The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-27
PoLIrIcs ANO wAR IN sourA AERIcA.

Lord Ktcheners dispatches with their curt announce
successful cattle raids and occasional surprises
and captures Of Bo aagers by the British and Of British
troopers by Beers are not particularly helpful to an
understanding Of the present military and political situa-
tons in South Africa The London dailes have aban-
doned the field Of sheer WEAKNESS and dread Of the
censor pencil yet there is much Of interest to report
although painter OF thrilling wordpictures would find
his occupation gone in the reconcenado camps After
the departure Of Lord Roberts for England General tch-
set himself work to clear up the ness as one Of
the coDfdanes Of the conqueror Of the Sudan described
IT, The rapid advance Of Lord Roberts Pretoria
thence to the east had covered much country but the e
pectaton that the Beers would surrender were not real
lied The land was in British possession but the armed
nation that owned it had not been subdued.
Lord Kichenes plan is lay the vast area Of the
late republics into squares like checkerboard over
each Of these divisions lightly equipped mounted force
rides constantly to and fro literally narrowing the land
and as the movements repeated again and again they
draw into the central posts large aggomeraons Of living
hings-white families black families cattle horses-and
also arms, munitions of war food forage The mean
ing of Kcheners reports is thus made clear and the be-
wdering number Of apparently disconnected operations
which the themes of mis- dispatches need no longer
confuse anybody The OF denudation and
Its object is make the high veldt uninhababe BY the
Boer commanders and thus paralyze their activity The
climate Of the low veld toward the north uncomfortable
even for the Beers in the summer the sterile noun
ains afford susenance for neither man nor beast The
work in hand viii necessarily very slow; and while it
VIII probably accomplish its object persisted the end
is still far Oft
It is the political aspect of the South African situation
however which presents points Of greatest interest
The failure Of the recent peace negotiations Vas due
mainly to the refusal of the colonial Office at London to
consent to general amnesty It was insisted by Mr.
Chamberlain that the Colonial rebels should be excluded
and handed to the colonial courts for trial as traitors
It is generally represented that these rebels are Beers
just Ike the inhabitants of the country nor of the Orange
river this be the there is only technical reason
for their exceptional treamen-nanely the fact that thew
live on the wrong side Of the boundary point that
might be readily waved Ignorant Dutch farmers would
not be presumed to know anything the subtletes OF
international law but the Cape volunteers in the burgher
commanders are of a very different stamp They are
mostly very young men, Of good family and education
They refuse 20 be cassed Beers they "Afrkand
ers, and goody numDer Of them Of British extrac-
zion The Cape University, which drawn the sons
Of prosperous and progressive families whether Of Care
Colony the 1ransvaal the Orange Free State has been
the point of origin Of the idea of independent Af
kander nation and the friendships there and the
strengthen this national aspiration training and TEN
permanent these the very anhesis Of the veidt
Boe who desires only left alone and has no ab
ton for constructive government
The reason for Mr Chamberlan's insisence upon the
surrender OF these patriots the jurisdiction erin
na courts is clearly apparent The Afrikander ee-
ment which the salt of the population Of South Africa
IS 20 be paralyzed annihlaed The unvsdom OF this
policy would be manifest to not blinded by pre-
JUDGE Indeed Kitchener the man Of blood and iron vas
willing to yield TO General Botha IN the matter of these
rebes' and in this respect the more intelligent nhat
of British South Africa fno oseias
but those who have stake in the oouny) are in accord
With kitchener This class also With Botha in
avong the extension over the conquered regions OF the
Free state laws relating the blacks which have e5va
complete satisfaction in operation But is enoueb for
Dir Chamberlain that TIE law might interfere with the
ue bosses il curtaing their supply Of ina boys ana
taus eaect rise IN wages It is also held by same