New-York tribune., 1900-12-09
Mr.. CHURCHILL ON THE WAR
HE ARRIVES ON THE LUCANIA FOR A
LECTURE TOUR.

LECIURE IOUK-
Winston Spencer Churchill. Member of Parlia-
ment, soldier. correspondent and lecturer.
rived here on the LucaEia yesterday. He is TO
make a lecturing tour under the management OF
Major ]. B. Pond His subject WILL of course. be
the South African war; and he will tell the story
OF his own Imprisonment in Pretoria and his es-
cape.
Mr.. Churchill is n young man, everybody
knows. He is twenty-six years old. to be exact
But he has had experience beyond his years. hav-
ing seen campaigns at both ends Of Africa and hav-
ing written about them interestingly and ably He
has particularly animated and attractive way OF
talking. seeming thoroughly interested himself and
even eager, in everything which he says He "a
also ready any subject connected with war and
International affairs. is posted in every detail and
has his mind clearly and definitely made up all
the leading issues involved. He does not put for
ward his opinion. however. with any air of
hnality. but merely what seems to him the
common sense view, and he does it in such
way to make it TO be indeed the natural
and proper view. He says little about his
experiences except in answer direct questions.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Churchill talked for
hour or so to number of newspaper a the
Everett House. and found IT easy in that time TO
say number of interesting things about the war,
which was, of course, the only subject which he
was allowed 10 discuss. He said that the present
situation in South Africa seemed to him to resem-
BILE that in Cuba before the Of the United
States and Spain The essential difference was
that the Spanards made only occasional pre-
tence OF fighting. while the British in Africa
going TO do all the lighting necessary and arrive
at settlement.
In to a question about the policy Of re-
moving country people into the towns which has
been compared with the Cuban policy of cOncen-
tration. Mr. Churchill said: "The policy in South
Africa seems to be necessity of the case. The
Beers, for the most part. have uniforms and
when they have any they generally British
uniforms. which they have taken from men whom
they have killed or taken prisoners So it is hard
for the British to distinguish between eombatants
and non-combatants. The only way be that
they are not lighting peaceful farmers is for the
whole civil population to be moved out Of the
g1on where the fighting is going on So the
try people have been sent into the towns. But IN
every case they have been provided with food. and
they have not been subjected to unnecessary hard
snip. No doubt, they have been less comfortable
than they would have been in their own homes but
the policy a necessary one"
CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE NATIVES.
Mr.. Churchill said that he expected to be In Eng
land again TO take his seat in Parliament In Feb
ruary, and. being asked whether he thought that
the present Parliament would have consider
what might be called a reconstruction policy for
South Africa, ne said: II do think that Par
lament will have much to do with that. 1t Is
rather a matter for the executive branch OF the
Government The first thing necessary will be TO
end the war, and the next to establish civil ser
vice. with Afrikanders and Dutchmen IN it, II will
not be necessary wait for this till all fighting is
absolutely over In fact, believe that the process
is going now
question about the courage OF the Beers formed
the text for entertaining little talk on the gem
eral methods and characteristics OF the people as
fighters. THE Boer is a formidable fighter" said
Mr.. Churchill. He is the coolest of men. 1t is
hard to say whether he is always brave or not
If he decides to run away. he does it with perfect
cooness ana without the slightest thought OF ap-
pearances. He thinks everything out for himself
II he decides that II is worth while to stay where
ne IS. he stays and keeps shooting, and he is Just
cool about 1t IL he were shooting antelope
He IS low pressure fighter. He does not get ex-
cited. He will not start make a movement un-
less he feels that 1t is likely to be successful He
would never make dash across open field
Discipline? The Beers have discipline. If
officer wants anything done he has 10 explain
10 all the men why Il is to be done, and the
must be satisfied that It is advisable. They all
discuss the plans and make up their minds and
decide what Is best. But when II Is decided, then
they all understand IT, and each man is at work to
own intelligence and knows what 10 do in emer-
gencies and how to take advantage of opportuni-
ties. And you see what an advantage that is.
EACH MAN HIS OWN GENERAL
Discipline is not important in military az
fairs IL formerly When were formed
for charge IN close order and went into a fight
standing shoulder 10 shoulder and moved as a
mass. then discipline everything. But now
they night in open order. they are scattered over
large tract of territory, and each man must know
how 10 take care OF himself good deal has been
learned about the necessities OF modern warfare.
with it's terribly destructive weapons from this
war. and new ways OF fighting be adopted to
meet the necessities"
Mr.. Churchill said that he thought that the Beers
now in the field could possibly number more
than seven thousand but II impossible 10 say
how much longer fighting would go on Nobody
knew now, he said, whence the Beers were get
ting their ammunition. They had used an enOr-
nous quantity OF IL In the OF the war. and
II was an interesting fact that some time ago the
British had fired away more ammunition in this
war than the German army did in the whole OF the
Franco Prussan War.
The talk OF between Holland and POrtu-
gal and the project OF an invasion OF England
the part of France were both to Mr.. Churchill.
these startling developments had both come
about while he was at sea, but he seemed consd-
erably amused at both and disincned to take a
serious view OF either.
Mr.. ChurchilI's first lecture will given in the
ballroom OF the Waldorf-Astoria on Wednesday
evening. He will be introduced by Mark Twain.
who will preside. lie will then make a long tour,
returning to New-YcFk later in the season.