Arizona republican., 1901-10-05
THE TECHNICAL END.
An Idle Subject of Discussion
 by British Leaders
People Though Are Grumbling at the Wars Inglorious Continuance and the Management of It by the War Department.

London, Oct. 4.-Lawyers are bewild- cred by questions arising from the se- quelS to the technical end of the war. which was declared by Lord Roberts to be virtually over about a year ago. The date having been settled by pro- clamation it was necessary to make ar example of Boer officers who had not surrendered before September 15. Ten prisoners have been formally exiled from South Africa by the military court, and forbidden ever to return TO the British dcminions there. The law yers are asking whether any military tribunal has the power to proclaim per petual banish:nent from selfgoverlling g dependencies of the crown, and wheth- CT a. decree of this kind will remain valid after the substitution of civil for martial law. This penalty,i is imposed by a military court without release of the prisoners from the ordinary fate of confinement under guard at St. Helena. Ceylon or Bermuda until the close of the war, when they will pass under the ban of perpetual exile. It is consid- cred doubtful whether the decree of banishment can be enforced. except with legislative sanction or with ade- quate political authority. The military argument is that guerrillas remainins < obstinately in the field will be certain to make trouble after the close of hos tilities, whsr the military prisons are opened and the Boer prisoners are re- leased. and consequently it is a wise safeguard to shut them out of South Africa altogether. These political ex- ilss. however. will have the right to ar asylum in any foreign country. and they cannot be taken from German or other ships; they cannot be kept out Nf 0f,rt ~f.r.. once there, they will be able to recruit bands of raiders for the renewal Of the war.
 Neither Mir. Chamberlain nor tis ministry can be credited with much sagacity in having recourse to a pro- clamation as a means of ending the war and in following it with decrees of banishment by a drumhead court mar tial. Yet MT. Chamberlain can afford 10 laugh over the legal quibbling. and Mir. Balfour can go on placidly with his golf, for the Lanark election has shown that liberalism is q system of organized feuds and that the govern nlent is not exposed 10 effective criti- cism from vigilant opposition.
 Tragic as is the fate of South Africa. with an irrepressible war of races, an inglorious British campaign, with un- ceasing mortality and concentration camps where women and children are dying in swarGns. the liberals consider the farcical conduct of the opposition a timely and patriotic exhibition, and the government is carried on listlessiy as comedy of political manners. The country. moreover. seems content with what is going on. There Is outspoken criticism of the appointments of com manders in three army corps; the charge that General Butler ordered af- tsr Colenso the evacuation of Lady smith under discreditable conditions is renewed by ''The Spectator" and the ministers are reproached for not all lowing Lord Kitchener a free hand and for neglecting to reinforce him with rough riders. fit for the work of hunt ing down guerrillas; but these mur- mers of dissent make little impression.