The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-05-22

can show no other case OF such III
domitable tenacity," the Springfe
Republican expresses this view Of the
situation in South Africa:
1t is a mistake for any one to say that
the cause is hopeless. The daily in
telligence from SIulh Africa steadily
confirms the view that the war will
probably last at least another year,
through the unaided courage and
strategy of the Beers. The figures of
The British intelligence bureau in the
middle Of April showed that there were
then between $4,000 aud 10000 bur-
ghers available Tor service under the
various Boer leaders, and those figures
possess a large significance. Study,
too, the latest letters of the London
Times correspondent at Pretoria, and it
will be seen that the British military
view is gloomy rather than optimistic.
Writing under date of April Is, he
says:-
In another fortnight the South African
winter will have arrived and unless the
Beers are prevented from moving north to
the Bush veldt and hostilities are somehow
ended, there will be spell OF severe and
unsatisfactory campaigning in an imposs-
BILE country, together with five months Of
comparative peace in the two colonies, to
be broken by recrudescenCe OF guerrilla
operations all over the country when the
spring rains enable the enemy to operate on
the high veldt. But this will mean no res
pite to the troops, no moving into winter
quarters, but only continuance OF the most
demoralizing warfare that can be under
taken.
The Beers cannot be prevented from
retiring north, or retiring anywhere
they please TO 90. The British are un Z.
able to catch them or to corner them.
Not since Cronje's surrender has a sim
gle Boer leader of prominence been
captured. De Wet and Delarey and
Kritzinger move about at will. There
is more reason for this THAI before
since the war began, as the Times
Pretoria correspondent pointed out late
in March:
Where is the wonted slacrity Of the Brit
ish soldier? Not in those gaunt listless
men, whose staring eyes seem to ask the
monotonous question, which you hear from
every man you meet, when will 1t fin
ish2" And Is it m tier for SURPRISED For
eighteen months have those men been rigor-
ously employed. There has been no res
pite, no settling down into winter quarters,
in this extraordinary and Unprecedented
campaign. These are the men who chased
Cronje from before Kimberley; followed
Botha from Kroonstsdt to Pretoria spent
the winter months in pushing their way to
Konati Poort; marched down to Fouries-
berg, then trekked YEARLY across the Or
snge River Colony until they struck the
railway; were then whisked up to the
north again; marched and fought for an
other 800 miles; reached another railway
communication to be whirled back to the
al taIs Il Il.
fruitless chase after DeWet, then back to
the comfortless train; down to Cape Colony,
500 miles, aud then the train again, until
they had lost all count OF time, OF place and
hour. 1t is surprising that both officers
and men are stale, that the senior officers
dare not commit them to the risks that
fresher men would undertake with willing
ness? This is the true history OF the many
bitter disappointments during the past few
months. The army wants rest.