Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-04-20

Influence of the Recrudescence of
the War.
London, April lS.-l'he appearance of
the South African blue book just nt this
moment is explained rs Il charactrris.
tically bold stroke on the part of Mr..
Chamberlain, who, with 4 view to an
ticipating the inevitable criticism upon
the temporary absence of Sir Alfred
Milncr from South Africa. publishes i'm
portant communications giving frankly
the Views of the men on the spot and
showing that Sir Alfred scizcs IN ocvn.
sion to secure wcll-calncd rest while
the military operations are still unlin
ished, SO as TO enable him To be back
again hen the time arrives for inaugu
rating the civil administrations
The blue book, containing recent dis
patches from Sir Alfred Miner and
other official corr, spondrncr, was issued
last night
Sir Alfred wired. under date of Narch
), requesting permission to return home
ut an early date upon leave of ab-
scnce for the purpose of resting. Mr..
Chamberlain replied by granting this
request, but expressed regret that il
should be necessary for Sir Alfred nj
the present time.
Sir Alfred Miner reviews the Sitrln.
tion in South Africa and says that he
had hoped some definite point would be
reached ut which it might be possible
to sum up that chapter of history con
corning the war and tOrccasting the ad
minStrativc reconstruction which must
succeed it. But | am reluctantly
forced to the conclusion that there will
be no such dividing line" he continues,
"anu have not the slightest doubt of
the ultimate result, but | forescc that
the work will be slower, more difficult,
more harasSng and more expensive
than was ut one time anticipated. A!
any rate, it is idle TO wait much longer
in hope of being able to describe Il
clear and clrnn-cul situation.
ut is no use denying That the last
half year has been one of reiroGrcSsion,
Seven months ago this colony was per
fcctly quiet, at least as far as til,
Orange river. The southern half OF
the Orange River Colony was rapidly
settling down ani oven Il considerable
portion Of the TranSvnal, notably the
southwestern districts seemed to hav,
definitely accepted British authority
and to rejoice at the opportunity to re
turn to orderly government and the
pursuits of peace.
"TOdHy the scene is completely
altered. The fact that the enemy ar,
now broken up into Il great number oI
small forces, rading in every direction
and that our troops are similarly brok
en- up in their pursuit, makes the area
of destruction. much wider than would
he the ease in Il conflict between equal
numbers operating in large MASSES.
"Morcover, the fight is low mainly
over supplies The Beers live entire
ly on the country through which they
pass. not only taking al the food they
can lay their hands ON, bu. looting the
small village stores of clothes, boots.
coffee and sugar, of all of which they
are in great need. Our forces are com.
PEELED TO dcnudc the country of every.
thing movable in order to frustrat,
these tactics of the enemy.
"1'ho consequences of the war, nj
though grave, are not appalling. The
country people will need help to pre-.
vent them from starving. aud probably
q certain amount of capital. \ nor,
serious effect Of the last six months is
the moral influence of the rccrudes
ccnce of the war, especially in the
Orange River Colony"
He then sketches the rising against
pledges of neutrality under the pres
sure of Old companions in arms and tho
ablishmcnt of camps of refuge for
BOcr families wanting protection. II,
describes the effect in Cape Colony of
guerilla warfare and agitation and al
ludcs TO the carnival of mpndacity"
the proBOrr agitation
He thinks that IL majority of the
Dutch colonies do not desire invasion.
Discussing the plans of local defense
put into operation he argues that til,
governments policy should be to con
slider the feelings and interests of the
loyalists and thus to retain their 10y
atty, as well as to diSarm cnmity and
to win the confidence of those fighting
against Great Britain.
"South Africans are sick unto death |
of the war" he says. but are pre-
pared to suffer in order to make South |
Africa indispulably one country under
one flag" lie believes that the young
country will rccuperatc in Il few years |
when the war is over.
Other correspondence in the blue book |
relates to various phases of sedltiOn, to |
incidents of the invasion and to details |
of administration. Among the letters |
are three dispatches from the govern
ment of The Netherlands to the Dutch |
consul general in Pretoria, before the |
war. advising Mr.. Kruger to adopt Il
attitude.
The question of who Is to carry on Sir |
Alfrcd'S work in his absence cXcitps i'll |
tercSt. In the natural course of things
the duty would dcvolve upon Lord
whose ability for the task
is unuucSIioned: but, considering the al |
ready oneruus nature of his military du.
lies. it is felt that he ought not to be
saddled with the additional work which
Miner found SO heavy
Bertha Arsenault. aged /. was killed
by a trolley car in front of her home at