THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2155, 21 January 1881, Page 3

THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.

A Cape of Good Hope journal, in its commercial report, thus writes of the present war:—“ Never in its history has this colony been engaged in a war so ruinous and so unnecessary as that which is now being waged with the natives on our borders. It was begun without justification, and without preparation, and, owing to tho want of means of suppression at the beginning, it has assumed such proportions that a force of 16,000 men is now engaged on our side, the greater part of whom have been taken from their occupations, and are now wasting their time, and exhausting tho resources of the colony, instead of being engaged in the profitable pursuits of peace ; and a double difficulty would appear to exist, the effective employment of such a large number of men, and the means of feeding them. An expenditure of £IO,OOO per day is now being incurred for this wretched war, and, as it appears to be doubtful when it will end, we may have to face on outlay of £3,000,000, besides the incalculable loss arising from destruction of property, interruption of trade, loss of life, ruin to many from leaving their occupations and families, in many instances but ill provided for, to engage in the hardships and risks of warfare to which many will succumb, and from which others will return with impaired health, tho effects of which they will feel for life. The work of civilisation which has been carried on for the last twenty-five years amongst the Basntos has been undone. The trade of the whole colony is paralysed by the present unhappy struggle, the effects of which will long be felt after the war is at an end, when, with crippled resources, wo shall bo weighted with a burden of debt which wo shall find it difficult to bear.”