Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-09
Encouraging Dispatches Reflect Dark Views
Of Kitchener.
BlscKHoUsE SYSTEM PROVES FUTILE
Other Tactics Needed Against suCh
Mobile Ensmy.
scASDALoUs WASTE OF THE ARMY FUNDS
Cattle Captured from Boers Sold Three
or Four Times over 20 the Gov
eminent, at Increase of
Price Each Time.

SCopyright, 1902 by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Feb. S.-lNew York World
Cablegram--Special Telegram.)-A copy OF
letter was recently discovered in Pre-
toria, addressed by Transvaal State Secre-
tary Reitz, at President Krugers request,
when war became inevitable, to certain
members OF the Volksraad (congress),
whose determination was doubted. This
letter advised them that IL they entered
into the war at all It should be with a
stout resolution to see 1t through, as 1t
would last ten years The letter stated
that the of1clals of the republics did not
hope to defeat England in the field, but
their plans and resources would enable
them to wear England cut in that decade.
One prediction has particularly ominous
significance Just now, in view OF the dis
couraging dispatches this week from the
Pretoria correspondent Of the Times, who
reflects Kitchener's views. These dis
patches warn the government that the
war cannot be ended by the blockhouse
system in the face OF an enemy so mobile
as the Beers are. Provisioning and gar
risoning the blockhouses is straining the
British transport and relief resources TO
the breaking point, although 1t Is admitted
that Hottentots are being largely employed
The waste of the army from disease in
January, the worst month for enteric fever,
included ten officers and 52s men dead,
while eleven officers and 144 men were
killed la action. the total casualties being
eighty-seven officers and 1853 men.
incompetence and Corruption.
The war department remnant scandal,
the treasury having been swindled out OF
many millions of dollars, betrays only one
of the many directions in which incom-
peten-e and corruption have conspired TO
bleed the British taxpayer in connection
with this awful war
From South Africa comes the positive
statement that the bulk of the vast herds
Of cattle captured from the Beers was sold
by the military authorities to the South
African Cold Storage company at from 4 to
cents a pound. the company selling the
cattle lack again 10 the military. after a
few weeks at from IA to IS cents a pound.
In some districts in Cape Colony, 1t is
alleged. loyal colonial farmers, acting in
collusIon with certain military officials, con-
trived TO sell horses and cattle to the
British military authorities three or fouI
times over.
These scandals were discovered months
ago. but the war department quietly
cashlered the officers implicated. instead o.
imprIsoning them, hoping by that means Il
escape exposure.
The governments present policy is t.
postpone all inquiry till the war ends, trust
ing that 1t may hnd some further pretex
70 evade 1t altogether. or, at the worst, b!
means of one huge chaotic investigation, Il
confuse the issues and dissipate the re-
sponsibility These moves are recognized
and feared by the governments own sup
porters, but their hands are tied by dreat
of encouraging the Beers II the govern
ment is embarrassed.