The evening times., 1901-07-05
.Oom PauI,s,, Defiance.

comment is superftuCus.
loom PauI'sv Defiance.
Presumably. when General Lord
Kitchener permitted the Boer Comman-
dant General BotI1a to exchange ci-
pher cable messages with President
Kruger. he thought that the cor
respondenca would result in q move
ment favorable to peace II 50. he and
the British Government have been
badly disappointed
What Botha may have said in his
communication IS unknown to the pub
lie. but it is announced that the hard
headed cid chief Of the South African
Republic promptly replied in terms in
dicated by proclamation 10 the barSh-
ers, issued Immediately after receipt Of
his message, declaring that nothing
short of independence would satisfy NIr.
Kruger. and that fighting must con
t.nue until that should be accomplished
IN view Of this fresh defiance it IS
not surprising that Mr. st John Brod-
rick. Under Secretary of State for War
should say IN the House Of Commons
yesterday that the Government could
entertain no policy or purpose but that
Of carrying on the war 70 the bitter
end He asserted that il would be fool
ish for anybody 10 expect Great Britain
now 10 offer terms which it would not
have granted six months ago, and no
titled the country that the ministry
was prepared to see the South African
struggle through 10 a victorious con-
elusion. no matter how much time OF
treasure might be consumed IN the op-
Grafton
The South African situation thus
takes on a new phase. Heretofore
there has seemed to be some chance
that even President Kruger would real
ize the hopelessness of continuing the
war ana consent to peace on the best
conditions obtainabIe from Lord Sails
bUry's Government. II has been
thought, also, that should r. prove oh
durate. the Boer leaders in the field
might take the game IN their own hands
and make terms of surrender. Both
ideas now appear TO be exploded E-ru-
ger IS desperately determined upon re-
sistance to the last man, the last dol
lar, and the last ditch" and B0rha and
his colleagues IN command of the South
African and Free State forces seem 10
be entirely willing 10 abide by his views
and advice. So the uncomfortable pros
pect for Great Britain Is that the con-
test viii continue indefinitely
The opinion of several intelligent
military observers Who recently lave
left the theatre Of war IN South Africa
is that there is still plenty Of oppor-
tunity for the Beers to !aIiict disasters
/ upon the British arms. Lord Kitchener
to be sure has an army Of twO hundred
thousand or more at his call, while
the other side cannot have more than
twelve or fifteen thousand effective
fighting men such a disparity would
easily settle the matter, but fG- the fact
that with Thousands OF miles Of terri
tory to cover. much 4 II occupied by
a population inImical 10 The invaders,
the British lines ere 50 long and atfen-
uated, and he difcul.t@s Il transport
50 great. especially during the South
African winter months. that ccm-
parauyely small body or Bocrs can
strike almost any point Ou The line,
central depots y ith large raTrjs5ns *
cepted, with excellent chances Of sue
cess.
This consideration Is neither uu-
known TO the British War authorities,
nor TO the cabiUr.rs and war Offices Of
Europe. and the general conditions
must he recognized as extremely IN
fayora bic to British prestige and TO the
promotion Of imperial interests in many
occupation shall last. the greater VIII
become the danger Of complications
which might seriously affect Great
Britain's position IN Egypt, her policy
with respect 20 the near Eastern ques-
ton, ana even the safety OF her In
dian Empire, in view Of the steady ap-
proach of Russia to the frontiers Of
that great possession. To the outside
world il would seem that almost any
concession in South Africa would Be
preferable % The perpetuati0n Of dan
gers which appear Il menace the An
gIo-SaX0n power in Europe and Asia.
But the Tory Government has accept
ed the gauntlet JuT0=.n down by "O0m
Paul" and doubtless viii fight to nm
ish. if q finish can be regarded rs prob
able TO arrive withfa the next year.
OF course, in 4 military scus4 It r. -UId
be theoretically possible 10 T-ut d pc
riod upon the wa 81 th- employment
Of enough troops 10 swamp opposition
al over the field Of operations But
that would require an additional foEce
Of cne or two hundred thousand men
which it is ll5t BELIEVED tIIe British au-
thorities could raise even were The
question q expaas= eliminated, which
it cannot be AIr-a7y the war Is cost
ing a milIica dollars = day. II is hardy
probable that the British taxpayer
would consent 70 see that expense
doubled for the sake Of extinguishinz
the light Of liberty in two little South
African States. EnglaHd's position to-
day on The whole IS the reverse Of en-
viabIe-
The Buiis Were Not Killed.
Full reports Of the Omaha baIIfehts