The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-04
A DEAR VICTORY.
John W. Foster on the Price of Eng
lish Success in Africa

New York, May A special to the
Herald from Washington says:
That disaster threatens Great Britain
as a result of the war in the T~ransvaal
is the belief of JOIN w. Foster of In
diana, former secretary of state.
Mr.. Foster has followed the military
operations in South Africa, making =
close study of them and at the same
time giving keen scrutiny to affairs in
Europe. To a reporter Mr.. Foster said:
1T is much to be feared hat England
is engaged in a p~rotracted and, in the
end an alarmingly costly enterprise in
her armed contention with the Beers.
TT is to be anticipated that in the
end through the weight of numbers and
superior England will win,
but that will by no means end the Strug-
gle. AT the present rate progress is not
only slow but every lays delay must
increase the difficulties of the situation,
from a military point of view, and the
same may be said with respect to a So
luton by diplomacy.
1T has been the history of all such
struggles and England has been no ex-
ceptiOn, that the disturbance of COM
mercial relations and other questions,
more or less involved, very soon make
nations FESTIVE. There might be no de-
sire to interfere on general principles
but the influence Of the financial. indus
trial and commercial interests often
compel governments to act from eco
nomical considerations.
mo one can tell what is going on at
this very momen among the maritime
and military powers of Europe At
any time there might be a surprise.
They surely cannot be looking on, Simp-
~ as Indifferent spectators of a pos
sible difficult International problem.
THE transportation of the largest
army England has ever had in a single
theater of Warlike operations more than
half the distance between the two poles
of the earth is in itself an expensive
undertaking and a very difficult one
But this is the least element of con-
sideration. The supply and mainte-
nance of such a large force in the field
over six thousand miles away from
home, in. a region difficult of access
and with most Inadequate means of
transportation, is a problem to occupy
mature military minds.
Then there is the eiemen Of waste
and destruction incident to an army in
the field and in action. This necessi-
tates constant r-eplenishment, all of
which by an increasing ratio adds to
cost. As a military enterprise the end
is evidently not in sight.
Put even if the fighting were ended,
there would be a discontinued people
to keep in subsection, which would re-
quire an expensive military establish
ment.
1.-The experience of the war thus far
has very effectually established the
prestige of the Beers Is fighters. They
may be able to continue If they do for
a few months, other developments are
not improbable England, not perhaps,
exhausted, but embarrassed by pro-
tracted demands COon her fighting ma
terial in men, supplies and munitions of
war, her army thousands of miles away,
might find it difficult to head off foreign
interference by substantial methods.
They might not be in the nature Of
overt acts of military aggression or di-
plomatlc inquiry, but such a lining up
of forces as woulc be difficult to en-
gage.
THE navy of England, it is true, is
free to act. but what would become OF
British mmerce and commerce Grip
pied, wha would become of British
manufacturers, which signify industry
and means of living? The time for di-
| plomatic settlement in the hcs. stages