The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-31
sEArrLE. TUESDAY, July ~.



Boer Armies Sufrenderina.
The exciting news from China has
cast into the background all south Az
sican affairs. ana matter which former
~ occupied columns Of space m the
daily teiegraphic reports now takes a
subordinate position. Tho more recent
news from South Africa. however.
seems to Indicate that the Boer resist
ance 70 the British arms IL on the verge
Of collapse; ana that even the guerrilla
warfare II nearly over, The surrender
Of Gen. Prinsloo with 5000 men h sig
nifcant Of this. IT was not known be-
fore that such large body OF Beers
was operating under one commander:
the popular impression. created by the
dispatches. having been that the Boer
armies were broken up into relatively
email commandos. harassing the Brit
ish outposts, threatening their commu-
nscations. and skilIfuily evading the
stronger forces which sought to entrap
them.
II h apparent that both sides have
suffered severely from the terrible
weather which has been encountered In
the past few weeks. Britists pspoets
show the death OF officers ana mon from
hardships and exposure. The Beers.
necessarily with an imperfect commits
aariat, and vigorously puyuasd by the
British forces must have suffered still
more severely. The surrender Of Prins
loo h probably due to the fact that his
men are broken DOWN dlspirited and
unwilling longer to pursue the hopeless
struggle.
Equally significant 10 the announce
ment that Christian Dewet has offered
20 surrender his forces. provided that
his men are permitted TO return TO their
homes. and that the British commander
has refused any terms beyond uncondl-
tional surrender When the Boer COM
manders are offering To surrender forces
which are not 10 hemmec In that escape
n hopeless. and ask only that terms
may be imposed which viii save the
men from Imprisonment, II IL easy 20
see that the war Ia practically over:
that they have given up all hope Of
success and have decided that nothing
n to he gained Nv guerrilla warfare
II Is certain that the British public IL
sick and tircd Of the struggle, and would
b. shd to see ls terminated on almost
any terms short OF independence to the
Hoer republics. The British ministry.
which has 10 face a general election
within very few months, has no Dc.
sire 10 &C, In the teeth Of the popular
desire ON the subject Moreover. the
situation In China may require the use
OF more troops than can by any pcssi.
Oiiity be spared. until the army In South
Africa IL released from the work which
u now has on hand Unless satisfied
that the war was practically over. II Is
apparent that the British commanders
IN South Africa. acting under instruc-
tons. would be Glad 20 accept the sur
rndcr az sach Hoer commands as
might be ready to give M. on any rea-
sonahle terms. which would remove that
particular toree from the field Of active
warfare THAT they have refused 20
ofter terms shows that they are con-
WINGED thar they have the game In their
own hands.
Nothing Is 20 10 gained on the part
OF the Roers by the threatened guerrilla
warfare. which will only increase the
tniseracS % their native land and retsri
the healing Of the wounds which the
war has opened, II was only question
OF time. at the best. when the las, Beer
force wculd hs hunted down and cap
tlred
Entirely spsrt from sympathy with
either camAatant. the world has new a
large interest In the settlement Of the
war In south Africa. The powers Of
the civilized world have been, by force
Of circumstances, thrown into sudden
alliance 10 meet a war which has been
/. tnlpated asainst them ~ the greatest