The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-12
BRITISH LOSSES IN SOUTH AFRICA

According to the figures published yester-
day In a cablegram from London, the
British losses thus far in South Africa
have been pretty nearly as great, proba bly,.
as the total number of men the South Az
rican republics have had in their armies
1t is true. of course. that there are no re-
liable figures as 10 the number of men the
Beers have had in the field since tine out
break Of hostilities, but II is doubtful,
judging from the estimates which have
been made from time 10 time by British and
American correspondents, If they have
ever had as many as 5000 men. They
could muster more than that number, of
course. but there has never been a time
when the full strength of the Beers was
under arms. The fact must not be over
looked that the population of the Trans
yaal is under a quarter of million and
that that of the Orange Free State is very
much smaller. An army of $1,000 men
therefore would be a big one for the TWO
republics.
1t is stated in the cablegram in ques-
ton that the total British casualties
since the beginning of the war are IS 1873
officers and men, And the war Is not over
yet. In fact the lighting is quite as fierce
as it has been at any time since the war
began. 1t is true there have been no big
battles recently. but fighting on a small
scale has been almost continuous and
has been very disastrous to the British.
For the week ending July the British
casualty list was quite large. There were
killed. wounded and captured Is officers
and $50 men; there died of disease Off
GERS and 1874 men; there were invaded
home Y officers and 1908 men, and there
were two accidental deaths.
II the losses continue at this rate how
long will it be before Gen. Roberts will
need relnforcements? And even If he
does not lose many men in the guerilla war
fare which the Beers are now carrying on,
he is certain to lose many from typhoid
fever and other diseases. Typhoid fever
is very common and very virulent dis
ease in South Africa. 1t has been stated
a number of times that the British are
but lily prepared to combat it or any 9TH
er disease. If. therefore the Beers should
be able to hold out for six months or a
year, the losses of the British would, in
all probability. be appalling, simply from
disease.
The British are paying a big price for
South Africa. There is not much reason
to doubt that they will finally force the
Beers 10 surrender or to leave the coun-
try. Owing to their enormous expenditure
of life they will not be in forgiving spirit
when the time comes for fixing terms of
surrender. 1t is probable that harder
terms will be imposed on the Beers than
the Beers imposed on the Outlanders.
There is just one chance for the Beers,
and that is the possibility Of Great Britain
becoming involved in war in other parts
of the world In that event she may need
all of her fighting force at the new scene
of trouble, and may be liberal in making
terms with the Beers. The trouble in
China is causing her unea siness and there
is a report of an outbreak in India. The
chance for getting better terms than the
British are now disposed to offer seems to
be worth taking, and the Beers have ap-
parently, decided to take it.