Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1901. THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 August 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1901. THE BOER WAR.

The position in South Africa seems to be one of extraordinary activity, indicative, as our calegrams to-day tell, of Boer desperation, or of preparing for a complete cessation of hostilities on the date named hy Lord Kitchener ; after which belligerent rights will be refused, and all caught under arms are liable to be treated as outlaws. If we are to read between the lines wo see in this activity, a peculiar characteristic of the Boer. He realises that all is lost, that until the middle of September he can plunder and destroy to his heart’s content, and, if caught, will bo treated as a prisoner of war. In this way he endeavours to get his last revenge at little risk and cost to himself. As to the thoroughly disorganised condition of the Boor forces, we have only to point to the refusal of Commandant Baden-Horst’s doctor, in fetching medical necessaries from Kimberley, declining to carry Lord Kitchener’s proclamation, fearing he might bo shot by his own people as ample evidence of how the Boers distrust each other. It

is evident from this fact that a few of the irresponsible leaders are determined to keep the rank and file in ignorance of the proclamation as long as possible. If this course is persisted in, it may be necessary after the date mentioned to resort to severe measures, and hang the first lot caught under arms. Such proceeding would meet with loud denunciations from such men as Stead, Dillon and other, but would receive general approval and be justifiable in the best interests of peace and humanity. And, after all, the Nation need not take much notice of such men as Dillon, who go on the public platform with O’Donovan Rossa and tacidly agree to his notorious and murderous proposal to fire the principal cities in England in order to terrorise the Government. Fortunately the Government is com ■ posed of men not easy terrorised ; men who will deal out sharp justice to anarchists of the Rossa type. The war has reached a stage when stern measures are required, and Lord Kitchener is just the man to see such measures carried out