The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-06-22

Dull IeWSpdpei, DuL IL SCI lOiUu lue
particulars only this week of "How 81
Beers captured a full company Of the
Imperial Yeomanry."
Cape Town is the only district in
British South Africa which is not I'M
der martial law, and even there the
British are not having everything to
their liking. While was in that city
the Australian troops demolished the
only pro-Boer, or rather Opposition"
newspaper in the place. The paper
had criticized their conduct with re-
gard to some of the Boer refugee wom-
ell, and the troops retaliated by max
ing a bonfire out of the newspaper Of
flee. Subsequently the editor was ar
rested, and although a highly respected
gentleman himself, he was, on last
Thursday, tried for publishing sedi-
tious libel, found guilty and sentenced
to one years imprisonment.
On the same day the same judge
sentenced two other editors to six
months Imprisonment for similar Of
lenses.
The war continues so harrassing that
Great Britain seems to be losing her
patience and her good judgment, for
she is now threatening to punish as
traitors all who are found with arms
upon their persons. In other words,
if any burghers continue to fight for
the liberty of their country and permit
themselves to be captured, they must
stand trial for treason by a Judge spe-
cially appointed by England, upon the
nomination Of the military.
Already List of these new judges,
to be imported from England, has been
announced, and some Of them are in
South Africa. One of them is on the
ship with me. He is a member Of the
nobility, to be sure, Sir Charles Smith,
sent down to start the new judicial
machinery to grinding out traitors.
The cares and responsibilities of this
world rest lightly on his shoulders. He
wears constantly benignant smile,
and never fails to don dress suit
promptly at 6 o'clock every evening.
Although General Kitchener has is
sued proclamation threateing the
Beers with the outmost penalty of the
law if they commit any reasonable
acts against the peace and dignity of
his majesty's government, and al
though Sir Charles has his staff of
judges thoroughly organized and in
structed, am of the opinion that Eng
land will hesitate before she COM
mences to shoot the burghers she runs
down. Why? Because the Beers
captures more prisoners than the Brit
ish do. There is hardly day that
the newspapers in the colonies do not
publish list of losses by capture, where
some outpost has been rushed by some
commando that wasn't known to be
within hundreds of miles.
What would have happened to the
company Of Imperial ycomanry which
were captured, if Great Britain had
commenced to shoot for treason?
am aware that the "loyalists" of
Cape Colony and Natal have done all
III their power to persuade the govern
ment to commence shooting the "trait-
ors, and particularly they desire that
the farms and estates Of these "trait-
ors' may be confiscated.
There are now in South Africa, as
near as can find out 100000 imperial
troops. Many of these men have serv-
ed out the terms for which they have
enlisted, and are insisting upon their
discharge from service. England is
being put to the dlrest straits to fill
their places.
The colonial newspapers are filled
with appeals for recruits, for which
space the newspapers are paid regular
advertising rates. Some of these ap-
peals are almost beseeching, and hum
bic in their tone. Popular heroes lend
the use Of their names to the recruit
ing officers, and the young colonials
are begged to join "Thorneycrafts
Horse" Major Steinacker's Horse"
"Kitchener's Scouts" etc. The young
men are told that they will be paid S
shillings, and as high rs shillings, or
50, per day, from the time they enlist;
that their rations and equipment will
be furnished free; that they may be
honorably discharged in Pretoria, or
Cape Town, if they wish. etc.
One advertisement assures the men
that the officers understand thenr dut-
les, and that the ratlons will be better
than usual in that regiment
AS I came down to South Africa,
while on board the ship, picked up
book belonging to Major Gen. Feath-
erstonehaugh, entitled "Napoleon's
War MaXims," and read:
"The pay Of soldiers should be in
creased in proportion to the years of
service, for it is a great injustice not
to pay veteran more than a recruit"
She is paying her regulars, who are
scattered over the world, 1 shilling and
6 pence per day, and offering recruits
as high as shillings per day, to help
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