The sun., 1900-12-23
The south African Situation.

The south African Situation.
The British people have good reason 10
! renounce the public Thanksgiving with
which Lord RopEETs's arrival in London
was 70 be oommemorated. In the recent
news from South Africa there Ia more cause
for depression than for exutation. 1t is
certain that some grave questions will be
forced upon the attention of Parliament Y
the indefinite pro!ongation OF the var.
How much money Is IL worth while 10 spenl
to enforce the programme of unconditional
surrender "a distinguished from a con-
ciliatory policy? Will It be prudent 70
leave the greater part Of Englpnds military
resources concentrated In a single re.ion
for another year? Then again, can the
sef-governing dependencies be relied upon
10 aid the mother country wien the task
in which she is engaged Is no longer the sub
iugaton of foreign State. but The chas-
t.sement OF a rpbellious Colony?
1t now seems probable that, If the uncon-
ditional surrender programme is adhered 70.
tho war will last another year, and that the
cost TO England will not be less than that
which she has had TO meet during the last
twelvemonth. Not only has the withdrawal
Of troops from South Africa been stopped.
but Gen. KITCHENER has called for rc6n-
forcements, and these are 70 he quickly
forwarded. Even from the dispatches
which. after being sifted and doctored
by the military censorship, are allowed to
reach us, It Is evident that the British have
suffered serious losses In the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State, and that their
lines OF communication with their remote
bases OF supplies have been repeatedly In
terrupted. In one instance dctach-
ment Of oiO men and officers was killed
wounded or captured. and the same fate
has befallen several smaller bodies
That the Beers are short Of ammunition
seems scarcely possible in view Of the ease
with which apparently they can stop supply
trains which have to traverse several hun
dreds miles Of railway. protected only at
points widely distant from one another.
We observe finally. that. In spite Of siren
nous efforts TO retain them In the Orange
free State. which 1t is obviously premature
TO describe as the Orange River Colony.
HI lttlSt TWO IDOfT udN' Su'-
ceedcd in entering the Cape Colony. where
they can secure food. clothing and horses,
oven il they do not bring about a general
uprising Of the Afrikander element. We
have formerly pointed out that, should
such an uprising occur. the British com
mander will lnd arrayed against him a
larger number Of armed men than the
!
bined were able 10 put IN the field.
Can England afford the cost OF the pro-
tracted military operations with which
she is now threatened? The answer might
be yes. If such expenditure were indis-
pensable In order TO maintain British u.s.
tendency in South Africa. As a matter Of
fact. her supremacy IL no longer contested
! Neither have the Beers Of the Transvaa
| any lingering hope Of excluding Uitlander-
/ from the suffrage: no such exclusion was
| practised In the Orange Free State. Al
that the mass Of the burghers OF Dutch
or French descent now ask for Is such
modest powers Of local self-government
10 be exercised by them In con njunctor
with the Uitlanders. as will enable the
white farmers TO protect themselves against
! the Kaflis. who outnwnber them to a form
dablc extent. As for the Boer commanders
! they. naturally, would like TO avoid the fat,
Of CRoyJR and of ARAB BEY. They dc
! not want TO be sent 20 ST. Helena or Il
/ Ccylon II Is well known that Gen DI
WET offered 10 lay down his arms on tn,
single condition that he should be LEI.
unInoested on his farm. The offer wa.
refused. and his farm buildings were burned
That was an expensive transaction fo
England The destruction Of that farm
stead has already cost her millions %
pounds sterling.
l. it wise for England to pursue a cours,
which will compel her TO keep upward o
two hundred thousand soldiers In Soutl
Africa for another year? IL Is true that
Just now. none OF the great Powers Seem
! inclined to hterpo-e on behalf Of III,
etrugcllug oommonwealths. and. perhaps
at no time will any Of them help the Boer,
directly. Indirect assistance. however
might bs given. II the outbreal; of a wa
between England and great Continenta
state should render 1t impossible to senC
further rCen.orcemonts to the British com
mandcr in South Africa. No one VIII,
observes the virulence Of the Anglophobir
now raging in Franco will pronounce suci
war impossible, especially should tn,
Waldeck- Rousseau Ministry be ovcrthrown
Would il be worth while for England {,
try 20 avert q war by concessions whicl
would lower her prestige, and which sh,
would never make but for the temporary
la. in % bot mi ,aaptrr.Sc Au;. 4.
from a foreign war. moreover. there ar
other contingencies with which che woulC
need a free hand to deal. Her disaGecteC
subjects in India may seize the present tempt
ing occasion TO Organize another mutiny
or The -Amser Of Afghanissan may die ant