Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1900. The War.

Manawatu Herald, 7 June 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1900. The War.

Yesterday we received a cablegram reporting very tersely, but at the same time very satisfactorily, that Lord Roberts had occupied Pretoria. The colonists have shown a too eager acceptance of any report of a British success and have rushed to rejoicing before the result of certain military movements were known. The relief of Mafeking was expected many days before it was actually accomplished, and celebrated accordingly, but such a proceeding not having been »uf&ciently .oolieh, we hay* celebrated th«

occupation of Pretoria days before the British army entered the town. Such exhibitions v:e not in keeping with the calm self-possession Britons love to claim as their own, and had the same behaviour been witnessed in France we should all have be.n laughing and saying it was so like that volatile people. Our had?r. ieeva. inclined to hysteria over tht Transvaal war, and are even now suggesting a certain course of action to celebrate the conclusion of the war. That the war may soon beended is the wish of all, but there is no appearance that fighting will cease for some time, and it would be unseemly to " crow " until all fighting is actually ended, as the lives of the soldiers who are fighting our battles will be still in jeopardy until the last rifle has been handed in. As our rejoicings should be, not for territory acquired, but for che cessation of bloodshed and strife, ?o public rejoicings should be withheld until this desired result is reached. Our Agent-General has bsen very successful in sending out tho earliest authentic news pn all the great events in this war, much, apparently, to the chagrin of the Press Association, and the farce of the past jubilations lies at the door of the. imaginative correspondent of that close corporation, who in thua endeavouring to race the Agent-General has exhibited a recklessness as to the facts he sends which we trust will be carefully noted for the future. The occupation of Pretoria by Lord Roberts is a most acceptable piece of news, but it would have been received in a more fitting manner had not the public been so ridiculously misled by the Press Association. Pretoria occupied does not mean the close of the fighting, though probably the occupation of the capital of the enemy's country may result in a proclamation Qf the annexation of the Transvaal. Let us make sure of our facts before further demonstrations are arranged.