The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-04-25
BRITISH HAVE LOST
GROUND TO Beers.
Last Half Year one of Retro
gression in South Africa.
SIR ALFRED MINER ADMITS
In Letters TO London Office Real Sit
uatiOn Is Told by Him.

London, April 1S.-The South Al
rican blue book, containing recent
dispatches from Sir Alfred Miner and
other official correspondence was
issued last night.
Sir Alfred Miner wired, under date
OF March 3, requesting permission to
return home at an early date upon
leave of absence for the purpose of
resting. Mr.. Joseph Cham berlain,
the colonial secretary, replied by
granting the request, but expressing
the government regret that it
should be necessary for Sir Alfred to
leave South Africa at the present
time, quite recognizing however, his
need for rest, and mentioning three
months as a possible period of alb
sence.
In a dispatch dated February Is
Sir Alfred Miner reviews the situa-
ton in South Africa and says that
he had hoped some definite point
would be reached at which it would
be possible to sum up that chapter
of history containing the war and
forecast of administrative recon-
struction which must succeed it,
But / am reluctantly forced to the
conclusion that there will be no such
dividing line continues Sir Alfred
Miner, land l have not the slightest
doubt of the ultimate result. but |
foresee that the work will be slower.
more difficult, more harrassing and
more expensive than was at one
time anticipated. At any rate it is
idle to wait much longer in the hope
of being able to discover a clear and
clean-cut situation. In spite of the
confused character of the present po-
sition | think it better to attempt to
discover, however roughly and mad
the state of things as they
exist to-day.
1t is no use denying that the last
half year has been one of retrogres-
sion. Seven months ago this colony
was perfectly quiet, at least as far as
the Orange river. The southern half
OF the Orange river colony was rap
idly settling down and even a consid-
cradle portion of the Transvaal, no
tably the southwestern districts, |
seemed to have definitely accepted |
British authority and to rejoice at |
the opportunity to return to orderly |
government and the pursuits of |
peace. To-day the scene is complete
~ altered
1t would be surperfiuous to dwell |
on the increased losses to the country |
by the prOlOngatiOn of the struggles |
by the form which it has recently as
sumed. The fact that the enemy is
now broken up into great number
Of small forces, raiding in every |
and that our troops are
broken up in their pursuit, |
makes the area of actual fighting,
and consequently of destruction,
much wider than would be the case |
in a conflict between equal numbers
operating in larger masses.
Moreover, the fighting is now mainly |
over supplies. The Beers live entirely |
on the country through which they |
pass, not only taking all the food |
they can lay their hands on, but |
footing the small village stores OF
clothes, boots, coffee and sugar. all |
Of which they are in great need of. |
Our forces are compelled to denude
the country of everything movable
in order to Illustrate these tactics of |
the enemy.
The loss of crops and stock is more
serious to the Beers than farm burn |
ing, OF which so much has been heard. |
| say this not at all as an advocate
Of ssch destruction, and | am glad |
to think the measure is now seldom.
i ever. reSOrted to-