Washington sentinel., 1901-02-23
Helpinrto Urush the Boers.

AS long as enSre was poSS'DhiNS
of denying the accusation, Admin
istration circles kept up the pre-
tence OF neutrality between the
contestants in South Africa. When
the Financial Secretary OF the
British War Department admitted
the past week that horses and
mules were purchased in this coun-
try, denial was dropped aud it was
said that Beers could Ouy here too
il they wished. Such an excuse
for our breach OF neutrality might
lust as we'll not have been given,
for the privilege granted to Eng
land was valueless to the Beers, as
it is well known that they have
neither the means of TRANSPORTATION
nor facilities Of landing such sup
plies in their country, cut of as
they are from water fronts in all
directions. Had sympathy in Gov
ernment circles been with the Beers
it would have found mantle station
in refusing to England the privi
lege Kruger and his friends could
not avail themselves of.
The following lne e.norial to Hon.
VIM. Astor Chanler from a citizen
OF New York, will show the ex-
tent to which the English availed
themselves oi the privileges &C
corded them by our Government.
and also an Americans view of
that courtesy:
No. II E, 71st, Street, NEW YoF x CITY,
January s, 1901.
To Hon. w AsToR CHANLER. M c.
FouTtes nth Congressional District,
New York.
ASH am resident and voter in your
Congressional District, take liberty to
address this letter to you, hoping that
you NAV call the attention Of Congress
to the subject Of this communication.
Having read from time to time in the
public papers OF the shipment Of horses
and mules from New Orleans in vast
quantities for the use Of the British army
IN the war in South Africa, l thought
there must be some exaggeration. To
convince myself on this subject, l made
a trip TO New Orleans and found that
the numbers shipped had been under
estimated. instead of oveTstated Over
90 ooo animals Of all kinds for remounts
and to replace worn out cavalry and
artillery horses used up by the British
army In South Africa have already been
shipped from that port; and it is con.
templated to ship some 90, 900 to so 600
more. IN fact, 100 600 IS the minimum,
and what the actual number may reach
is not known.
A feet of transports has been EN-
| p'oyed in this service ever since the war
b-gan. When one transport is loaded
and leaves the wharf, another takes its
place; and sometimes two transports are
loading a the same time.
On arriving in New Orleans last
Thursday morning, took the trolley
Car down to the Slaughter House Wharf.
some five miles below the center OF the
town. found the British transport
| Montezuma at the wharf taking on
horses as fast as they could be put
aboard. Il grIeved me to the heart to
| know 4hat wa ,.,a~a- c.-uisuIug Tnese
| horses to cfag the csnnOn and mount
4 heal 4
the patriotic Beers.
This transport has been engaged in
this service ever since the war began.
/ On her last trip she took out 900 mules;
and she is now loading from 400 to
| 1900 horses, which do not pack quite
as close as mules, They are put in stalls
so narrow that the horse cannot lie
down, and as the voyage takes from
thirty to forty days, more than halt OF
which is Immediately uader the line of
the equator, their sufferings are very
/ great. Many are thrown overheard,
and many others arrive in such condl-
tiOn that they are hardly fit for service
Still, however, about IS per cent are
able after rest Of thirty days to be
taken into active service.
The whole of the United States IS
being ransacked to ger these horses.
Those now being shipped are bought IN
Wyoming, Montana and Dakota. They
are divided into four classes: cavalry
horses, OF which over 81 COO have been
shipped; artillsry-horses; horses tor the
mounted police Ia supplementary mill
tary force); and mules Tor the commits
sary department. A large number Of
horses have been bought Of the Indian
tribes in the Northwest A tran with
500 was on the way, to arrive on Satur-
day last. AS TAR as / can ascertain, no
horses have been purchased in Canada.
All th- nations OF the earth. except
the United S ates are neutral We are
the only people who supply the British
with the sinews Of war, and our country
i the sole basis Of supply for warlIke
material.
The NJ ney TO buy this stock and
maintain this fleet OF transports was
borrowed on British bonds negotiated
on Wall street; and they are now uego
tiating an additional loan, What must
be the feelings of the Beers toward us
when they hear the roar of British
artillery, and stand together to resist
the charge of the British cavalry. know.
ing that both are brought agains: them |
by horses furnished BY this country
this country claiming to be neutral? II |
the Beers are ever conquered, their
defeat will be due to us Bear il in
mind, it will be due to us alone.