The Irish standard., 1901-02-09

dering destruction is almost immedi-
ate. However peaceful a district may
have been, the passage of body of
our troops through it is invariably fol
lowed, as far as my experience goes
by general rising of all the inhabi,
tants.
Meanwhile De Wet has, by a few
skilful movements diverted our atten-
ton. His rear-guard captured 12O of
Brabant's horse at Danes Mex. and,
as if to teach us a lesson in clemency,
released them all. Then, crossing the
Caledon, near Wepner, lie avoided the
fate that had been prepared for him,
Much as l desire the end of the war,
greatly as long to go home, cannot
help feeling of relief at his escape.
How long he will be able to escape
cannot say. Sooner or later, l sup
pose, he must succumb to numbers
and the net will be closed round him.
l can only pray to God that l may be
elsewhere.
"But if such massacre were effect
ed, what horrible retaliation it would
entail.
During three weeks prior to the eS-
cape of De Wet, and ending the 10th of
December, the following captures
We're made by the Beers: At Dewets-
dorp-The Gloucester regiment, the
Highland Light infantry. and the Roy
al artillery. 400 prisoners; at Danes
Mex, BrabantS horse, 12O; at Reitfon-
tein General Clements Nortllumbcr-
land Fusiliers, GoO-1,200. That is,
over 1,1uO prisoners, officers and men,
in that short time without counting
many smaller affairs.
"What cry of horror would have
been raised in England if all those
troops were massacred in retaliation
for similar butcheries on our side.
What Il day of weeping there would be
in Scotland, and northumberland and
Worcestershire! But they have near
ly all been released by the Beers
whom Lord Kitchener was ut that
moment plotting to cXterminatc.
"Turning from one disagreeable sub
ject to another, it is now universally
admitted that the policy of house
burning and women-hunting has had
very disastrous results. Instead of
intimidnting it has cXasperatcd the
whole population; and worse, it has
reused the Dutch population of Cape
Colony into fury of passion and
hate.
"Thcre is not shadow of doubt
that if they could see the least pros
pcct of success they would rebel Ell
masse. If they do rise they can put
$4,000 men into the field, and we shall
be compelled to fight our way back
to the sea. Then, indeed, the war, in
stead of ending, will have only just
begun. 1t is The general opinion rs
write that the Dutch will rise, and the
English Coonists With whom speak
take the most gloomy view of the stu
alton. l think myself that much de-
pcnds on chance. Ii the small COM
manllocs who have now invaded the
Colony gain amy notable success dur
ing the next fortnight the result will
be very serious: if, Oh the other hand,
they suffer rcpusc, probably they will
find very little active support
"But whatever may be the result of
the war. and whether Il rising takes
place in the Colony or not, one thing
remains certain. we are creating u BIT
terncSS Of feeling among the majority
of the population by our methods of
making war; which it will be exceed
ingly difficult to ailAy. 1t requires
only some striking incident. such as
the massacre that Lord Kitchener has
planned. to create Il feeling of hatred
that will never rest till the empire has
been dcstroycd.'
Commenting cdtorally OH the Brit
ish officers letter, the Dublin Free
mans Journal says:
1t is With full sense of our rcspon-
sibility as journalists that we make
public this week the communication
which will be found in another column
from Il British officer serving in South
Africa to y friend ut home. The story
he tells will shock the civilized world
except perhaps. that small section of
it which has closely followed tho out
cries of the British press clamorinG
for tho DISCRIMINATION" OF the Boer
soldiers, and the declarations of rr-
spunSihlr British statesmen forrshad-
owing the success of the shameful and
cownrdly Press clamnr The British
officers letter to his friend announces
the suspension of the laws of civilized
warfare in the prosecution of Lord
IIitchenerS campaign against the
bravcst and most honorable sOldicry
that ever stood up to defend the lib
erty of a nation. According to this Of
1icer, when last December the troops
seemed to be closing round De Wet
and the brave men that he leads. Sc
cret orders were issued through the
generals commanding. that the Beers,
when surrounded, We're to receive no
quarter, but were to bc shot down to