New-York tribune., 1901-04-18
MILNER REVIEWS THE WAR
IN FEBRUARY HE DREW A GLOOMY
PICTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRI-
CAN CONFLICT.

London, April 1.-THE South African Blue
Book. containing recent dispatches from Sir Al
fred Milner and other official correspondence.
was issued tonight.
Sir Alfred Miner telesraphed. under date OF
March g requesting permission to return home
at an early date upon leave of absence for the
purpose of resting. Mr.. Chamberlain, the Colo
NAL Secretary replied by granting this request.
but expressing the governments regret that 1t
should be necessary for Sir Alfred to leave
South Africa at the present time. quite recog-
nizng however his need for rest. and mention
ing three months as q possible period of alb
sence.
In a dispatch dated February 6. Sir Alfred
Milner reviews the situation in South Africa.
and says:
foresee that the work will be slower. more
difficult. more harassing and more expensive
than at time anticipated. 1t Is
denying that the last half year has been
cne of retrogression. Seven months ago this
colony perfectly quiet. at least as far as the
Orange River The southern half of the Orange
River Colony rapidly settling down, and
a considerable portion of the Transvaal.
notably 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 completely altered The fact that
the enemy are now broken up into great num-
ber of small forces raiding in every direction.
and that troops are similarly broken up in
tne1r pursuit, makes the area OF actuSl nghtlng,
and consequently of destruction, much wider
than would be the case in conflict between
equal numbers operating in large masses. More
over, the fight 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 lootins the small village
stores of clothes. boots. coffee and sugar. of all
of which they are in great need. 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 burning, of which so
much has been heard. l say this not at all as
an advocate of such destruction I am glad to
think the measure is now seldom if ever, re-
sorted tc.
Sir Alfred Miner considers that the mex
pensive character of the farm buildings is
comparatively small item in the total damage
caused.
After mentioning the "wanton destruction of
head gear stamps and other apparatus in the
outlying mines,' Sir Alfred expresses hope
that the miscreants Will turn out to be not
Beers, but members of the Rand Proletariat
belonging to various European nationaties. who
are intensely anti-British and have now taken
to the veldt." He points out that the damage
to the mines is not great relatively to the large
amount of capital sunk in them, one mine
having been damaged to the extent of 100000.
Continuing, he says:
The consequences of the war, although grave.
not appalling. The country people VIII neeu
help to prevent them from starving, and prop-
ably a certain amount of capital. more serf-
out effect of the last six months is the moral
influence of the recrudescence of the war, espe-
cially in Orange River Colony
He thinks that a majority of the Dutch COL
onists do not desire invasion. Discussing the
plans of local defence put into operation. he ar
CUES that the governments policy should be to
consider the feelings and interests of the loyal
lists. and thus to retain their loyalty as we'll as
70 disarm enmity and TO win the confidence Of
those fighting against Great Britain. South
Africans are sick unto death of the war" he
says. but prepared TO suffer in order TO
make South Africa indisputably country
under one flag"
He believes that the young country will re-
cuperate in few years when the war is over.
Among the letters three dispatches from
the government of the Netherlands to the Dutch
Consul General in Pretoria before the war. ad
vsing Mr.. KRUGER to adopt a conciliatory atti-
tude. One of these dated August Is, and al
ready alluded to by Count Bulow in the
Reichstag. and by the Foreign Minister of the
Netherlands in the Dutch Parliament, says:
The German Government like myself, is con-
WINGED every approach to one of the great pow
ers this very critical moment viii! be without
any results whatever, and very dangerous for
the republic
VESSELS, PEACE ENVOY, STILL ALIVE.
Cradock Cape Colony. April 11.-Advices
from Heilbron say that Andres Vessels is
alive. Vessels accompanied Morganddael on
his visit to the Beers in the capacity of a
peace envoy. and reported to have been
shot by order of General De Wet.