The Irish standard., 1901-11-30
TOMMY ATKINS IS FIRED.

spondent on the Anglo-Boe war:
The situation in South Africa is now
even more discouraging than is gener-
ally supposed. Returning after several
weeks absence from London, I find
numerous personal letters from all
parts of South Africa, and all testifylng
to the extreme embarrassment Of the
military situation.
The crux of the whole matter is that
Tommy Atkins is sick of his job. More
than two years Of the most arduous
campaigning, coupled with sad exhibit
tions of incompetency by many of his
favorite officers, have taken the heart
out of the rank and file.
The British soldier has great patience
and endurance and indomitable courage,
but he demands intelligent leadership
and some measure Of success and prog
ress towards the accomplishment Of his
given task. If these are lacking the
time arrives finally when Tommy
makes his feelings manifest by a spe-
cies of passive revolt or suplneness
which is simply paralyzing.
This is the chief secret of British nom
success in South Africa. The authori-
ties are helpless, for it is impossible to
substitute fresh troops, as would have
been done in the case of a smaller cam
paign. It is impossible also, apparently,
to end the war by negotiation.
Hence it is that the Boer struggle
threatens to become permanent insti-
ton; and hence also, strange though
it may seem, there are some shrewd OBJ.
servers in this country who would not
be unwilling to see Kaiser Wilhelm SO
far yield to the popular clamor of his
subjects as to undertake Intervention.
What would be the natural result?
England would be enabled to say that
the empire was threatened by great
power and that therefore there would
be no loss of prestige involved in sett-
ling the South African dispute on the
easiest possible terms in order to mass
all her resources against a new enemy.
=. There would then be more flying
squadrons such as we saw in response
to the Kaiser's famous Kruger tele-
gram, and there would be nothing more
but wind. In other words, England
would "save her face" and escape from
an exasperating dilemma if the Ger
man emperor would kindly Intervene"
thus obliging openly his own subjects
and secretly the well-nigh distracted
government Of this country.
There are both amusement and pity
in the emotions excited by the exas-
peratlng situation in which the British
government finds itself at the present
moment
Ireland on one side sends combined
insult and challenge by electing to par
lament an officer from the forces of
the enemy with whom this country is
still at war;
Germany, on the other side, is assail-
ing 1t with an outburst of national IN
dignation and hatred such as in the not
distant past would speedily have devel-
oped into clash of arms. This govern
ment is manifestly astonished and az
grieved by each demonstration.
"What have we dcne?" it is exclaim-
ing throughout the mouths Of all its
friends, ''to deserve these attacks?''
This naivette is so genuine and SO
blind that it is difficult at first to dis
cuss it seriously. It proves, however,
that Great Britain still fails utterly to
realize the fact that public opinion in
the outside world is overwhelmingly
against her in her course in South
Africa.
The events of the present week might
serve to bring unwelcome truth home
to the country and cause an act Of more
honest and more humble national heart.
searching than this country has in
dulged in for the last three years, If It
We're not too late for any change in the
present policy.
England Is practically unanimously
in favor Of the continuation of the war.
But this same England condemns In
secret now, and later will condemn
openly, the men who involved her in so
disastrous and inglorious conflict.
These statements appear perhaps,
paradoxical, but they are entirely con-
sistent. What other policy than that
which it is now pursuing would it be
practicable for the government to
adopt? None Of the country's critics
at home or abroad has been able to
suggest any which would be consistent
with British honor and prestige.
The truth is that the English govern
ment would be only too glad to bring
the contest to close on liberal terms,
that is, liberal in the direction of vir-
/ tual home rule.
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