN.
LONDON, Aug A staff correspondent Of
THE SIN who arrived In London to-day from
Pretoria, whittier he had accc nj anied Gen
Lord Roberts from the Modder River. writes.
with VOW .en>e of freedom from the con-
stra Of the censorship. He says:
Thoughts long STRENGTHENING urder daily
contact and association with the British Army
in South Africa only confirmed on renec-
ton amid civil surroundings. II is not the
,y-tem but the personnel OF the British Army
that is making the Beers irreconcilable. Prob
ably they care less for the abstract form Of
government under which they live than their
champions maintain, but no people are more
ready to resent deeply the personal arrogance
which il the curse OF the great majority of the
Junior British officers. now performing routHe
functions, such a. issuing pa sseS, which bring
about personal meetings OF Beers and Brit
i-hers.
Il have repeatedly Witnessed such incidents
~ that of raw subaltern addressing a burgher
who had obeyed the Government summons to
take up arms with, Now, how long have
YOU been rebel?' This TO man without a
drop of British blood or = days allegiance to
the British Government, yet disposed Ia cease
fighting II compatible with retaining his self
respect Itis no wonder that Boer commandos
are constantly recruited after brief exper-
ence with the military man as n civil official
The proclamation which these juniors are
detailed To enact Is mostly humane and states
manlike, with every chance Of acceptance
by large section Of the burehers but fer the
youngstcr leading the distribution party who
sneers with British supremacy at tie Boer,
until the latter, II "a sclf-respecting man, il
filed with the bttercst resentment. even when
the circumstances compel momcntary ac-
ceptance OF the situation. A burgher who
took the oath OF neutrality just north of Pre-
toria had Immediately 10 witness party Of
soldiers on an officers orders root ont the posts
around his tame deer park because frewocd
was necessary for the officers who wanted toa
The deer. rs tame pets. strayed and the l.ie,i-
tenant shot few. Th"y were unable to agree
on the name Of a rar" specimen and took the
body to the owner who resignedly gave the
name. adding IT was dear little creature,
which used to eat from my hand This man
owned a good house with bathrooms The
news spread through the brigade in camp and
It was a common sight 10 see a group of officers
march into the house and make themselves
free until their turn for "A bath came. II the
owner dared 10 emerge from one Of his own
rooms, they stared at him AS an mpudent
trcSpAssnr.
This ntolcrable attitude is not confined
to the treatment Of citizanS of the enemy's
country. hut 10 every civilian brough, into
contact with this style of officer IL IL not
prevalent among the senior officers. but. I'M
fortunately. duties requiring ordinary, decent
behavior over small affairs mostly devove
on subordinates, and ii is their silly contempt
for everybody not holding the Queens COM
mission that has chiefly caused among the
Beers the present ineradicable ill-wili toward
their invaders"