Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-28

A military correspondent of the Lon
don Times, in n message sent from Pre-
toria, declares that the statements that
the British troops in South Africa are
stale" are untrue. He says, on the
contrary, that the men are in splendid
condition, and, though they would be
glad to get home. they have not lost
their Zest for fighting. This refers
both to the regulars and the volunteers
attached to the various battalionS.
Some colonials recently recruited at
South African seaports are less salts
factory, but the best colonials, those
from Canada, New Zealand and Aus
tralia, are invaluable, and the new yeo-
many are improving.
The correspondent says it is undenia-
bic that the strain on the generals and
their staffs is excessive. Many of these
officers have worked for twelve hours
daily fer two years. Lord Kitchener
alone seems absolutely impervious to
wecr and tear. The regimental officers
are all right.
Re-enforcements to the number of
5000 would be immensely valuable,
saws the correspondent, and would rem
der the last stage of the war rapid and
complete The Beers keeping in the
field number from 5000 to 10000, and
they are mostly in as good condition
as the British. They are seasoned sol
diers and get plenty of supplies from
the Kaffir kraals and from parts of the
country that are only accessible to
themselves. The Kaffir kraals also
IL foy. ,r.I,
Boer there are two Kaffirs. who. even
when unarmed, are useful auxiliaries.
For fighting purposes, says the CORE
spondent, the enemy must be estimat-
ed as numbering 10000 exceedingly
mobile troops.
The Beers still believe that European
intervention is imminent, that Great
Britain is tired of the war and that
they have only to hold out long enough
in order to make the British so weary
that they will surrender. The burgh-
ers are fighting to win and are convinc-
ed that they will win.
Thes8oers pay attention to the Brit
ish pkss. but may not believe the poll
ticiaps' speeches, as they consider poll
ticians professional liars. They note
every word indicating the weakening
of British determination. lamenting the
cost of the war and speaking of the in
terrational complications tc which its
continuance may give rise. They have
no particular enmity toward the Brit
ish nation and rather like the "khakis,"
but their one thought is the restoration
of their independence under their own
flag. Openly they say that when
Liberal government comes into power
they will get justice.
The correspondent dwells on the diff
ficulties of Lord Kitchener's position.
He has 5000 miles of communications
to protect, civil governments are being
re-eStablished, the English populations
are being brought back, and the enc
my's families are being looked after.
All is being done with Il much smaller
number of effective troops than has
been imagined.
The removal of Lord Kitchener
would be fatal, says the correspondent,
and would he construed by the Beers
as a great triumph for themselves. He
Kitchener) knows the Beers better
than any other man in South Africa,
and the army trusts and believes in
him.
a dispatch to the London Times from
Wellington. New Zealand, says respon-
sibIe New Zealanders returning from
South Africa declare that more sol
diers are needed to finish the war. The
troops have the utmost confidence in
Lord Kitchener, but his efforts are
hampered by the i'll advised agitation
in the United Kingdom.