The Tucson citizen., 1902-03-20
The BRITISH DEFEATS.

The Beers have released Lord Meth
uca to 'ne British authorities. None
of us can see the reason why. There
is no doubt. some reason, because the
Beers. as a general rule, know what
they are about To those of us who
have gloried IN their bravery, in their
skill in battle, in their determina-
ton to preserve their liberty at any
cost, it has been inComprehensibe why
Methuen should be released while
Cronie Is held captive at ST. Helena
A London correspondent of the Los
Angeles Times, not always friendly
medium of Boer communication. ad-
yances a view regarding the release
Of Methuen that may have consider
able reason back OF it. In effect 1t Is,
that Delarey. the Conqueror, and
Methuen, the captive. communed free
ly, ana that Methuen was released in
order that he might tell a plain tale
t1 the rulers of the British Empire.
How can reasonable people in this
country explain to themselves the
Dr.dsh attitude in South Africa?
Twice within month England has
received a staggering blow-a blow SO
ugly so effective, so indescribabIe, that /
one instnctiyely reviews in his own
mind the old question; Can England
win at all? 1t seems almost feeble
minded to doubt it, measuring the
situation superfcially and by the
simple standard of men. money and
guns; it Is almost equivalent to tiout-
ing the Napoleanic dogma. Yet the
question VIII not down.
II survives all the British statisti-
clans figures, all the censors jubila-
tions, the Official reports of British vic
tories the same reports OF Boer eX-
haustion and determination. The Eng
lsh Chamberlains and Brodricks have
removed the Beers from the face of
the earth through the medium OF
statistics. If the statements made by
tie government to Parliament be even
approximately true there cannot be a
South African Dutchman above
ground or the very smallest bunch OF
live stock le4~ on those wan, intermin-
able veldts. Nevertheless, some agency
seems to be at work for the destruc-
tion and decentralization Of British
armies. the effacement of British pres-
tige- perhaps in the end even L dis
turbance of that fatuous British com
placency which has long been the
wonder of the world. Somehow, men
continue to ask themselves, can the
British win
Behind all this there is a mystery
which battles every lookeron. 1t ex-
panns into terrible and grotesque sug-
questions as we contemplate it. Never
for moment has it's shadow been
absent from any British disaster.
Whether Englishmen have lost the
war-like instinct, or whether, to use
Henry Seaton Merrimans phrase, they
have been drugged by the fumes OF
Africa, the fact remains that Kitchen
er's officers and men behave in q man
ner wholly inexpicable upon any mill
tary theory. We need not go back to
the earlier calamities for illustrations.
The mystery in question presents il
8 og Il
1t has been the inseparable attendant
of the British operations in South
Africa from first to last Has any man
trained in even superficial military
knowledge in the American school
which Is the modern school-for which
We are indebted to Cochise, Geronimo
Joseph and Nez Perce, and the always
willy and capable Sioux, considered this
astounding phenomenon? Take the
latest disaster for example. General
Methuen, one of the bravest and ablest
officers in the British army, with 1900
men and four guns--a compact, thor
ou ghly equipped and organized force
Is attacked on the march, not surprised
In bivouac, and put to utter rout and
within a few minutes. Here is the
mystery. That 1900 or 1900 Britishers
for the guns must have been manned
---can be stampeded, transformed
from seasoned. disciplined soldiers in
4 minute to lnsensate fugitives re-
I duced to panic and pitable helpless
4 mess almost at the first alarm?
n there any parallel for this In the
history of our wars? Did any one ever
It'll Of an American force, more than
200 strong and well seasoned in active
ryice, breaking into wild flight.