Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1901. THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 September 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1901. THE BOER WAR.

To-morrow is the last day, according to Lord Kitchener's proclamation, that the Boers will be acknowledged as belligerents. From and after that date they are liable to be treated, as outlaws, and punished accordingly. When this proclamation was first issued the Continental and pro-Boer Press raised a great cry against what they termed a violation of international law, but they were unmindful of the fact that international law acknowledges a country conquered and legitimate warfare at an end when the controlling powers have fled from the land, when all the citadels are captured, and regular organisation destroyed. Such has been the condition of affairs in South Africa for nine months past—in fact, ever since the Capture of Cronje and the flight of Kruger. Since then the action of the Boers has been at variance with all recognised laws. They have plundered and destroyed the goods of private persons quite irrespective of whether they were friend or foe ; they have 'acted the part of banditti, murdering in cold blood, and recognising no law. At the fight at Vlakfontein after the Boers in the first instance had captured two guns and wounded a number of the British, two Boers, armed with Martini carbines, walked round the prostrate forms of the men who had fallen in the first few minutes of the fight, and placing a carbine at the heads of the wounded, deliberately shot them. There were eye-witnesses to this. One officer, lying desperately wounded, called for water, and his sergeant, who was less hurt, went across to supply him Both men

were deliberately shot dead. And this is no idle tale. It has been verified by the testimony of several eye-witnesses. To treat such men as other than murderers is expecting too much, and hence we find the proclamation meeting with hearty approval from the majority of the Liberals in the House of Commons. Many proBoers asserted that the proclamation would only intensify the bitterness and tend to further acts of murder. But appearances do not support this contention, for the largo number of surrenders and prisoners captured—the latter in most instances willing captures—indicates a desire on the part of the Boers to get away from their leaders whom they fear and dread, and to terminate the struggle which ever to them has now been proved to be hopeless. Kitchener's report shows that for the week ending September 7th 6-7 Boers were killed, 67 wounded, 884 captured and 169 surrendered, making a total of 714. And this has been going on for some time past. At the same time we are told of the foreigners crossing the Portuguese boundary. Further we have word that those hitherto irreconcilable leaders Vigeon and De Lange have received Kitchener's envoy with the proclamation in a corteous manner—a proceeding very different from their former bearing. All this goes to show that the Boer—even the more persevere—sees the game is utterly hopeless and is prepared to make the best of it, Without being too sanguine we are inclined to the belief that the struggle—even upon the lines conducted during the past three months —is practically at an end and that further plundering, and destruction will be of a minor character. The proclamation has tended greatly to bring about this desirable contention.

After the conclusion of the war comeS the question of settlement—who is to pay for cost. The report of Sir David Barbour, who >was appointed by the Government to investigate the finances of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, with the view of determining how much those countries could contribute towards the cost of the war, has just been issued. After an exhaustive examination of the revenue and expenditure of the two republics before annexation, Sir David says the wealth of the Transvaal depends almost entirely upon its gold mines, and the bulk of the taxation must in any case fall either directly or indirectly on the mines or on the wealth which owes its origin to them. He proposes a tax of ten per cent on the profits from the mines. With regard to the Orange River Colony no contribution towards the cost of the war can be expected from it, as the most of which it is capable will to pay its own way. Bir David Barbour says it is impossible at the present time to specify any definite sum as that which ought be paid by the colonies towards the cost of the war. He suggests that the Imperial Government should fix the maximum sum which under any circumstances they would require to be paid. Such portions of the total amount of contributions bo fixed as it may be found from time to time to come that the colonies may bear should be made a charge against them. In discussing the resources of the Transvaal, the Commissioner is candid enough to admit that there may be no surplus of revenue to go towards the extinction of the war debt, and at the best he does not hope for anything within two years. Of course, the hope of the British taxpayer lies in the fact that he has based his calculations on the old returns of the Transvaal Government, whereas tho goldfields may under moro beneficent laws produce ' greater wealth than heretofore.