The War.

Manawatu Herald, 23 December 1899, Page 2

The War.

I .. .©-.- The general change of commanders in South Africa has the appearance that the authorities at Home believed they should have done better. We trust the generals now appointed will be able to justify the change, but we doubt very much if any officer could have done more than Sir Redvers Buller and Lord Methuen with the forces at their command. The new Commander-in-Cbief will have nearly 30,000 more men to commence with than his predecessor, and more to follow. These facts must be remembered when comparing results. We still fear this Boer war will create a general uprising and the cables lately to hand foreshadow it. We have the news that the British public are beginning to be convinced that the Boers are receiving assistance from foreign military experts, and that there are a much larger number of German and French officers in the enemy's army than has hitherto been imagined. The Foreign Powers are supposed to have declared neutrality and as far as the German Emperor conld go, he went, and that was not only to forbid his officers to take part but to announce that those doing so would be dismissed from his army. He cannot actually hold his people back but we do not think that he would shield them when the time comes that they are discovered. On the other hand we have heard little of restraint as to French officers, in fact it has been cabled that Colonel Villebois Mar ceil, a French strategist, is assisting the force at Ladysmith, and many other French officers are arriving by each steamer that calls at Delagoa Bay. The state of the money market at Home suggests of further breakers ahead which have not yet been actually printed and published as Consols* fell on Monday to £99 ss, and the next day fell to £98 10s. In the year 1887 the price of Consols, that is the sum at which you could buy £100 yielding interest at three per cent, was £101 4-Sths. In the following year interest was reduced to two and three-quarters per cent and the value of £100 of Stock was quoted at 97 n-i6ths, and in 1894 it rose to £101 i-i6th, and in 1897 was quoted at £112 i3-33nd. To find these stocks tumbling down in value is partially owing to a large new

issue being about to be made, but the other portion of the fall can hardly be laid altogether to the non-success of our arms in South Africa* There is at Home the Constant expectation than France may at any moment declare war and Mr Gdschen has but recently declared that the full complement of every warship must be ready for any emergency. It is not the custom to loudly proclaim from the housetops the expectation of any country being likely to attack you, but every naval step taken by Great Britain in the disposal of her fleets does do this to all intents and purposes, and the actions point to France. We find that the colonists thoroughly endorses the proposal to send a further contingent to South Africa, but if there has been any purpose in training and encouraging these men, it has undoubtedly been for home defence. If we send 400 of our oest trained men away is there not a luty owing to ourselves to replace them, and to foster and encourage the formation of volunteer corps so that avery man may have a knowledge of the use of arms. Over a year ago nany persons in this town offered to raise a volunteer corps but their patriotic action did not receive the attention that was due. it would be the best thing for the colony that such corps should be encouraged In every small centre so that the initial steps in drill and mauceuvering might be learnt by all. As wars and rumours of war are in the air, we trust our suggestion will meet with approval With those able to give effect to it.