Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-10


tions Tor war had grown more COM
plete the acceptance by the Beers OF
the so-called British terms would mean
an ever-increasing measure of submis-
sion and humiliation on the part of the
Transvaal.
The British demands We're trumped
up and are without q sound basis, eth
er In morals or III law. 1t is q sad spec
tacle OF the strongest empire in the
world bringing domineering pressure to
bear upon tiny republic to influence
change OF certain domestic policies,
which are, In no sense, q part of the
business Of that empire. For the Beers
to comply with the demands of the
British government would have meant
the sacrifice of every vestige of essen
tial sovereignty belonging to the Trans
vaal as an independent republic.
THE question of the naturalization OF
foreigners in the South African repub-
lie is no more the business Of the Brit
ish government than are the naturali-
zation laws of the republic of Mexico
matter of concern to the republic of
the United States Of America. 1t Is one
of those questions Of internal policy
that pertains only to the Transvaal
government.
THE Beers have been greatly abused
by the British because 1t is alleged they
began the war. In other words, the
Beers were too hasty; they would not
walt until all the British troops had
arrived in South Africa Who ever
heard of such nonsense? That great
civilized nation OF 100000 600 of people
are complaining because the people of
the two little republics, who do not
number all told, more than 900 peo-
pie, including men, women and chill
dren, insisted upon Issuing their ulti-
matum and then proceeded to give bat
tie before the British hosts should ar
rive. While on the Boer side, all told.
there were not moro than 10000 men,
and these had but a few inferior can
non and no bnyonets or swords at all.
Practically the only arms they had
were Mauser rifles.
"One Boer to ten British And yet
the Beers were not trained soldiers;
only simple, plain farmers: like the
thousands of rugged farmers In our
own country: They are just plain,
common people. precisely the same
kind of people that Abraham Lincoln
loved.
"As citizens of the greatest republic
in the world, with which side should
we sympathize? l say our sympathies
should so out to that brave little band
of patriots who are struggling to keep
alive forever the fires of liberty upon
the affairs of those two young republics.
we nave seen IIldIly Charges
by British officers and British newspa-
per correspondents that the Beers have
lrequnlly outraged the white flag aud
the red cross flag. Upon investigation,
not only among the Beers themselves,
but among the 1000 British prisoners,
including the officers, who were at Pre-
toria when we were there, we learned
that these charges We're absolutely I'M
founded. On the contrary we did
learn that this was set up job to de-
ceive not only the people of Great Bril-
tain at home, but to deceive the peo-
pies Of other civilized countries. The
truth it, l defy contradiction that the
British soldiers themselves are the
parties who violated many OF the rules
of civilized warfare, and frequently g-
nored the white flag and also the red
cross flag. 1t was my fortune to wit
ness some OF these scenes myself. On
the top of Spion's Kop when that Won
derful battle was almost over, A young
Boer soldier-not more than seventeen
years of age-was passing by wound
ed British soldier. and the British SOL
der asked him for drink OF water; as
the tender heated Boer lad was kneel-
ing down by his side to let him drink
water from his own canteen, the Brit
ish soldier thrust a bayonet into the
poor boys side. And 1 myself talked
with him. and, kneeling by him, shed
tears when he died.
During the battle of Dundee there
was a lull In he firing for Il time, on
account of the Beers seeing a buggy
approaching them rapidly and floating
white flag. All awaited its arrival
At a distance of about 600 yards from
them the buggy stopped. wheeled
about, dropped the white flag and that
innocent looking buggy was suddenly
transformed into a murderous Maxim
gun, which felled nearly dozen Beers.
/ taxed with the man who captured
that flag and saw it myself. It was
white flag with a small black stripe
through the CENTER ut=at q short dis
lance away It seemed perfectly white:
that flag is now in the hands of Colonel
Blake, the brave American soldier who
commands the Irish brigade. which is
composed almost entirely of Irish
Americans, and no Drawer men are in
the Boer army. said General Joubert
to me-"
Mr.. Davis described the storming Of
Spions Kop by the Beers, after the
British had occupied 1t. and his own
visit to the battlefield seven days later.
"When the fight began,"he said, "a
giant Boer, in the prime OF etrengh ard
manhood, was seen carrying a small
Boer flag; in short time he fell to
rise no more. Then an old white hair-
ed veteran picked up the fallen banner
| and, waving it, urged his comrades on.
with flowing hair and flashing eyes
the old man rushed on. but suddenly
a shell laid him low; ere the little flag
touched the ground, however, a bare
footed lad, only thirteen years of age.
| who had been fighting in his shirt
sleeves, leaped like n panther to the
old mans side and snatching the flag
| from his grandfather's nerveless hand
raised It aloft and pushed on. A nigh
| ty shout arose from the Beers as they
saw that gallant deed. and with re-
newed courage they made n fearrui