The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-02-27
CAUSE OF THE BoERs.
Their Prospect of Partial Freedom.
Obstinacy OF British Omcers.


Obstinacy OF British Onicers.
Howard Gregg OF San Francisco is
familiar with the Beers on account Of
a residence OF some years duration at
johannesburg. and the other day, in
speaking Of the South African war at
the Waldorf Astoria 20 a reporter OF
the New York Tribune. he said:
Il do not share the generally express
ed opinion that the Boer is fighting for
hopclessly lost cause. BY that do
not mean that he will again occupy the
position he did prior 10 the commence
ment OF hostlitles, but am inclined
to the opinion that sooner or later n
peace will be declared In which greater
or less freedom and independence TO
the Beers as a nation will be guaran-
tced. Certainly Edward WIS procla.
nation naming Miner as paramount
lord OF the Transvaal would seem TO
point la this direction. If England
doesn't compromise with the Beers,
they will make her tenure of the coun-
try disagreeable and expensive thing.
believe they can keep up the guerrilla
system Of warfare they have embarked
on for years. and so long as any Of
them are left in the field bearing arms
England viii be forced 20 maintain n
heavy military establishment In South
Africa-so heavy, indeed, that It will
| soon prove a heartbreaking strain TO
the taxpayers. The British soldier
learns but slowly and Is tied up in red
tape and tradition. a friend OF mine
who served there gave me an instance
Of the nonprogressiveness OF their ofii-
GERS which would have brought on n
court martial had II occurred in the
American army. When night fell, the
rear guard Of the Beers could be dis
cerned going over n kopje some seven
nilos ahead Of the English advance, so
that II was practically certain that the
Beers that night would encamp within
easy riding distance Of the English
camp. Seeing this, my friend made up
his mind TO go on and see II he could
not pick up some information that
would prove OF value in the next days
operations
SIN pursuance of this idea he applied
20 the officer commanding the advance
for couple OF troopers 10 accompany
him. mt the same time explaining what
sort Of work he proposed doing. What
do you want the men for? Why can't
you go It aloner the officer inquired.
Because was the reply. when | APP
proach within a certain distance I
shall not dare 10 go nearer on horse
back on account of the noise. but will
have then TO go forward on foot In
that case II will be imperative for me 10
have some one TO hold my horse for
me- Notwithstanding this explana-
tlon the officer refused 10 lend the
troopers. saying that he had no author
ity TO use his men for such n purpose.
My friend, being set on his plan. how
ever. went on alone and by riding In
and out succeeded In getting quite near
TO the Boer camp without being seen.
He discovered that their plckets were
very careless and that the watch kept
was most inefficient. Indeed. II he had
had dozen troopers with him he made
sure that he could have rushed them
and destroyed two and possibly three
OF their guns. He picked up lot of
miscellaneous and valuable informa-
ton. however. with which he returned
to camp Once back, he reported TO
the general in command, told what he
had done and was about to give him
the information he had picked up when
he was interrupted by the general.
who in - told you TO go scoutingT
the irate commander demanded. and
the result was that the two men parted
with bad blood between them, and
my friend is still the sole owner OF the
information he had picked up. for the
general refused to. listen TO II. This
story is literally true. am not at lib
erty to give names, because It might
get people into trouble. 1t doesn't
show n progressive spirit on the part
OF the English army officer, though.
Do you think sor