New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20
CLOSING IN UPON THE BOERS.

With the relief of Mafeking the Beers are
baffed in the last Of the three important under
takings in which they had any prospect of sue
cess. The talk about planting the Boer flag in
Cape Town and driving the British into the sea
was, of course, never anything but bombast, not
seriously taken by the most truculent Dopper Of
them all. But there time, of considerable
duration, when the capture of Kimberley, Lady
smith and Mafeking seemed imminent. The
first place saved by the superb strategy of
Lord Roberts and the brilliant dash of General
French. The second owed its salvation chiefly
to the stubborn heroism of General White. The
third after harder trials and far longer siege
than either of the others, is now saved through,
shall not say merely the valor, but the
absolute genius Of Colonel Baden-Powell OF
course, much credit is to be given to the reliev-
ing force, which marched two hundred miles in
twelve days in almost unbroken secrecy and got
in two days ahead of schedule time. Yet We
are by means certain that the indomitable
'B. P.' and his handful of comrades could not
have held out six months longer, waxing fat
and kicking on their diet Of mule hash and cur
ried locusts But the great fact is that Mafek-
ing is saved and thus the Beers are beaten in
all three of their most resolute and promising
undertakings.
And now the British are closing in on all
sides. Between Kimberley and Bloemfontein
when Lord Roberts fully at work, one
panic stricken Boer heard to exclaim that
the whole earth seemed covered with British
soldiers. 1t must soon seem SO to the defenders
Of the Transvaal. Lord Roberts is pushing on
toward the Vaa and seems likely to strike it
at two or three points at once. Sir Redvers
Butler is driving his way up the wedge of
Natal and will presently cross the Buffalo River
or pour his army through the passes of the
D-akensberg. Lord Methuen is sweeping up the
south bank Of the Vaal, and General Hunter
is advancing along the north bank straight
toward Potchefstroom, which may be captured
before any attack is made upon Pretoria or
Johannesburg. Nor are these all The force
which relieved Mafeking is now free to march
across either to Pretoria or, more probably to
Potchefstroom, where it may effect junction
with the other columns now converging upon
the capital And, finally, there is Sir Frederick
Carrngton's strong force, which has now served
its purpose of making the Beers believe 1t was
intended for Mafeking and thus distracting
their attention from the force that was really
hurrying toward that place, and which may now
strike down upon the Limpopo at any point
that seems most favorable.
There is little ground for surprise in such cir
cumstances at the rumOrs Of the formation of a
peace party at Pretoria and of reports that Mr.
peace The futility of further resistance and
indeed the impossibility Of maintaining it with
any degree of effectiveness, must be apparent to
the Beers. There can be in such a case little
wisdom in fighting on to the last ditch" Yet
the reality of the situation is that there is
no apparent alternative save that of uncondi-
tional surrender, which would not be to the
Boer taste There is certainly nothing in the
aspect of the war at this moment which makes
any stronger appeal for Intervention than there
was months ago. Intervention is, in fact, i'm
possible. Mediation might be possible If Great
Britain should request it; but seeing that she
has fought this war largely as a practical pro-
test against mediation, nothing is more unlikely
than that she will ask II admit it, now that
she is bringing the war to triumphant close.
The question whether 1t is desirab BILE to open
negotiations with the Beers over terms of peace
or is best TO press unrelentingly and inexorably
on until they are compelled to surrender uncon-
dtionally and let her dictate a settlement ac-
cording to her own will is for Great Britain her.