The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-20

merS VINO Are making a
Fight for the Right to
Live as They Please.
seeseseesssesssosssSssssssess
In race antlpathies OF old date. British
soreness under recollection OF Majuba hill,
differences OF view as to the alleged suzcr-
einty OF the Transvnal retained by the
queen in the convention Of 1854. the dis
covery Of gold in the Transvaal and the
consequent influx Of over 100000 British
SUBJECTS who desired voting rights. the
large revenue the mines brought to the
Transvaal treasury, the jameson raid and
the emergency Of the great issue as the
Brlton or the Boer TO dominate In South
African
The Boer republics passlonatey desired
to safeguard their political independence
The Dutch of Cape Colony cherished, be
sides, the ideal Of an Africander common
wealth embracing all South Africa. The
mines would supply, they held, ample
means Of self-defense. European states
guarded assurances of sympathy. If not OF
intervention. The Emperor williams ia
nous telegram on the occasion of the cap
+ure Of Jameson was significant. lmpend-
ing war between England and Russia over
Mancburia. with the known weakness OF
the British army, would some day, the
Cape Dutch thought, supply an opporLu'
nifty to realize the Africander dream.
1t was the misfortune Of the English and
Beers at this juncture-when time was
slowly bringing about a peaceable settle
ment Of the lssues-that
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN
was colonial secretary In London and Sir
Alfred Miner was governor Of Cape Col
ony and high commissioner for the whole
of British South Africa, Fancying that
the realization Of the pretty political dream
Of the Cape theorlzers-the separation Of
&euth Africa from the empire-was seri-
ously entertained at Pretoria, these az
gressive men, having become suspicious
pushed the Issue by insisting on the en-
franchisement Of the 100000 outlanders at
johannesburg This was startling. Had 1t
been conceded. the majority Of the Trans
vaal legislature would have become Brit
ish.
In August, 1890. there were but 9940
British troops in South Africa. AT Mil
ner's suggestion 6643 more troops were
sent from England and 1908 from India,
most OF these arriving before October IL.
This reinforcement naturally alarmed the
Boer republics and preciptated the ulti-
mAtum. In appearance they were the ag-
gressors, but In reality their tight, Ike
that OF the American colonies in 17I6S3,
was in self-defense-to establish their indie
pcndence. Their heroic struggle against
tremendous odds challenges the admira-
tlon of all mankind. 1t remains ever true
also that but for the gold mines, but fol-
the outlanders, but for Chamberlain and
Miner, there would have been no war.
The English having decliEed to accede t.
the terms Of the ultmatum sent by the
government of the Trausyaal-an answer
being required mot later than p. m, Oc
tooer IL, 1s99"--war at once began witt
the invasion OF Natal, Kimberley In Cap,
Colony and Mafeklng in British Bcchuana
land were soon after invested, the force,
of the Orange Free State 60 operating In
consequence OF z treaty which obligated
tho two
BOER REPUBLICS TO ACT TOGETHER
The BOer plan of campaign originally
was 10 advance rapidly with large fore,
of mounted troops into Cape Colony ani
Natal and sween the Briush into the sea
In the light Of subsequent events II is-clcai
that during the first three months OF The
war this was practicable, since there wcr,
then few British In Cape Colony and tn,
majority OF the colonlsts were ready e
rise. But the possibility Of capturnl
Rhodes in Kimberley, Baden-Poweu IT
Mafeklng and General Whites force neal
Ladysmith diverted their energies ill tn,
arrival Of large British forces made tn,
plan appear impractlcable
The British plan at the ouset was main
fy defensive. General White, in Natal
deemed II important TO defend Ladysmiti
and the stores accumulated there. though
1t was not a good position. General Sy
mons was sent a few miles north Of tha
place, TO Dundee. TO oppose the Boer force!
from the north. So long as Ladysmltl
could be held the invasion of Natal was Oh
etructed.
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
was at Dundee, October 20, when the Brit
ish carried the Boer position by a fronta
attack, having their commander. Genera
~ AVhof A4AApu anu iusluB 4Eh men, inClud
ing BOG taken prisoners. Next day a
Elandslaagte they had less eoulvocal sue
cess, but lost 223 killed and wounded Or
October "a there was night at Rietfon
tein, with loss of Ill. while the force a
Dundee was withdrawn by clrcuitou
route. Soon after October 30, at Far
quhar's farm and Nicholsons mex there wa
q British defeat, White losing 1926 men, o
whom 025 were taken prisoners. The Who'll
British army of Natal was soon after shu
mp in Ladysmith and so remained unit
February o. 1900
General Redyers Butler, who had dis
tingulshed himself in the Zulu war and /
India, had meanwhile been appointed con
mander In chief and was expected to on
the war In short order The expression
Pretoria By Christmas" is credited I
him. But he never reached that goal an
but for the prodding OF General Robert,
who soon superseded him, woulu never hav
accomplished the relief Of Ladysmth. III
recent admission that ne advised Genera
White
TO SURRENDER LADYSMIrH
has completed his disgrace. Buffers head
quarters were in Cape Colony That co