The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-08
THE BOER WAR.

The situation in South Africa seems
neither better nor worse than it was
when the last mail arrived. General
Warrens attempt to turn the Boer po-
sition was unsuccessful, and after los
ing a very large number of men, the
force had to fall back to it's former po-
sition across the Tugela. General Bull
hearted, and in an address to his men
| considered that the work done on the
other side of the river had not been
wasted. Exactly how he arrived at
that conclusion does not appear plain.
1t may be that by keeping the Boer
forces SEQ strenuously occupied at the
eastern end of their line he considered
that he was preventing attacks in force
upon Ladysmith, that he had informed
himself as to the topography of the
country and that when reinforcements
reached him he would be able to make
a better show at an advance.
All this may be true, but it must be
very cold comfort to a nation which is
expecting to hear something decisive
from it's commanders in the field. Still
the situation is faced very calmly in
England, and the opening of parlia-
ment called forth no scenes such as it
was supposed would occur. The Queens
speech was not depressing and the at
tempt to censure the ministry failed.
If the ministry holds it's own, it is a
most astonishing instance of a people
maintaining confidence in its rulers in
spite of defeat and disaster If further
argues that the war will be fought out
to the very last extremity, for it is the
life blood of the ministry to win at all
sacrifices and at all hazards.
In other parts of the fighting line,
everything seems to be quiet. Sir Hec-
tor Macdonald has taken command OF
the Highland Brigade on the Modder
River, but what has become of Lord
Methuen is not clear General Gatacre
is being reinforced and may make a
move soon. But in the cases of both
Gatacre and the forces on the Modder
River the period of quiescence which
has elapsed must have given the Beers
!
their entertainments and of preparing
others, so that even when pushed back
it would be one continuous storming OF
position after position, and human en-
durance is limited, as proved at Spion
Kopf.
AS to the where abouts of General
Kitchener no information is given by
the kilograms. That he is hard at
work and probably has a plan of cam
paign well sketched out, is nearly GER
tain. Eut Kitchener's previous career
has demonstrated that he is content to
move slowly, but that when he strikes
| it is practically an over towering blow.
The Beers seem still to use the tactics
of firing under flag of truce At first
it was not credited, or it was thought
that some mistakes had been made
But the instances have multiplied so
often that there is little room for doubt
about the fact. The last case reported
was that of Captain Thorney-croft.
However the Beers need not in mass be
charged with this. There is an ele-
men of hot headed, ignorant men
among the Beers soldiers who are not
we'll under the control of their Generals
and such cases come undoubtedly from
this direction. Neither General Joubert
nor Cronje would resort to or counte-
nance such methods. 1t is sad that
such things occur, because it embitterc
the fighting very much