New-York tribune., 1900-07-30
WHAT "BOBS" rs DOING.

hHAI DUDo 10 DOINU,
Renewed activity of both combatants in South
Africa recalls the war in that region from
something periously like forgetfulness. 1t has
been a curious turn of fate that Great Brit
aims greatest soldier should reach. or at
least approach. the elimination of his distin-
guished career in an eclipse. A few weeks ago
Lord Roberts was easily the most conspicuous
man in the world In Great Britain he and his
doings almost monopolized attention, while in
all civilized lands he held the foremost place in
current interest. Since then he has been pur-
suing toward its elimination the career on
which he was embarked. and the Importance Of
his operations has not in the least diminished
But other men and other matters have come to
the fore, and so he, who lately filled columns in
the daily press, has been relegated to a few
lines, or at best a paragraph or two Neverthe-
less as we have said, the Importance of his
work remains and its progress is well worthy
of careful note.
We quoted from The Spectator" of London,
long ago the sapient suggestion offered by that
journal for the benefit Of this country in the
Philippines that the conquest Of country is
to be effected not only by brilliant military ex-
ploits, but also by systematic civil occupation
and administration proceeding pari passu there
with Avoiding the reproach, Physician heal
thyself," the British are themselves assiduously
practising that very principle in their
South African possessions To such work Lord
Roberts has of late been devoting his best at
tentions, thus confirming his reputation of
being admirable a ruler and administrator
as he is a soldier and military conqueror He
might have made more noise in the world with
a swift and unrelenting pursuit of the fugitive
ex-President of the Transvaal Instead, he has
stopped at Pretoria to make British possession
of the two Boer States fact as we'll as a pro-
fession. He has sent his troops about driving
out capturing the Boer commanders. and
has at the same time set up the full organiza-
ton of British civil government in all places
occupied. AT the present moment he has thus
effected actual occupation and administration
Of the entire Orange River Colony, with the ex-
ception of two or three towns. and has done the
same in the southern part of the Transvaal col
ony. In that way he has made the best pos
sible preparation for another of his swift
marches TO the north to capture the ex-Presi-
dent or drive him into exile; which march he
seems now to have begun.
1t ia not too much to expect that before the
first anniversary of the Transvaals fatuous
declaration Of against its suZerain the two
colonies Will be pacifed and organically incor-
porated into the British Empire. The opposition
to Lord Roberts is rapidly dwindling. At no
point is it now formidable The Boer com
mandoes are disintegrating. The foreign
cenaries upon whom Mr. KRUGER so largely de-
pended are deserting or are mutinously clamor-
ing against their employer for not fulfilling his
promise Of rich rewards. At the same time
agreeable surprise and contentment follow in
the wake of the British army. The Beers are
finding their lives, property and civil rights
spected by their British conquerors far more
than they ever were by native governments,
and are beginning to realize what was long ago
predicted in these columns, that their natural
and inalienable rights" of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness" have been rendered all
the more secure by the British conquest. 1t has
been the exceptional lot of Lord Roberts to
effect such a conquest. and Of his doing so we
may be sure Great Britain will not be unmind-
full. His present eclipse by the Chinese i'm
broglio is only the briefest possible occultation
In due time there VIII be another and the most
august stanza added to the imperial ballad Of
"3obs.~