Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-06-06
THE BOER WAR AT AN END.

. THE BOER WAR AT AN END
h The war between BritOn AM
o BOer has at last ended. On Satur
y day night the terms were signed a
4 Pretoria by all the Boer represen
o tatives and by Lord Miner, Britisl
o Commissioner in South Africa
o and by General Kitchener, com
o handing the King military forces
6 both these latter gentlemen acting
! on behalf of the British govern
ment.
! The fight which these Dutcl
. farmers of South Africa have mad,
for the preservation Of the indie
pendence Of their republics, has
been marked by valor, devotion
and self-sacrifice unsurpassed il
the annals of the world, unless we
take into account the civil war
The devotion of the C0nfederates
amazed the civilized world. Arrayed
against the Beers was a mighty
empire, able to put hundreds of
thousands of men in the field, and
with unlimited resources in money
and war material. That the Beers
would hold out more than TWO
years and a half against such over
whelming odds was not expected
by military eXperts-.eastO of all by
the nation which has finally sue
ceeded in coEquering the two
republics. 1t was estimated in
London that a British army of
80, 900 men would bring the Beers
to terms in short order, while the
expenses of the war would not
exceed 800, 600, 600. The cost Of
the war up to March 81 last, was
more than $500, 600, 600; over
800, 900 soldiers had been sent to
South Africa and employed in the
operations against the Beers; the
,,,,o hon e D,,;t;cL cn11;o,, I.,lIol
in battle and dying from wounds
and disease aggregated at least |
u, 600, while three times as many
were "invalided" home. That is
what the war had cost Great
Britain in men and in money up to
March 81 last. In military prestige
and in trade the British Empire
has aiso suffered heavily. Presi-
dent Kruger declared before the
struggle began that it would be
one which would "stagger hui
Perhaps this has not
been the case, but it is at least
true that the sturdy Beers have
"staggered'' the British taxpayer
and Inundated one Of the proudest
Of nations.
The submission of the Beers does
n )tend Great Britain's troubles in
south Africa. British statesmen say
that a long period Of reconstruction
will follow, and the victors {
will be fortunate if during this
period there is no renewal Of the
by those classed as I
'irrec hcilablls." The republics +,
nave been devastated, the homes ,
If the burghers have Deen destroy C
1t, their live stock killed or carried 5
III. Great Britain must re-stock II
ne farms Of the Beers ana rebuilG
heir homes. Similar aid must +
lsO be extended TO the "lOyalists' Ii
Who have suffered by the war. &
'he country will be in an unset :
led condition for years to come, :
nd . large force will be requir d
0 preserve order and to maintain Il
British sovereignty over the former -
epublics. This is not an encourage q
ng outlook, and there are many -
British statesmen who are APP i
rehensive as to tn. future. i
There is great rejoicing in ct
OndOn. Crowds in the streets b
lng, shouted and waved flags.
IN the other hand when President n
ruger was told the news, he ex- nj
aimed, "My God, it is impos- W
bic !" n
We acknowledge the receipt from w
hartman William A. Anderson IA
- l. 10 IL n