New-York tribune., 1900-09-25
ROBERTS'S WORK DONE.
CLOSING SCENES IN THE GREAT DRAMA
PLAYED IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Copyright. 1900: By The New-Tork TriOune.l

Copyright; 1900: BY Nevv-York Tribune
lBy CABLE TRIBUNEl
London, Sept. %, l a. n.-The Duke of Devon
shire has replied to the challenge from DaImeny
and Messrs. Balfour and Chamberlain, the Earl
Of Kimberley and scores of canvassers have
been speaking within twenty-four hours, But
Lord Rosebery's letter has impaired the chief
impulse to the Liberal canvass, while Lord
Roberts has done the most effective work for
the Unionists. He has fully confirmed the ear
her reports Of the occupation Of Komatpoort
by the British army and the disappearance Of
the remnants Of the Boer commanders IN Por-
tuguese territory. after a few rife shots had
been fired The Guards Brigade. which has
held the post of honor throughout the campaign,
led the way into Komatipoort. the final OBJ
jective point Of Lord Roberts's strategy. That
brigade has marched in the course Of the year
from De Aar to Magersfontein under Methuen
and TO Bloemfontein. Pretoria and the Portu-
guese frontier under Lord Roberts. and it now
stands guard over the back door of the neutral
base through which the Dutch received their
arms and supplies
The war has ended with the destruction Of
guns and ammunition on the edge of the frontier
and with the disarming OF the refugees by the
Portuguese officials. Every mile Of railway in
the two Dutch States is now under British con-
troll, and every important town is garrisoned.
Lord Roberts has finished his work, and can
return to England, after proclaiming state of
peace, in which belligerents viii be liable to
summary punishment as outlaws and mur-
derers.
The Delagoa Bay Railway, which has played
tnaportan- part II tbs Boe2 plan Of cam
paIgn, win now become an instrument Of peace.
It is nominally owned by Holland company,
but has virtually been the property Of the
TransvaaI Government, The Holland directors,
in order to prevent the confscation of this rail-
way by the British military authorities, will be
anxious to clear the line and put it in working
order to Pretoria for supplying the army Of oc-
cupation and for the resumption Of mining op-
erations on the Rand. The interests Of the
Portuguese traders are identical with those Of
the directors.
The neutral base, without which the Beers
could not have armed themselves and kept up
years campaign, is converted by the compile
ton Of Lord Roberts's campaign into a centre
Of commerce with the victorious army and min
ing camps which are behind it. The Boer refu-
gees are disarmed and even imprisoned and
the merchants Of Delagoa Bay are settling down
at once for a 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 raiders
who interfere with the prompt resumption Of
business all along the line will have friends
in Delagoa Bay. The entire influence Of the
neutral base will now be thrown on the British
side against proongation Of a hopeless strug-
gle by train wreckers and rowing bands Of
gueTilas.
Incidents which now fill Lord Roberts's daily
bulletins and the meagre dispatches received by
the London press are details Of police work
rather than acts Of war. Methuen has captured
large droves Of cattle and sheep, Paget has
broken UP the camp Of Erasmuss commando
and other commanders are picking up
wagons. ammunition. horses and live stock, and
here and there squads and patrols Of famished
and desperate burghers, These are the closing
episodes Of a campaign which has cost more
in blood and treasure than any Of the
Oueen's reign. and the Unonist press finds it
convenient 10 display them with large head
lines for political effect, as proofs that hostties
have really ended and that the electors are
called upon 10 decide whether the soldiers Of
the Queen have fought their battles and shed
their blood in vain
Favorable as are the dispatches from Komati-
MORT there are croakers in the military clubs
who forecast a long period of brigandage and
rIuuder in the conquered territory, and assert
that the British commanders viii find the last
stage of Dutch resistance more difficult TO deal
with than guerilla warfare. encumbered with
3ts trains wagons and droves Of cattle and
sheep. They assume that the thorough disarm-
ing Of the Beers will require years of systematic
surveillance since guns rifles and ammunition
have been sown like dragons teeth among the
lxouies and mountain Businesses. Police work
Of this kind Will, however, cease TO be dtgnifed
"a warfare. and will pass without observation.
l. N F