WARS YOU DON'T HEAR OF.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 28, 5 April 1907, Page 2

WARS YOU DON'T HEAR OF.

Continental nations were pleased to make exceeding merry over the length of time—two years and six months—whicli it took Great Britain to banish the Boers ; but it does not appear that these scoffers are particularly successful themselves in their colonial campaigns. For instance, Holland has for no less than thirty-three years been endeavouring to subdue the Malays in the Buch East 'lndies, and the war is still running—like a certain farce. The scene of the fighting is in the islands of Sumatra and Celebes, and every now and then the Dutch newspapers publish accounts of victories, or, more often, "regrettable incidents." in the last fight reported at Rotterdam the officer in command of the Dutch forces was killed. Several times the newspapers of the Netherlands have announced the end of the war, which began in 1878. i But the ignorant natives, who for more than thirty years have been resisting the blessings of civilisation, do not read newspapers, and so fight on with true Malay ferocity. The more patriotic section of the American PRESS IS DISCREETLY SILENT about the state of things in the Philippines, which have belonged to the United States since the Republic beat the Spaniards in 1898. But it is an open secret that the Government is hurrying troops to Matilda, ready for any trouble (hat may arise in these fretful possessions. It is given out for public consumption that these troops are intended for service in China, where President Roosevelt and his advisers are prepared "for eventualities. But, as a matter of fact, there is another strong insurrectionary movement in the Philippines, for the Filipino has not yet parted with his desire for independence. As long ago as December, 1899, General Otis reported that an organised rebellion no longer existed in the islands, and that his troops were actively pursuing the ISOLATED ROBBER BANDS. 'The bright Transatlantic cartoonists I and newspaper wits who made merry at the expense, of Lords Roberts and Kitchener, after the former's telegram in the summer of 1900 that tho : Boer army was no longer in being, must feel inclined to change the subject when tho word "Philippines" is mentioned.

There is something familiar about the cables recently receivod from Africa. According to a Central News despatch, "(lie natives have broken through the cordon, and the drives have been ineffectual. Nevertheless, this does not refer to the blundering British Generals and troops in their efforts against the burghers, but to the gifted soldiers of the Kaiser operating against the savages of the youth-West. Again we read : "Morenga, who was supposed to be in Springpucts, was not found there by Captain Sicgbert's detachment. On January Bth Morcnga was still at Hartebeestemund, on the Orange River." in this case "Morenga" is not a misprint /or "He Wot," but is the name of one of the Herrero chiefs who have been defying the might of the mailed fist for so many weary moons. From other telegrams we hear of such familiar incidents as posts surprised and convoys captured. Strenuous efforts have been made to HUSH UP THE NEWS of the fighting in Tonkin between the French troops and Chinese raiders. There has even been an official denial published ; and as it is a rule laid down by that great diplomastist Bismarck that i a report should never be believed until it has been oflleially denied, we turn with great interest to the particulars. These set forth the French had four officials and forty-five men killed, and the commander of the column servorely wounded. For a long time Tonkin was a thorn in France's side, once losing a great French Minister his place, and there does not seem to be that complete tranquillity in those parts which is so eminently desirable.

All of these things impel us to the belief that (here must be a good deal of fighting going on in various parts of tho world, which even the modern press, übiquitous and enterprising wis it is, does not hear of ah ways.—"T.A.T."