The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-16

| VIZ fllSNSsN sSNSsS> Britain in. the
/ IN HNSyG44 memorable ulti-
/ I~E3 eGaANAsAa matum of Oct. g.
i HkAA> &DLsIRRHyM1s9
| " IN >3lZSGei1 It was h e
/ YI|lNNllMSEN/HeSC spirit in the Boer
| -, eSsW1D ~ uprising which
| made it ominous and admirable, and
that spirit still lives to faunt defiance.
Defeated. but not conquered" is the
attitude of the heroes who followed
| Cronje and Joubert Botha and De
| Wet. Wars of conquest like that in
South Africa must have their sequels
| in sullen resistance or open violence,
and although Lord Roberts has de-
clared the annexation of the Boer ter
ritory to Great Britain's domain peace
and order do not go with the land. 1t
is a case of anneAing an unwilling peo-
pie. Ireland has been and often will
be cited as parallel, but the situation
in South Africa is more favorable for
Boer revolutions than the situation of
the Irish for uprisings in Ireland.
The principle upon which the Beers
fought, resistance to British domina-
ton, is one whichrappeals to the major
ity of the population of South Africa.
1t isn't so much hatred of the British
flag and British laws as it is DONNA
ton from London. africa for Afrikan-
ders" is an old cry, but the fate of the
Beers who championed it so calamity
on the Tugela and the Modder does not
do away with the grievance which in
spired it. Cape Colony and Natal are
filled with Beers and people of other
nationalities, including those of Brit
ish blood. who want home rule in South
Africa, and that means rule of South
Africa by Afrikanders for Afrikanders,
not for the profit of London specula-
tors.
Kruger expected help from the AZ
rikander element in Cape Colony and
Natal especially the former, which
contains more Dutch than British. His
first move shows that. 1t was a defen-
sive war which the Beers of the Trans
vaal had to wage and they threw away
the natural advantages of the situation
when they struck out across the border
to besiege British positions. They not
only attacked Ladysmith and Kimber-
ley. but invaded Cape Colony. This
move was only eXcusable on the ground
that the Beers in that region would
join the fighting ranks. Not love of
Kruger, not fondness for the Transyaal,
was to be the motive for this alliance.
but hatred OF rule from faroff London.
ALI independent owners of property in
the lower colonies, which means all
people Of oil nationalities except Eng
fish officehoiders and English agents.
sigh for a rule by Afrikanders who
know what the colonies need to insure
\ prosperity.
The Boer military plan failed. 1t
was a contract too great for little ar
my of 10000 to $4,000 men. They were
covering too much ground, with no real
strength. no reserve anywhere. They
fought magnificently and showed Eng
land that $4,000 redcoats, which it was
said could eat up the Boer nation, was
a mere bagatelle. This was glorious,
but it was costly. 1t was death to the
Beers.
Inactive soldiers rust and lose their
enthusiasm. The Beers made a few
strokes. They held off the British and
captured droves of them. But they
took no cities and instead of striking
where they could with stunning effect
sat down and let the British study up
and work up plans to get the upper
hand.
\ A great Boer success in western Cape
Colony would have rendered the Brit
ish relief of Kimberley impossible, and
Cronje's force could then have joined
Joubert in taking Ladysmith. But the
struggle in the south belonged by right
to the natives on the ground and not to
Boer armies mustered in the Transvaal
and in the Free State. An uprising of
the Cape Dutch. even after Methuen
was well on his way to Kimberley with
| a large column, would have been a
master stroke and must have settled
the war in the west for good and in
favor of the Beers.
Great Britain had too many cards in
hand to warrant Joubert or Cronje in
marching their forces far into Cape
Colony A large force was not needed.
The hour called for an uprising of the
people to stop Methuen's advance by
destroying roads ahead of him or TIC
make sure of his destruction by cutting
off re-enforcements and supplies
BritOns and pro-Britains will have
| it that Kruger was dictator in the
Transvaal and hated by the Beers out