The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1901-11-15 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

THE GUARDO.N  FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 151.1, 1901:  During the past week we have been treated to a public vindicatiorl of the Government's policy in their conduct of the War by Mr. Brodrick, Secretary for War. Of course, the speech will be very differently regarded by the representatives of the various schools of political thought. Supp9rters of the Government will hail it as the most incisive and masterly review of the situation and powerful defence of the Government's policy that has come from a Cabinet Minister since the war began. Extreme Radicals and Pro-Boers will receive Mr. Brodrick's special pleading as an absolute justification of their hostile attitude. This was one of the strong points in the speech. No man could indulge in unrestrained attacks on the Government, or give voice to feelings of sympathy with the Boers, without helping to prolong the struggle. The conduct of the war is outside the province of politics. Rather is it a national matter. This country is unanimously agreed that the war must be gone through with. At any cost the remnant of the Boer army must be subdued and vanquished, and the country restored to the more peaceful and profitable pursuits of agriculture and commerce. The process of clearing the country of these marauding bands may appear tedious and slow to the superficial observer, but Mr. Broderick furnished information which will have the effect of largely restoring the confidence of the country. The policy of Lord Kitchener has been to drive the enemy from large tracks of country, and by the formation of a line of blockhouses to make it impossible for the Boers to find food or shelter. Up to the present something like 17,000 square miles in the Orange River Colony and 14,700 in the Transvaal are now clear of the enemy, and well-equipped mobile troops are in daily pursuit of the 10,000 enemy still in the field. If need be fresh troops will be sent to replace those who by arduous service and the difficulties of camp life in a tropical country, become worn out or fever stricken. India is to be called on to furnish four battalions and two more cavalry regiments, and other L Colonies are anxious to send further contingents for active service. There is no ' justification for the people of this country  becoming hysterical or even impatient over the long draw-out conflict. Guerilla warfare is naturally a slow process. Its extent is enormous, and the Boers are about as slim as a March hare. More than that, they are now fighting with the desperation of a defeated people. Their ostentatious acts of piety are heavily discounted by the official information that in order to destroy all traces of their flight they have been guilty of murdering Kaffir children in cold blood. It is conceivable that these inhuman acts have been done without the instruction or knowledge of Boer commanders, but if continued, they will be looked upon not as civilized belligerents, but desperadoes, who deserve the death of murderers. Altogether, the speech is a timely and satisfactory statement of the progress of the War, and will go a long way towards clearing the air of depression and dissatisfaction.