The Irish standard., 1901-12-14
BRITISH MILITARY PRESTIGE.

OupLulA .Alllcu l.. Ilulltlu, tetlfeU
officer >of the American navy and a
writer Of some note on naval cues
lions, has reached the conclusion that
England has not lost prestige through
her military operations in South Afri-
ca, but has rather gained some. We
have said that Captain Mahan's spe-
cialty was naval warfare. AS the
navy Of England has not been en-
ployed at all in the Boer war we fail
to see what value the opinion of the
gallant captain possesses, says the
Boston Republic.
But his magazine article on the
augmentation of British military
prestige is not without interest. 1t re-
yeals the bent Of Captain Mahan's
mind. He is an Anglomaniac. He
has repeatedly exhibited this disease
in previous public utterances. He be-
lieves in an AnglO-American compact,
not because he thinks such a compact
would benefit his own country, but be-
cause he is sure it would help Eng
land. Originally Captain Mahan's
family were Irish, but like many other
Irish renegades he is more enthusias-
tic as an English partisan than the
English themselves.
Since the war in South Africa began
in October, 1899, England has sent to
the front about 100000 fighting men.
At no time did the Beers have under
arms over 25 1000 men. If it takes over
two years for 100000 men to beat
$4,000 men, then we must conclude
that the Beers are better fighters than
the British. This conclusion is in
evitable. In every real engagement,
such as those on the banks of the
Tugcla river, the British outnumbered
the Beers by two to one. Yet the Beers
won the battles and carried off ammu-
milton and guns. Did this fact augment
British prestige? If n champion pugi-
list failed to "knock out" an unframed
boxer of one-third his weight would
his prestige in the fistic world be aug
mcnted?
In trying to make out case for the
British army Captain Nathan proves
too much. He Injuries his case by his
eagcrness to show up the best side
and that only. AS n matter of fact
the best military critics and experts
Oh the continent agree that the Eng
lish army is not to be feared any long
er. The showing which it's generals
have made in the South African war
has not enhanced their glory. Lord
Roberts with an army of 100000 men
succeeded in surrounding and captur-
ing CrOnje with his 1000 men, and
thus cleared the road to Johannesburg
and Pretoria. But If Cronje had taken
the advice of his associates and fall
Ell back as he should have done, it
would have been difficult for the hero
of Candahar to proceed.
The truth Of the matter is that the
British army is not equal to the armies
of other first-rate powers in Europe.
1t has been fighting savages in Africa
and poor native troops in India and
Burmall. These men carried archaic
weapons and fought according to ex-
ploded methods. They were easily
overcome by the Use Of mnchino niins
and modern munitions of war. But
when the English army came into col
lision with white and civilized men
With the proper equipments the case
was different. They have been beaten
by force inferior in numbers in the
proportion of one to ten. If Captain
Nathan can find here the evidence of
augmented prestige he is entitled to
credit for the discovery.