Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-18
Daily kenneber Journal
SOUTH AFRICAN BLUE BOOK.
Sir Alfred Miiner Admits that British Have Lost
Ground Tor Some Months.

London. April 1.-THE South Afric;
Blue Book, containing recent dispatc
es from Sir Alfred Miner and other o
fetal correspondence, is issued, t
night.
Sir Alfred Miner wired, under da
of March 8, requesting permission
return home at an early date upo
leave of absence for the purpose
resting. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain. Il
colonial secretary, replied by grantin
this request, but expressing the GOV
cTnmentS regret that ii should /
necessary for Sir Alfred to leave Sout
Africa at the present time, quite recoe
niZing, however. his need for rest an
mentioning three months as a possibl
period of absence.
In dispatch dated. Feb. 6. Sir AL
fred Miner reviews the situation i
South Africa and says that he ha
hoped some definite point would b
reached Il: which it might be possibl
TO sum up that chapter of history con
corning the war and forCcasting tx
administrative reconstructing with
must succeed il.
But l am reluctantly forced to fle
conclusion that there will be no nch
dividing line continues Sir AlfredNIil-
ner. and | have not the sljhtcst
doubt of the ultimate result, but fore
see that the work will be siow4, more
difficult, more harrassing and dore oX-
pensive than was at one tine artlci-
patcd. At any rate ii is ide TO wait
much longer in the hope of being able
to describe clear and clean cut SltIa-
ton.
IN spite of the confused character
of the present position, think 1t better
to attempt to describe. however. rough
ly and inadequately. the state OF
things as they exist, today. ii Is no
use denying that the last half year has
been one of rctrosression. 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 considerable portion of the
Transvaal, notably the southwestern
district. seemed 10 have definitely ac-
cepted British authority and to rejoice
at the opportunity to return TO orderly
government and the pursuits of peace
To-day, the scene is completely al
tered. 1t would be superfluous to dwell
on the increased loss to the country
caused by the prolongation of the
struggle and by the form which it has
recently assumed. The fact that the
enemy are now broken up into great
number of small forces. raiding in
every direction. and that our troops
suit. make the area of actual fighting
and consequently of destruction. much
wider than would be the case in a con-
ilict between equal numbers operating
in large masses.
Moreover, the fight is now mainly
over supplies. The Boers 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 villages 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 fus-
trate these tactics of the enemy.
THE loss of crops and stock is more
serious to the Boers,'' continues Sir AL
fred Miner. than farm burning of
which SO much has been heard. say
this not at all as an advocate of such
destruction, / am glad to think the
measure is now seldom. if ever, resort
ed to-
Sir Alfred Miner considers that the
inexpensive character of the farm
buildings is a comparatively small item
IN the total damage caused. t@..
London, April 1S.-The dispatches in
the Blue Book published. today, reveal
the fact that the government went fur
ther in the direction of endeavoring to
conclliate the Beers than Miner and
kitchener were in favor of going and
dscouraging as the formers estimate
OF the position of affairs in February
was his extremely sanguine views for
the future of South Africa will tend
10 reconcile the country, whatever
sacrifices it may still be called upon to
make.
The question of who is to carry on
Sir Alfred's work in his absence excites
interest. In the natural order of things
'he duty would devolve upon Lord
Kitchener, whose ability for the task
Is unqucstioned; but, considering the
already onerous nature of his military
duties. it is felt that he ought not to be
Saddlcd with the additional work
"hlch Miner foundSo heavy.
'u--lIa1i---
London, April 1S,odMr Chamberlain
the colonial secretary, was the princi-
pal speaker at banquet given, last
evening, to the Ashanti field force, Col
Wilcox presiding. Mr.. William st.
John Frederick, secretary for war
Lord Raglan, under secretary for war;
Sir Evelyn Wood and other prominent
men were present.
In the course of his speech, Mr.
chamberlain referred to the war in
south Africa as ''one of the greatest
struggles in which the country has
peen engaged during the last 100 years,
Inc absorbing interest of which has
Inverted public attention from the
great achievement of Collcoxs.''
lie characterized the rising in Asnan-
u the most serious which ever oc-
CURED in that part of Africa and
mighty eulcgizcd tie conduct Of the
campaign
- Eradock, Cape Colony, April 17.-Ad-
vices from Hebron say that Andra
vessels is alive. Vessels accompanied