The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-24
.Y0ule ENGLISH OFFICERS
EARNING D0ER HATRED.
ARROGANCE OF JUNIOR BRIT.
ISL OFFICERS IN SOUTH
AFRICA.
Driving Many Who Would Accept
Peace Terms Back into the
Boer Army-one Ex-
ample

NEW YORK, Aug s.-A staff CORE
spondent of the Sun. who arrived n
London today from Pretoria, whittier
he had accompanied General Lord Rob-
erts from the Modder river, wires with
a new sense Of freedom from the con-
straints of the censorship. He says:
Thoughts long Strengthening under
daily contact and association with the
British army in South Africa are only
confirmed on reflection amid civil sur
roundings- 1t is not the system but the
personnel of the British army that is
making the Beers irreconcilable- Prob
ably they care less for the abstract
form of government under which they
live than their champions maintain,
but no people are more ready to resent
deeply the personal arrogance which is
the curse of the great majority OF the
junior British officers now performing
routine functions, such as issuing
passes, which bring about personal
meetings of Beers and Britishers.
4 have repeatedly witnessed such in
cidents as that of a raw subaltern adj
dressing a burgher who had obeyed the
government summons to take up arms
with: Now, how long have you been
a rebel2' This to a man without
drop of British blood or days allegi-
ance to the British government, yet
disposed to cease fighting if compatible
with retaining his self-respect. 1t is
no wonder that Boer commands are
constantly recruited after brief ex-
perience with the military man as a
civil official.
The proclamation which these juni-
ors are detailed to enact is mostly hui
name and statesmanlike, with every
chance of acceptance by a large section
of the burghers but for the youngster
leading the distribution party, who
sneers with British supremacy at the
Boer, until the latter, if self-respect-
ing man is filled with the bitterest re
sentiment, even when the circumstances
compel a momentary acceptance of the
situation. A burgher who took the
oath of neutrality just north of Pre-
toria had Immediately to witness a
party of soldiers root out the posts
around his tame deer park because fire.
wood was necessary for the officers who
wanted tea. The deer, as tame pets,
strayed and the Lieutenant shot few
They were unable to agree on the name
of a rare specimen and took the body
to the owner, who resignedly gave The
name. adding: 1t was a dear little
creature who used to eat from my
hand This man owned good house
with bathrooms. The news spread
through the brigade in camp, and 1t
was a common sight TO see group Of
officers march into the house and make
themselves free until their turn for a
bath came If the owner dared to
emerge from one of his own rooms they
stared at him as an impudent tres
passer.
This intolerable attitude is not con-
fined to the treatment Of citizens of the
enemy's country, but to every civilian
brought into contact with this style of
officer. 1t is not prevalent among the
senior officers, but unfortunately duties
requiring ordinary. decent behavior
over small affairs mostly devolve on
subordinates, and it is their silly con-
tempt for everybody not holding the
Queens commission that has chiefly
caused among the Beers the present
ineradicable ill-will toward their in
vaderS."