Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-24

A special cable to the Cincinnati En-
qulrer from Paris March 18th says
Among French military officers there
IS a disposition to smile grimly at Brit
ish jubilation over developments In the
Transyaal The end Of the war, they
say. Is not by any means in sight. The
French army view Of the situation is
well illustrated in the following. which
is furnished The Enquirer by an officer
Of eminence, who knows thoroughly
the conditions in South Africa:
A few short weeks ago the profession
al prophets were busy writing epitaphs
upon the ruins Of the fallen British en-
pire. Now, in manner no less prema-
ture, the immediate doom OF the two
brave South African republics is conf
IDENTIFY predicted To a student OF the
situation, particularly 10 one intimate
ly acquainted with the country into
which tho hostilitles are 10 be presently
carried, il is quite clear that the fierce
drama which Is being enacted in that
mysterious land has but reached its
third act. The surrender of Cronje
must certainly be considered as a crisis
In a war which has not been lacking in
dramatic effects. But the consequences
OF this crisis are very different from the
fond anticipations Of the momentarlly
victorious Britons. The first and the
most important Of these consequences
IL a total change IN the tactics en-
ployed by the Beers. The relief OF
L0dysmith and the withdrawal Of Beers
from Natal Is rather a direct outcome
Of this change than an achievement OF
Sir Redyers Butler.
NOW DIFFERENTIATION is STERN
EST.
1t Is an absurdity 10 assume that the
Beers will give Up the ship now. when
their very existence as a nation is at
stake. The fierce determination which
forced the old trekkers onward. which
kept Cronies men In the death trap OF
Paardeberg. Is the spirit OF the Beers
today. The only course which is now
open 20 the Beers. unless a peace guar
ahteeing full INDEPENDENCE Of the two
republics Is concluded, is 10 retire into
the Interior This Is but what they
ought to have done long ago In the
beginning Of the war they had an OPP
which viii never present t.
self to them again, Of signally hu-
the British empire. They
could Tut an army OF $1,000 men into
the field, they could beat the Il, 000 Brit
ish then In South Africa and occupy
the ports. rising OF the dlsafected
Dutch would have followed. and the
laadln6 Of troops could have been made
difficult
However, they failed to grasp the
golden opportunity. and now the British /
have over 10000 soldiers In South AZ 1
r!ca. The Beers will follow the plan /
carefully drawn up by Joubert, IN case I
tie original plan OF the campaign I
should fail As mentioned above, this /
plan IL to draw the British troops into |
The interior and resort 10 guerilla war /
fare The territory OF the Orange Free /
State ~ 70 Kronstad offers but little /
chance FOR a successful defensive war. |
II Is an immense elevated plateau. !
about 1900 feet above the sea. Beyond /
Kronstad the country becomes more /
and more mountainous, The railroad |
runs at a height Of $500 feet above the /
sea level. and Is surrounded by steep I
deep ravines and mighty /
There are but few roads.
The railroad passes through territory /
where It IA impossible to ward on AZ !