The San Francisco call., 1901-10-01
CAPE COLONY DUTCH.

~INCE the Boer leaders have shown no respect
- for Lord Kitchener's proclamation calling
~ upon them to surrender before September IS.
he has taken steps to show them that he at least re-
spects it and is going to live UP to the warning it
contained An official publication has been issued
at Pretoria announcing the permanent Punishment OF
several Boer leaders captured since the date fixed for
surrender and another proclamation has been issued
providing for the sale of the properties OF the burgh-
ers who are still in the field. Thus the warning OF
the proclamation is being fulfilled sterny and harsh
ly. Those of the Beers who continue IN the held
are to suffer the confscation OF their property while
all leaders who captured to be sent into per-
manent exile.
In spite OF their harshness, the measures see n to
have avaed little or nothing advancing the British
cause On the same day that brought the news Of
Kitcheners latest procamatons of confscation and
Punishment, there reports from the correspon-
dent of the London Express that it is understood in
South Africa that Kitchener has asked for $4,000
more seasoned mounted men, and for authority to
hang rebels traitors and murdererS without referring
their cases to the home Government.
1t is all likely that the report is strictly true,
but enough evidence in addition to that contained in
it has been forthcoming from other sources to Just
fy the conclusion that the Dutch of Cape Colony
now taking considerable part in the war and are
| furnishing the Beers with and ammunition and
with men to use them. 1t has been clear for some
time that the Beers have found means of recruiting
their forces and replenishing their supplies. Recruits
have ioined them from America and from Europe and
doubtless supplies have been smuggled across the
Portuguese territory but is believed that these
sources of reinforcement have furnished half
of all the Beers have received and therefore the
clusioh is drawn that the people of Cape Colony have
gone to the aid of the two republics and that it is
from that source the Beers receive the help that
enables them to continue the u
One of the notable features of the present phase OF
the struggle is that the field Of Boer activities
wider than it during the first year. The Boer
forces have repeatedly penetrated into Cape Colony
and have found sympathy and support In fact there
is seemingly imminent danger of widespread re-
volt among the people of the Cape. Thousands oi
them known be antagonstic to the policy pur-
sued by Kitchener and hundreds of them have taken
up arms to aid their kinsmen of the two republics
These are the men who are referred to rebels and
traitors, and whom Kitchener is said to desire to
hang without waiting to have their cases acted upon
by the home Government
1t looks in fact as if the war might suddenly blaze
out into renewed .herceness by open outbreak ir
Cape Colony Kitchener may be able to treat few
men enlistng in the Boer armies "rebes and
traitors" but he could not deal that way with a ris
ing of any considerable number of men. That would
be to make the warsone of determination, and such
a thing is unthinkabe. The outlook, therefore is de-
cdedy gloomy for the British Kitchener's only hope
is that of wearing the Boer forces away by slow attr
tiou but that way is costly and is subject to the
further objection that before the two republics are
worn down Cape Colony may have been maddenee
into revolt