The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-09-28
THE BRITISH ARE HANDICAPPED.


The recent British reverses in South
Africa have taken England by sur
prise. In response to Kitchener's proc,
lamation demanding the surrender of
the Boer generals on or before Sept.
Is, General Botha "bagged'' several
hundred Tommies and captured five
pieces of artillery, besides herd of
horses which were probably shipped
from America. At Glands River
Poort, Commandant Smuts attacked
the "pig stickers'' called the Seven
teenth Lancers, killing three officers
and twenty men, and wounding one
officer and thirty men. The Beers
have never forgotten the brutality of
the Lancers to wounded burghers at
Elandslaagte, and that is why they
do not take them prisoners.
The Beers commenced the third
summer campaign last week by killing
so British and wounding and captur.
ing $40. That is more than they did
in the opening fight in October, 1899.
though Kitchener has repeatedly de-
clared that the war is over. The Boer
army is being increased by recruits
from Cape Colony and is triumphantly
chasing the British in their own terri
tory. About 80 per cent of the inhab.
itants of the entire area over which
they roam are in sympathy with the
brave farmers and render them every
assistance at the risk of being treated
as rebels and traitors to King Edward
Of England.
The British soldiers are tired of
fighting and many of them are dis
qualified from physical disability and
can fight no longer The $4,000 yeo-
many which have gone out to Africa
to take their place are no good. Sec,
rotary of War Broderick has published
dispatch from Kitchener in which
he says: "1any of them are unable
either to ride OF Shoot and others are
quite unsuitable for the work in hand.
Numbers of tErm had to he taught
the elements Of soldiers business
when they were sorely needed at the
front. Over 100 of the 400 officers had
to be sent home"
The best soldiers in the British serv-
ice, the Irish and the Scotch, were
almost annihilated at the Tugela and
A1odder River, for they were pushed
to the front, while the Tommies re,
manned behind. The survivors of the
Irish and Scotch regiments. as we'll as
the Canadian and Australian volun-
teers, have gone home, and now the
English alone have to face the Beers.
The British are growing weaker while
the Beers are growing stronger, and
ultimately the latter will wear out the
former
The war costs the British 100000
a week, and there is talk of borrow
ing more money to continue the CAM
paign. England is trying to sell the
farms belonging to the fighting burgh-
ers to raise more money, but no pur-
chasers can be had while the war
lasts. Even after the war, We're Eng
land the victor, it would not be safe
for foreigners to occupy the confis-
Gated land.
The Beers, by superiority of general
ship, are getting the British in bad
hole, and are likely to conquer the
enemy. 1t is said that Russia, Ger
many and France may intervene, and
if they do. England will listen eagerly
to any negotiations which will lead to
peace. The Beers will accept nothing
less than absolute independence, and
they will get it. The continental pow,
ers are disgusted with Kitchener's
war on women and children and the
Punishment Of belligerents, and are
likely to call halt.
In his speech the other day, when
welcoming the Car to France, Presi-
dent Loubet said: "The Franco Rus
sian alliance is pledged to settlements
inspired by Justice and humanity"
The Emperor of Germany recently de-
clared in speech at Dantzig that he
and the Gar had held q conference at
which plans were formed and agreed
upon which would ensure the peace
of Europe for many years to come.
1t is in vain for England to expect
any practical sympathy from the
United States in the cruel war she is
prosecuting against the South African
republics, and as she has no ally
among the nations of the earth she
will gracefully succumb to the newt
able and draw off her dogs of war
which are painting to get home.
The people of the United States
sympathize heartily with the Beers
and are anxious for the war to cease
The other evening meeting was held
in Chicago to express detestation OF
Kitchener's inhumanity toward help
less women and children. Resolutions
were adopted calling upon the United
States government to demand Of Eng
land that the reconcentrado prison
camps >be abolished and the non-com-
batants be released Immediately, and
also that congress pass resolutions Of
sympathy for the Beers and take steps
to stop the shipment of mules from
this country to South Africa, to be