The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-11

1T is a very lame excuse for the Eng
lish army administration" said an army
officer Of the War Department this morn
ing, TO attribute the cause Of the de
feat o. Lord Methuen's column in South
Africa to the fact that the Beers were
dressed in British uniforms. and 20 claim
that they were not carrying on the war ia
warfare.
BY the way, there is no such thing
as civilized warfare anyway. In war. as
in love. everything is fair.
The british set uD a howl Of des-air
and disappointment whenever the willy
Roer succeeds in entrapping them and
even matters a little. One enemy does
not ask the other to Icy down the rules
Of warfare TO them.
Warfare must be conducted according
10 the climatic and Typographical as well
as other conditions of the country. The
nature Of the enemy, his resourecfulncss
Of mind IS well as his adaptability TO cir
C instances must re taken Into consider
alton, and he must be met on equal terms
II the Beer succeeds in prolCuging the
war because he succeeds in getting his
stock Of ammunition. horses. uniforms.
provender, and medicine from the British.
that is no reason why he should be con
demned and branded as not carrying On
the war according 70 International rules.
BOer Does the Best He Can.
The Boer has no facilities for making
ammunition He cannot manufacture or
import uniforms and other absolutely
necessary articles for his army. The
sources Of horse and mule supply are
closed TO him. He must in consequence
do what America. England. Germany.
France, Russia, and every other civilized
power would do-capture the enemy's
SUI plies and make the best use OF them.
1T is not only perfectly legitimate
warfare, but Delarey performed fine
piece Of daring generaIship. He proved
10 the world that the claim OF the British
press that the end OF Boer resistance
was close at hand is an entire stranger
10 the truth.
1t seems TO me that this complete vic
tory OF the Beers should encourage the
Dutch Of Cape Colony and Natal TO Join
the ranks OF their blood relatives-the
Beers II is almost certain that this viii
be the result
In that case the British will be con
fronted with another very serious prop
OsitiOn- 70 viii necessitate additional
troops 20 watch and keep in check the
Cape C0lOnisJs and other sympathiZinR
Afrikanders. According TO press advices
the British war ONCE is confronting
great difficulty at present IN securing
sufficient new material 20 relieve those
in the field in South Africa. those who
how 60. Esr~ .T~ a
wounded and sick from the South African
fever.
EngIand's COlonists Backward
The Colonies are not as ready as they
were at the outbreak Of the war 10 fur
uish men and war material They are
charging the mother country cxorDitaut
prices for their contributions of men and
other necessities. A great mass Of the
English people are dissatisfied and dis
grunued with the progress Of the war.
with the increase in taxes, the falling on
in commerce, the going down @. British
consols. and the diminution OF English
prestige abroad.
Then there is Russia, which is taklal
advantage Of England's discontinue and
making STEADY advances into British zones
Of influence in China, East India, Persia
and other parts Of the world. Then, there
are the irish, who az present are dcveI-
Oping a more than usual activity.
Effect in America
This last victory Of the Beers cannot
fail 10 make q deep impression on our
Administrator. and il is bound 70 liza
press the great Powers with the fact that
the South African farmers are enough
soldier 20 know how to defeat and cap
ture British cavalry detachment with
all stores. and a general. This last vic
tory viii stiffen the backbone Of those
Beers who we're reported as favoring the
discussion Of .eace terms. They viii now
stick out for war to the very end and pro
posals Of peace viii not be listened TO
any longer
1T viii give the Boer emmissaries in
this and other countries fresh material for
argument that the British are not able
to subtue the Beers. II will bring forth a
more liberal response Of practical sympa-
nv O. American