Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1881-01-15 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

UGLY FEATURES OF THE BOER REVOLT.  Tea Boer insurrection in the Transvaal is developing some unpleasant special features. in addition to those necessarily involved in such a revolt Of course, we must expect the insurrectionists to attack our slender military forces at every possible advantage which the former can secure, to shoot down convoys, to starve out beleaguered garrisons, to seize Government arms and ammunition wherever found, and to make the utmost use of their present position and resources to strengthen and consolidate their power before British reinforcements can arrive. All these things and more they are entitled to do, if we once allow to them the character of belligerents having a respectable cause from their own point of view. But there are significant symptoms that the Boers are inclined to go beyond the recognised proceedings of civilised belligerents. In several instances they have undoubtedly taken advantage of their poeition, as military victors over inferior numbers, to commit cold-blooded and dastardly Murder. We do not say that this has been done at the desire or even with the connivance of their insurrectionary leaders; nor do we insist upon regarding as simple massacre the attack upon the detachment of the 94th. That force, according to all accounts, was offered the preliminary option of surrender; and when the unexpected strength and energy of the attacking party led to surrender, the slaughter ceased. But such wanton and cold.blooded homicides as that perpetrated on Captain Etttor and attempted on Captain LAMBERT, con Only be designated murder, even as incidents of num, rectionary war. Such deeds, no doubt, arise from the uncouth and savage dispositions of the rank and file of the insurrectionists, and it may have been possibly with a view to avoid temptation for their committal that the rebel leaders took the course of releasing on their parole, and sending to the Orange Free State or the Natal frontier the officers and men they had captured. Both the expediency and the inefficacy of such precaution was shown by the escort that had conducted Captains ELLIOT and LAMBART to the Vaal river, firing upon the released prisoners as they were crossing, and killing one of them. Even in the midst of a belligerent struggle auch deeds are deeply to be regretted, both on account of the wanton sacrifice of brave soldiers' lives and of the revengeful passions that are likely to be ercited in our military, when they regain the almost inevitable ascendancy. We hare no doubt that both the Government and the majority of the people of this country would have preferred to treat the Boers as honourable helligerenta, to be conquered in the field certainly, but not to be vindictively punished. But it would he difficult, if it would indeed be proper, to restrain our military forces from all reprisals for these atrocities. It certainly is another ugly feature of this insurrection that the Boers have not been content with attempting to wrest the Transvaal from British rule, but have invaded Natal. In this case they may perhaps be able to claim the right of belligerents to carry the war into the enemy's territory for the sake of tactical ad. vantage—for one cannot certainly separate the Government of Natal from that of the British Empire in this case, though the Natalese up. pear inclined to do so, and are said to have demanded from the Boeriet leaders an explanation of the invasion. The explanation simply is, that on Natal territory the insurgents fancy they can bold the best position to prevent British reinforcements reaching the Transvaal. But, none the lees, this move of the Boers may possibly have disastrous results in encouraging the &En. both in Natal and in Zululand, as well as other native tribes, to take advantage of the temporary difficulty of British authority. We observe. too, that the Boers have imprudently given the cue for such a possible native rising by "commandeering" or impressing Baffles into their military service, and by accepting the former alliance of at least one Kaffir chief. The tribes who may now join one body of white men against another, merely for the sake of pay and booty, will only be encouraged to war hereafter for the extermination of all white men in South Africa. Altogether, therefore, the situation must be regarded as painfully grave pending the arrival of our reinforcements.  The Rev. James Aitken, minister of the High Church, Kilmarnock, died on Sunday, and the Rey. Dr. Mdraggert, of St. James' Church, Gleemired on Sacnulav lass