The Irish standard., 1900-07-07
DRAGGING ITS SLOW LENGTH ALONG
War Likely to Continue for an
Indefinite Period.
TIL LOSS NEARLY FIFTY THOUSAND
English Making a Scapegoat
of Lord Kitchener.

In special cable from London to
the New York Times, dated June 80,
A. J. Wilson says:
In South Africa the war drags along
and the tension in Cape Colony in
creases.
.Agreeably to the policy of the South
African league, Mr.. Rhodes instrument,
arrests are being made Of prominent
Dutchmen, members of Parliament
among others, and troops are still being
hurried out as if the league and Sir
Alfred Miner fully expected these
deeds of vengeance to produce the
rebellion desired by many of them in
Cape Colony. 1t is sorry business,
and the country is heartily weary OF it,
but "Bobs" has sent home word this
week to the War office that he is going
to strike blow forthwith that will put
an end to the war, and the officials look
for it any day. This blow is probably
the capture of Dewet or the dispersal
Of his bands, but the commander-in-
chief is much too sanguine if he expects
the successful accomplishment of that
feat to stop the fighting. His own
proclamation of vengeance, confiscation
and the absolute refusal to accept any
thing except unconditional surrender
insure the continuance of strife in a
sporadic and spluttering way for an in
definite period No wonder, therefore,
if the country is beginning to be heart
lily weary of it.
Sadness is spreading over the land at
the heavy loss our troops have incurred.
Up to the end of last week 211 900 hu-
man beings have been sent out from the
United Kingdom alone to fight our bat
ties in South Africa. Altogether we
may say that 275,ooo men, exclusive OF
Indian and Kahir camp followers, med
ical attendants, nurses, grooms, and SO
on, have been occupied since October
last in fighting about $4,000 farmers.
That the feat has not yet been accom-
plished fills the cup with bitterness, and
that the loss of life has been so great
causes mourning to steal into almost
every hamlet in the kingdom.
For our dead, wounded, and sick now
number nearly $4,000. And now, when
in mood thus dissatisfied and gloomy
Mr.. Burdett-Coutts, formerly Ashmead
Bartlett, brother of Sir Ellis Ashmead
Bartlett, but man of somewhat diff
ferent stamp, has frozen our hearts with
sorrow by the tale he has told oi
the hospital denominations at Bloem-
fontein. So strong was the effect pro-
duced on the country that the ministry
felt compelled at once to allow the sub
ject to be discussed in Parliament. II
has not gained anything by what took
place there last night. None Of Mr.
Burdett-Coutts' charges were rebutted
and most of them were either actually
or by implication admitted, and all the
excuse offered was that the army had
been hurried forward with such rapidity
to Bloemfontein and Kroonstad as to
make it difficult for the transport avail
able to supply it with food. Medical
stores accordingly were not forwarded
in time
AS usual, we hunt around for scape-
goat, and it is freely said among the
club gossips and in the street that Lord
Kitchener is at the bottom of the neg
lect of our sick and wounded at the
front. He is always perfectly indif-
ferent to human suffering, we are told,
and regards a man down as tool no
longer of any use to him in the game
he has to play, and therefore neglect
able. I doubt whether this is true.
There is more foundation for the as
sertion that the breakdown of medical
and nursing services arose from the in
terference of politicians at home with
the plan of campaign. "Hurry up and
get it done" was the cry to Lord Rob-
erts, and he, excellent soldier though he
be, is but too plant when he receives
orders from the government Chamber
lain's side of it wanted the war over by
at least to-day, and hoped that it would
be done with month ago, and expected
to be able to rush the country in gen.
eral election some time in July. Hence
the tremendous hurry to get to Bloem-
fontein, the eager haste with which the
annexation of the Orange Free State
was proclaimed, and the bitter disap-
pointment to-day that certain number