The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20


manded IN the field during the South Afri-
can war have been compelled psrforce to
/ overcome the contempt for irregular sol
diers which has been characteristic of
their service from the days of Braddock
down to the present time. Most Of them
I have come 20 realize that colonial volun-
teers on familiar ground are superior TO
regulars. and their equals in any circum-
stances. But it appears that this feeling
was not shared by Lieutenant Colonel
Kekewich. who, with four or Ave hundred
regular troops. was shut up in Kimberley
from the beginning OF the war until the
other day.
Some of the siege history of that town
has been given by the Ri. Hon. Cecil
Rhodes in a newspaper interview. Ac-
cording to Mr. Rhodes the city raised
force of four thousand five hundred de-
tenders. without whose assistance Keke-
witch could not have held the place for
week; but in practice he accounted the
civilian volunteers as of so little import
ance that he omitted to publish the names
of their killed and wounded in his casu-
atty lists; while soemnly announcing
from headquarters the loss of a mule.
One hundred and eleven men of the gar
rison were killed during the siege, and
they were all from the ranks OF the kim
berley citizen soldiery. After relief came,
it would have been easy TO follow and
capture the big Boer gun which had played
such havoc, and which was being hauled
away at a speed of mile and half an
hour: but Kellewich and his officers we're
too busy entertaining and questioning
their comrades of General French's COM
mand.
Mr.. Rhodes is outspcken in blaming Gen
eral Sir Redvers Butler for not raising the
siege Of Kimberley weeks ago. The move
ments by which the quadrilnteral was held.
and the operations at Naauwpeort, Coles
berg, Rensburg, Molteno are all severely
criticised by the Afrikander statesman He
says that Butler ordered Methuen TO re-
lieve Kimberley. take all the inhabitants
under convoy and fall back with them to
the Orange River. This Mr.. Rhodes con-
siders to have been laundering and di
graceful.
Perhaps Il was, but the other PAT o.
his military analysis will hardly scan. The
strategic quadrilateral once in the hands
of the Eoers. Lord Methuens march TO
Kimberley would have been defeated. as
his communica tons with the coast would
have been severed. and he would have been
in imminent danger OF being checked at
the Modder. just as he was. with the ad-
dtional probability of a fatal attack in re-
verse 1t is altogether probable that Butler
did the right thing in Gisposing Gatacre.
French, and Clements IN Northern Cape
Colony as he did.
We have cnce before referred to NJ.
Rhodes declaration that the Beer Republics
have together had not more than thirty
thousand men in the field at any time since
the beginning of hostllities. He knows the
conditions in South Africa so we'll that his
opinion ought to have great weight. II It
be correct in this particular we are afraid
that in voicing il so loudly. he is expos
ing some of the British generals TO EU-
ropean ridicule. Perhaps for once he is
wrong Bat If he is not then the natural
conclusion is that Lord Roberts will not
find 1t as hard to reach and take Pretoria
and terminate the war as all authorities.
English and foreign, heretofore have |
thought he would 1t has been a sharp and
bloody struggle short as the time has been
since it started. All friends of peace and
mankind will be glad to have it over.