The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-26
ROBERTS AIDS UNIoNTsTs.
Complete Destruction Of Boer Army
Furnishes Large Headlines for
the unionist Press.


NEW YORK. Sept. ga dispatch to
the Tribune rom London says:
The Duke OF pevonshire has replied
10 the challenge from Delmeny and Mes
srs. Balfour and Chamberlain. the Earl
OF Kimberley and scores OF canvassers
have been speaking within twenty-tour
hours.
But Lord Rosehery's letters have inn
parted the chief impulse to the liberal
canvass while Lord Roberts has done the
most effective work for the Unionists.
He has fully confirmed the earlier re-
ports OF the occupation Of komaupoort
by the British army and the appear
ance az the remnants of the Boer conf
manders in Portuguese territory after
4 few fife sh ots had been fired.
The guards brigaie. which has held
the most Of honor throughout the cam
raign. led the way into Komatipoort,
the final objective point OF Lord Rob-
ert's strategy. That brigade has
marched in the course Of the year from
De Aar to Magerstontein. under Me-
thuen, ani to Bloemfonteln. Pretoria
and the Portuguese frontier, under Lord
Roberts. and IL now stands guard over
the bask door OF the neutral base
through which the Dutch received their
arr,s and supplies,
The war has ended with the de-
.struction of guns and ammunition on
the edge Of the frontier and with the
disarming of the refugees by the Por-
tuguese officials Every mile OF rail-
way in the two Dutch states is now
under British control and every i'm
portant town is garrisOned. Lord Rob-
erts has finished his work and can re-
turn TO England. after proclaiming a
state OF peace in which beiligerents will
be liable TO summary punishment as
outlaws and murderers.
The Delagoa Bay railway. which has
played an important part in the Boef
campaign. will now become an instru-
ment of peace. II is nominally owned
by a Holland company. but has virtu-
ally been the property Of the Trans
vaal government The Holland direc-
tors. in order TO prevent the confiscation
OF this railway by the British military
authorities. win be anxious to clear the
line and put 1t in working order 10 Pre-
toria FOR supplying the army Of occu-
patton and for the resumption Of min
ing operations on the Rand. The inter-
ests Of the Portuguese traders are iden-
tical with those of the directors.
The neutral base, without which the
Beers could not have armed themselves
and kent up years campaign. is con-
verted by the completion Of Lord Rob-
erts' campaign into a center OF com.
merca with the victorious army and
mining camps which are behind IT,
the Boer refugees are disarmed and
even imprisoned and the merchants Of
Delagoa bay are settling down at once
for period Of brisk trade with Pretoria
and johannesburg.
The railway bridge at Komatipoort
has been saved, probably through the
good offices Of the Portuguese. and raid
ers whs interfere with the prompt re-
sumption Of business all along the line
will have no friends in Delagoa bay.
The entire influence of the neutral
base will now be thrown on the British
side against a prolongation Of hope
less struggle by train wreckers and
rowing bands Of guerillas
Incidents which now fill Lord Rob-
erts' daily bulletins and the meagre
dispatches received by the London press
are details IF police work rather than
acts of war. Methuen 1as captured
large droVas of cattle and sheep. Paget
has broken up the camp Of Erasmus
commando, and other commanders are
picking up wagons. ammunition. horses
and live stock here and there and
squads Of famished and desperate burg
hers.
These are the closing episodes Of a
campaign which has cost more in blood
and treasure than any var Of the
queens reign. and the ITnionist press
finds it convenient to display them with
large headlines for political effect as
proofs that hostilities have really ended
and that the electors are called upon to
decide whether the soldiers Of the queen
have fought their battles and shed their
blood in vain.
Favorable as are the dispatches from
KomatipOort. there are croaksfs in the
military clubs who forecast a long per-
iod Of brigandage and plunder in the
conquered territory and assert that the
British commanders will find the last
stage of Dutch resistance more difficult
70 deal with than guerilla warfare en-
numbered with its trains. wagons and
droves of cattle and sheep They as
sumo that the thorough disarming Of
the Roers will require years Of syste-
matte surveillance. since guns rifles
and ammunition have been soWn like
dragon teeth among the kopJes and
mountain Businesses. Police work OF
this kind VIII cease, however. to be
dignif.ed as warfare and ytl1 pass with
out observation.