The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-12
rHn orrInok In sorTH AFRICA.


The seriousness Of the situation in South
Africa from the British point of view is
admitted even by the British government.
A day or two ago it was stated in the dis
patches from London that Emperor VII
liam had Influenced King Edward to
make an effort to bring about peace IN
South Africa, and that the first step to-
ward carrying out the new policy was the
selection OF Sir Evelyn Wood to succeed
Lord Kitchener as the commander in
South Africa.
1t turns out, however, that there was
no truth whatever in this statement In
stead of making an effort to bring about
peace. without further fighting, the Brit
ish force is to be greatly increased. Gen.
Kitchener is to have 5000 additional
troops, part of which Canada and Aus
tralia have agreed to furnish. The war Is
to be prosecuted with all the vigor that
the British government can throw into IT,
The reports from South Africa leave no
room for doubt that the Beers are as de-
iermined 10 fight as long as there are
men to carry arms and their ammunition
ish is bitterer than ever. There is some
ground for the opinion that the British
made a mistake when they adopted the
policy of burning the farm houses of
those OF the Beers who were in the Boer
armies. AS long al their farms remained
intact the Beers. very naturally. desired
to save their property, and, therefore. the
rule while there was a chance for them
to save something was greater. With
their homes gone and their families scat
tered there is little left to make peace
without Independence desirable. There
fore, it is about certain that the war will
be continued with as much spirit as there
has been manifested at any time since it
began until the Beers are exhausted or
their independence achieved.
And the British government is having
trouble a home. The feeling in England
against the war is gaining strength. 1t is
being pointed out that peace with honor
could have been had Immediately
after Pretoria was captured. but that the
British government was so confident that
it had the Beers conquered that it would
not think OF anything else than uncondi-
tional surrender
That was one great mistake 1t made.
Another was that it announced that the
war was over, and that there would be no
more fighting, except that of a guerrilla
character, carried on by few Beers, who
could do no great amount of harm. This
announcement was made principally for
the purpose of enabling the government
to secure a majority in Parliament, the
parliamentary elections then being close
at hand. The majority was obtained, but
the people feel that they were purposely
deceived, because the Beers had not been
then, and are not yet, conquered.
Great Britain viii have to expend a
great deal more money before the war
viii end, and the British taxpayers are
beginning to show istakable signs of
opposition to a further expenditure
of money. VIII the government be
able to retain the support of the
people until it can bring the Beers
to the point of asking for terms
of peace? Whether 1t can or not depends,
apparently, upon whether Gen. Kitchener
will be able in the near future to con
vince the Beers that they have no chance
of success.