Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-24
s NEWS -FR0M RICHMOND AND OTHER PARTS o. VIRGINIA 4
heart. and parliamentary action may
be looked for at an early day.
WILL THE BOERS EMIGRATE?

WILL THE BOERS EiIGRATE?
Taking it for granted that the Beers
Will be conquered the question arises,
VIII they again "trek?" Twice already
since their settlement in South Africa
the sturdy farmers have packed up
their household goods and emigrated
in order to escape British aggression.
VIII they repeat the exploit? The
opinion Of many Is that they have gone
as far as they can. On the north and
northwest are Rhodesia and Bechuana-
land. The former is under British
domination: the latter is yet peopled by
savages who are more or less under
subsection to Great Britain. Neither
country Is fertile in agricultural pro-
ducts. as are the present South African
republics. and they offer few allure
ments to the Dutch. Nevertheless, large
numbers of the present inhabitants of
the Transvaal willn doubt, prefer such
inhospitable surroundings to remaining
subject to Great Britain. But even in
such retreat they will not be immune
to intrusion. Great Britain claims the
whole of that part of the continent
and will eventually make her claim
good by taking actual possession. She
is to-day virtual mistress there. 1t Is
the prevailing opinion among the few
Beers sympathizers here that the
Burghers will make the best of cir
cumstances and remain where they are
distasteful as 1t may be. They hope
for reasonable measure of political
freedom and will not be disappointed
for 1t is Britains policy to accord to
all subjects not only freedom of speech
and of the press. but liberty of con-
science and a measure of self-govern-
ment. There are many friendly to the
Beers who believe their interests will
be best served under the British flag,
but 1t will be a hard matter to convince
the South Africans. 1t will take
generations to make them loyal sub
jects. yet there Is hope that an intelli-
gent and tolerant policy toward them
will eventually bring them to their
Senses" as the saying goes.
MUCH HARD WORK AHEAD.
There are few well-informed persons
here who cherish the thought that hos
tilities are likely to cease soon. The
Government is certainly not of that
opinion for the work of sending rein
forcements to Lord Roberts.show no
sigh of abatement. Even since the re-
lief of Kimberley and Ladysmith ship
mcnts Of troops have been made and
1t is expected that before the middle of
this month an additional force of ten
thousand will be on its way to the
Cape. There is thought to be some
thing more behind this activity than
the public can discern. 1t Is limited
that the Government is in possession
of information that leads to the fear
that the Dutch OF Cape Colony are
preparing to join forces with their
brethren to the northward. The Brit
ish commanders during their passage
through the colony have not been re-
ceived with an effervescent enthusiasm
and 1t Is no secret that the sympathies
of the bulk of the population are with
their llinsmen. A hope OF assistance
from this direction is said to have been
at the bottom of much of the Boer
stu bbOrnneSS thus far, and there is no
question but a large number of the
lighting men in Joubert's army came
from across the border. Under these
circumstances the Government pro-
poses to take no risks, and will place
at General Roberts command a force
sufficient to overcome all obstacles.
But even without the assistance of
the Cape Dutch there is still much hard
work ahead of the British army. The
force that surrendered with Cronje was
mere bagatellc. There is no telling
when or where Joubert will be encoun-
tered in such force as to seriously en-
barraSS the progress to Pretoria. The
exact whereabouts of this commander
and the strength he has at his COM
mand are matters of speculation solely
There are no exact details at hand and
all attempts to obtain them have man
ifestly been futile. That he will be en-
countered ere long is taken for granted.
He will give battle when 1t suits him.
and the scene of conflict will be of his
own choosing. a desperate battle,
probably decisive of the war, will be
fought before the River Vaal is crossed
"A battle that will call for a display of
all the skill of the British generals
and all the bravery of their men. There
Is no little trepidatlon among military
men IS to the outcome of this conflict.
That General Roberts force is superior
to Joubert's Is conceded, but this may
not compensate for the advantage of
position. which will doubtless be on
Joubert's side. The topography of the
country will render cavalry practically
useless and General French will find
his occupation gone for a time at least.
BOER TACTICS MYSTIFYING.
There is much mystificaton in mill
tary circles over the Boer tactics. The
abandonment of the siege of Lady
smith without even an attempt to en-
gage Buffers army is taken as an
evidence that the Beers are concon-
trating at some point of vantage on
the road to Pretoria. The loss Of
Cronje's small force, while 1t no doubt
embarrassed the Beers, did not Grip
pie them. They must still have sixty
thousand fighting men i'm the field.
This is the War Department estimate.
but some place 1t much higher. Rob
ers has at his disposal 1877 900 men,
The garrison released from Ladysmith
is not included in this number, and in
deed. ii is not available. for the men
are so weakened by the famine they
have had to endure that they will not
be In no condition for duty for two
months to come. The same may be
said of the Kimberly and Mafeking
garrisons. The best any of these
troops can do is to guard the line of
communications, thus releasing a few
thousand men TO take the field. I'm