The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 25, 1901. THE POSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 20, 25 January 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 25, 1901. THE POSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

With a full appreciation of the dangers and difficulties that even now beset the British forces in South Africa it is reassuring to note that Lord Kitchener has been instrumental in proclaiming martial law in the majority of districts in Cape Colony. At the inception of the campaign this course was strongly urged, and requisitions setting forth the dangers of the position and the necessity for the adoption of stringent measures, were forwarded from many towns in Cape Colony to the military authorities. Lord Koberts, with that humane consideration characteristic of the Field Marshal, did not deem it advisable to adopt such an extreme measure, and as a resjdt his leniency was mistaken for weakness, and sedition was openly preached and practised in many towns under the administration of the Cape Parliament. This had a particularly bad effect upon the Cape Dutch, and as a result the trouble was intensified, and the influence of the Afrikander Bond, then on the decline, reasserted itself, and its members became more virulent in their abuse of the English methods of warfare. Tales of horrible barbarity, of murder, rapine, and the most disgusting cruelties alleged to be practised by the British forces were disseminated, and as a result the whole of the Dutch population of South Africa took advantage of our leniency, and lent strong moral and financial support to the various commandos operating near the borders of Cape Colony and the late Orange Free State. This they have been enabled to continue while the authorities refrained from issuing a proclamation establishing martial law in disafiecteddistricts. Lord Kitchener, when he was placed in control, recognised the danger, and at once intimated that unless the nqn-eombatant Dutch population remained absolutely neutral he would take extreme measures. His protestations were derided, and his threats sneered, at. The Dutch-subsidised press openly stated that the British leader was afraid to adopt the measures of which he had spoken, for the reason that the Dutch population rise in Cape' Colony and take up arms against our forces. With that determination th# has characterised the issuing of most of his mihtniy mandates, Lord dutch*

ener now carries out his threat to the letter, and martial law has been proclaimed in the majority of what may be called the Dutch towns of South Africa. It is undoubtedly a bold step to take, but though for the present the tension will be greater the precautionary measures taken—in the way of garrisoning towns with our forces—will prevent anything like a general rising, and where moral suasion failed, force and the respect due to arms will assuredly succeed. Those who have any knowledge of the seething unrest that prevails among- the whole of the so-called neutral Dutch population of South Africa will not envy Lord Kitchener his difficult task of pacification. But our leniency has hitherto gone for nought, and it is time that other measures should be adopted. The proclamation of martial law in Cape Colony should prove one of the most important factors in bringing the war to a close, and will meet with the strongest approval of all those who have the interests of our great and glorious Empire at heart.