Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-06
STILL FIGHTING BoERs,

The outlook Is South Africa is far
from reassurlng. A johannesburg
dispatch says that Gen, Delarey the
Boer commander has 1000, or more,
men in the hills around Hartbeeste-
fontein,and that three British generals,
with their forces, are conyerglng to-
ward his position, II Is supposed that
an engagement is imminent, but that
depends, naturally on whether Della
rey Is disposed to fight. If not, he
win probably elude the converglng
forces and take up some other post
ton.
Lord Kitchener has an extremely
difficult mission to perform. His plan
now Is 10 divide the entire disturbed
territory into squares and to rake
each one Of these ln succession, until
the country Is free from the rowing
bands Of Beers. This may be a well
conceived pian but how long time VIII
Il take TO clear all the squares
marked out, and how many men?
There are, according TO the estimates
$4,000 square miles TO cover. There
are about 100000 British soldiers, or
one man to each square mile. Some Of
them must be retained to guard the
lines OF communication, and the force
available for clearing the squares, as
planned, is actually much less than
one soldier TO the square mile. When
this Is kept In mind, II is not difficult
TO understand how the daring Boer
commanders can roam from one place
to another, and elude the traps set
for them
II is claimed the burghers have still
about 10000 armed men In the field,
and that most Of those are determined
to keep the war going, until they are
extermnated, or until more favorable
peace terms than those offered, can be
obtained. They hope to he able to
worry the British lion until 1t shall be
disposed to rest, at any cost, And
with the bull dog determination Of that
people, the prospects are not encour-
aging for an early settlement
II should be pretty clear to the
British public by this time that what
is to be gained by that long war Of
conquest is hardly worth the price,
The money expended is, even IL the end
Of the war were In view now, bad
investment. The policy Of Gladstone
who shrank from the undertaking In
which his country Is involved, seems
fully justified. Great Britain, now,
cannot yield. by so doing, she would
lose her prestige among the nations.
But she can terminate the hostllities on
conditions the Beers would, IN all
probability. be willing to accept The
independence Of the Orange Colony, FOR
instance, might be restored with the
opportunity for all Beers unwilling 70
become British citizens. to settle there
Or part OF the Transvaal and part OF
the Free State might be made one inde'
pendent republic, while the other par'
/ were retained by Great Britain az ar
indemnity for the war expenses. Inc
Beers in the field are fighting for inde'
pendence, and they seem to be worthy
Of it, II patriotism and valor are to re-
ceive any reward in this world Grea'
Britain would gain more by generous
policy than by continuation OF nos
Titles to n, bitter end She woulc
establish a friendly republic. the night
ing strength of which Is not TO be de-
splsed BY continuing the conquest sh'
will only gain lordshlp over desoiat'
country and a population from whiof
loyalty Is hardly TO be expected Le'
the voice for peace be heard through
ont "ChrIstian" Great Britain