Evening star., 1901-04-18
THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
B0ER RESISTANCE HAS INCREASED
GREATLY OF LATE
British Blue Book just Out Gives
Rather "a Gloomy View of
Situation.

A London dispatch last night says: The
South African blue book. containing recent
dispatches from Sir Alfred 3Iilner and
other official correspondence, is issued to-
night.
81: Alfred Miner wired, under date of
March ). requesting permission to return
home at an early date upon leave of alb
SERGE for the purpose of resting. Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain, the colonial secre-
tary, replied by granting this request, but
expressing the governments 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
possible period of absence.
In dispatch dated February G Sir Al
fred reviews the situation in South Africa
and says he had hoped some definite point
would be rea cheS at which It might be
possible to sum uD' that chapter of history
containing the war and forecast the ad-
miniStrative reconstruction which must
succeed it, But / am reluctantly forced
To the conclusion that there Will be no di-
yiding line" continues Sir Alfred, 'and
have not the slightest doubt of the ultimate
result, but L foresee that the work will be
slower, more difficult, more harassing and
more expensive than was at one time an
tlClpated. At any rate. IL is idle to wait
much longer in the hope of being able to
describe clear and clean-cut situation.
TX is no use denying that the last half
year has been one Of retrogression. 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 rapidly settling down. and even a con-
siderable portion OF the Transvaal. notably
the southwestern districts seemed to have
definitely accepted British authority and TO
rejoice at the opportunity to return to or
derry government and the pursuits of
peace
To-day the scere is completely altered
1t would be superfiUous TO dwell on the in
creased losses to the country caused by the
prolongatiOn of the struggle and by the
form which IL has recently assumed. The
1aCt thdt the enemy are now broken up
into great number of small forces raid
ing in every direction. and that our troops
are similarly broken MP in their pursuit,
makes the area Of actual fighting and con-
sequently of destruction much wider than.
would be the in conflict between
equal numbers operating in large masses
Moreover, 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 looting the small village
stores of clothes. boots, coffee and sugar,
ali OF which they are in great need. Our
FORCES are compelled TO denude the coun-
try of everything movable in order 10 frus-
tratc these tactics OF the enemy.
The loss of crops and stocks is more
serious to the Beers. continues Sir Alfred
Milner- than farm burning of which SO
much has been heard. ] say this not at
al. as an advocate of such distinctions; 1
am glad to think the measure is now sell
dom If ever. resorted to-"
Sir Alfred Milner considers that the in
expensive character of the farm buildings
Is comparatively small item in the total
damage caused.
After mentioning the "wanton destruc-
tiOn OF headgear. stamps and other ap-
naIstus in the outlying mines" Sir Alfred
expresses hope that the miscreants will
turn out to be not Beers but members of
.he Rand proIetariat belonging to various
European nationalities, who are intensely
aEti-British and have now taken to the
yeldt-" He points ont that the damage to
the mines Is not great relatively to the
large amount Of capital sunk in them one