The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1900 THE ANNEXATION OF THE TRANSVAAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 194, 7 September 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1900 THE ANNEXATION OF THE TRANSVAAL.

TnE proclamation lately issued by Lord Roberts formally annexing the Transvaal as part of tho British Empire, i<s the natural outcome of the war, the last chap er of which may now be Slid to have epsned. When the Boers declared war against tba might and majesty of the British Empire, thay did so with ths full knowledge of the consequences of failure. The declaration cf war was reilly intended as a declaration of independence on tho part of the Dutch population of South Africa. Circumstances that have come to light during tho campaign bava proved tint a wide-spread conspiracy existed, and that South Africa was only saved from a still sadder, more bloodthirsty, and I and longer war by the heroic conduct of General Whits at Lndysmith acd j the gallant defence of Kimberley and ! Marking. A great deal has been said about the bluuders of the British Generals during the early stages of the I war, but when the difficulties of the position are considered they are nothing to the blunders of the Boer authorities Had Joubert and Oronge left small forces to hold the small force of Biitish troops in check, and with tho whole available Boer force swept down to the coast, thbre is no doubt but that the whole Dutch population of Natal and Xljpe Colony would have joined tbem. Pcitermaritzberg, Durban, and Capetown wcuM probably have fallen into Ihoir hands acd placed them in a position to dictti t.-innto tho British Government. When on? considers the s'orm c.f hcttilo cri'icisms tho British Government had hid to contend with in conducting (pim'sons in tho early stages of the war, and the large section of tho people at Home who were almost ready to crycout for peace even at the price of the complete independence of the South African Republics—a cry that was effectively stifled by the stern determination of the colonies to support the Crown in ending once and for all the menace to a United British Empire, It is no wonder that the Boers should have been encouraged to think that the task of securing the complete independence of their race would prove comparatively easy. The taking the field in arms against Great Britain gave the Government, as Mr. ChamV.erliin very aptly put it, a clean slate to write on it what they pleased, and by general consent the word annexation was written in bold characters. By general consent it was duly recognised everywhere that the stake that was being played for was the independence of the Republics, and just as the occupation of the capital of the Free State was quickly followed by a proclamation of annexation, so the occupation of Pretoria has ben followed by the proclamation of the Transvaal Tho war lias ceased as a war between legally constituted belligerents, but is a war between a sovereign State and armed rebels. This marks an important epoch in the history of the contest. The recent cables confirm the opinion that the conclusion of the contest would be marked by a period of guerilla warfare. The Cape Aryus to hand by the late mail indicates very clearly the state of affairs and its consequence as follows:—" The enemy, split into bands, succeeds in eluding pursue:s, capturing an occasional convoy, and wrecking an occasional railway train. In otherl words, the enemy has ceased to become a civilised belligerent, and is now merely a "guerilla," a train-wrecker, little better than a well-armed brigand. He will have to be hunte i down, but it will take time to do so, and meanwhile the whole country is kept in an unsettled state Mr. Merriman complains of tho rigours of martial law. But the people of the rebellious border districts have only themselves to blame. In the same way, the Boer "guerillas" only have themselv s to blame if a very drastic policy is adopted in order to stamp out resistance. Guerilla hands do not have tho status nor enjoy the privileges of a regular army, and they cannot be dealt with in the same way. No French or Russian or German officer in lord Rob its' place would dream of tr?atir g these raiding pirties. of Boers as belligerents. He would probably adopt measures in comparison with which the harshest acts of the i British military authorities would seem mild, indeed. When one army has fought and defeated another army, the victors can afford to be generous ; bu when the remnants of the defeated force elect to continuo an absoluielj purposeless resistance upon "guerilla " lines, thereby protracting thestru ggle acd causing unnecessary bloodshed, the victor, in the interests of all, must take thySestepSj however harsb, th.evm.av

seem at the time, which promise most rapidly.to crush the "guerilla" and secure the settlement of the country," No doubt the adoption of the vigorous policy of punishing severely those] responsible for raiding tactics will soon) bring the Boers to their senses. The remarks of Commandant Viljoen when releasing the British prisoners at Nooitgedacht, are very significant, and we feel sure that every one will join with the Boers Commandant in tbe wish " that the British and the Boers will soon be friends," and that the angel of peace will once more smile over South Africa.