The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-06-06
FROM BoER POINT OF VIEW
Confidence Of Ultimate success In
sonth African War Expressed
In "a Burgher's Letter.

A British uitlander, now a naturalized
Transyaal burgher, gives in letter
dated johannesburg, February 20, and
written to friend in New York, says
the Sun, an interesting account of the
situation as it appeared from the Boer
point of view at that date. He says:
"Your letter dated December 20 to
hand a few days ago. have just re-
turned from the front (Tugela) escort
ing prisoners taken at Tugela llast
week, and as the mail per German steam
er closes tomorrow, take the chance
OF writing you. SO far the burgher
forces have virtually had their own
way, and though Gen, French with 2, 900
cavalry has succeeded in getting into
Kimberley ail their conmissariat
train, numbering over 1S0 wagons and
about 1900 oxen. intended for the re-
lief of Kimberley, has fallen into our
hands, On the Tugela, Gen. Botha has
three separate times driven Gen. Bull
ler's forces back with heavy losses on
each occasion, and we believe the re-
lief of Ladysmith is almost impossible.
That the war will probably last six
months longer is likely enough, but,
from what I have seen and know, we
will not tire in the struggle, and every
day longer in the field makes us more
competent to infiict defeat on the en-
emy.
''The guns incident you refer to be-
tokened carelessness on our part. Our
men were so confident that Ladysmith
was completely cowed that they never
anticipated such an event happening,
but having been once bit, there is very
little likelihood of such thing hap
pening again. Ladysmith is approach
ing its end and another week should
herald its DOWNFALL Our engineers are
hard at work constructing gigantic
dam, and by diverting the course Of
the Kip river, which runs through the
town, win be in position to food the
place to depth of is feet.
''As regards the future Of the re-
public, it seems to possess every posi-
bility of success. 1t is well that the
war did occur. Our position will be
all the more secure for the future, and |
the intolerable interference of the CO.
lonial office and the British govern
ment in the internal affairs of this |
state will be for all time impossible. |
III the war brings us nothing else it /
will not have been waged in vain. But !
/ am sure that it will mean more than
this, and that in the days to come, our
country will be. looked upon by the
nations with that esteem and respect
which is hers by right of her prompt |
and courageous action. One very
heartening sign is the presence in the
burgher ranks of all .nationalities, the
Irish and Americans being largely rep
resented, but the Frenchman and the
German and the H0llander and Italian
are there also, and it all helps to the
breaking down Of racial antipathies
and makes for the international soli-
darity of all. Everything is full of
hope and we are certain that we are 1
going to emerge from this struggle
all the better for its happening.
ARTHUR Lynch is here and leaves for
the Tugela front in a day or two as
colonel of the Second Irish corps. No
doubt you will hear of him when there
happens to be more fighting. Would
we had few hundred more like him!
1t would make the struggle all the
easier. But in spite Of all difficulties
I'VE will arrive Our commissariat and
other arrangements are excellent, and
it speaks volumes for the heads of de-
partments that everything has gone
on without scarcely a single hitch.
'The Beers are spelling the prisoners
taken by their kindness, and l can as
sure you that 1 have heard from the !
lips Of prisoners taken that they were
really glad to be out of the war, for
hey had no heart in it, One prisoner
whom captured at the Tugela said
TO me on my disarming him that he
lad brother with the soldiers and
hat he was sorry that his brother
had not also been taken. Meanwhile
there is scarcely single case Of sick
ness in our laagers, and every man is
ready as he was at the beginning Of
he war. On the other hand the camps
If the soldiers are full of sick and many
ire sick Of the war"
.