The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-18
GOV. MINERS LATE REPORTS
SHOW THAT CONDITIONS NOW ARE
WORSE THAN THEY WE'RE
SEVEN MONTHS AGO
GUERRILLA WAR KEEPS UP
1nnumerabIe Small Bands of Beers
Loot the Country Through Which
They Pass of Everything
Portable.

LONDON, April 1.-THE South African
blue book, containing recent dispatHles
from Sir Alfred Miner, and other Of
cial correspondence, is issued tonight
Sir Alfred Milner wired under date of
March 8 requesting permission to return
home at an early date upon leave Of alb
sence for the purpose of resting.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, colonial secre-
tary, replied by granting this request,
but expressing the governments regret
that it should be necessary for Sir Alfred
20 leave South Africa at the present
time, recognizing, however, his need of
rest, and mentioning three months as
the probable period
In report dated Feb. 6, Sir ALE, d
reviewed the situation in South Africa,
and said he hoped that some definite un-
derstanding would have been reached
whereby it would have been able to sum
UP that chapter of history concerning
the war, and forecasting the adrinistra-
t1on tha' must succeed it. Sir Alfred
But am reluctantly forced to the
conclusi, that there will be no such
dividing line. and have not the slight
OOOOI VI the uIlmaC6 result. but 7
Ioresee that the work will be slower.
more difficult, more harassing and more
pated
AT any rate it is idle to wait much
longer In the hope of being able to
reach clean-cut situation In SPITE of
the confused character of the present
position, I think it better to atternnt
TO discover, however, roughly and in
adequately, the state of things as thew
EXIST today 1t Is no use denying that
the last half year has been one of retro
gression.
WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER.
Seven months ago this colony was
perfectly quiet, at least as far as the
Orange river. The southern half os the
Orange river colony was RAPIDLY settling
down, and even a considerable portion OF
the IranVaal, notably the southwestern
districts, seemed to have definitely ac-
cepted British authority and to rejoice
at the opportunity to return to orderly
government and the pursuits of peace.
Today the scene is completely altered
1t would be Superf1UoUS to dwLn on the
increased losses to the country caused by
the prolOrgatiOn of the struggles by the
form which it has recently assumed. The
fact that the enemy is now broken I'D
into a great number of small fragments
ralolng in every direction, and that our
troops are similarly broken up in their
pursuit makes the area of actual fight
Ing, and consequently Of destruction,
much wider than would be the case in a
conflict between equal numbers oper-
eting in large masses Moreover. the
fight is now mainly over supplies.
LIKE THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
"The Beers live entirely on the country
through which they pass-not only
taking the food they can lay their hands
on, but loCting the village stores of cloth
Ing, boats. coffee and sugar, which
they are in great need of. Our forces
are compelled to denude the country of
everything movable in order to Illustrate
these tactics of the enemy.
THE loss Of crops and stock is more
serious tc the Boers," continues Sir Al
fred Miner, than farm burning, of
which so much has been heard / say
this not at$Eu as an advocate of such
destruction. y am glad to think tho
measure is now seldom, If ever, resorted
to-"
Sir Alfred Miner considers that the
inexpensive character of the farm build
ings renders it a small sum in the total
damage done. AS to the wanton damage
Of gear, stamps and other outrages in
the outlying mines, Sir Alfred expresses
hope that tile miscrearts will turr
out to be not Beers but members OF
Continued on Second Page.