The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1902. LORD METHUEN'S CAPTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 68, 13 March 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1902. LORD METHUEN'S CAPTURE.

The people in these colonies have become so accustomed to the extra ordinary blunders and sacrifice of life caused by the neglect of proper precautions by British generals, that it would be hardly to say that the news of Lord Methnen's capture by the Boers comes as a surprise. Still it is a great shock to those who have been expecting to he'ii' of Delarey beiDg properly punished for his sharo in the late disaster to Yon Donop's convoy. Thai unfortunate affair was evidence of the j ease with which the Boers are able to concentrate at any particular point. All through the war, although the British forces as a whole have far exceeded that of the Boers, this power of suddenly concentrating has enabled the latter to have a superiority at the particular point attacked. The details of this unfortunate aflair are too meagre to form conclusions upon; but although Lord Methuan hns done some excellent, service and it would be wrong to condemn him without full information, still the disaster at Magersfontein is forcibly brought back to mind. On this occasion Methuen was known to be laying plans for the capture of Delarey, and he seems to have walked into a trap set for him by the trecky Boer chief. Why the British will persist in marching convoys at night instead of during the day is a matter colonials will find it hard to understand. We can understand the advantage of a night attack on a position, but here in both the reverses of the past week a fairly large force has been on the march during the early hours before dawn. The long columns stretched out over several miles with practically bo provision made for guarding against a sudden rush of an enemy, the very formation appears to have been of such a nature as to iavite attack. A determined enemy had only to dash through and through the column to cut it up in sections and 'bring about conditions that must certainly lead to disaster. This appears to have been done with the utmost success as far as the Boers are concerned, and the lesson appears to have no effect on those in command. Fortunately accordingly to the view taken by Colonel Davies, these disasters have no real effect on the position because they are isolated cases which give the Boers no permanent advantage. They give temporary relief from being harcassed, replenish their stores and supplies, but only delay very slightly the gradual absorption of the country by the British. Further, Colonel Davies pointed out that the various parties of Boi rs are so isola'e.l that they know little of the success er defeat of tach other's bands. It is evident, however, that all Boers captured should ba deported, as it is clear that no dependance cm be placed j of those taking the oath of allegiance. There is little doubt but that the war is assuming a phase which deserves the serious attention of the British Govern- j ment, and sterner measures must be taken to bring it to an end. One of the first steps is to stop the seditious utterances of the pro-Boer party, both at home and in the colonies. There can ba no doubt the Boers in the field are being directly encouraged by the conduct of these people. A cablegram published yesterday shows that exPresident Steyn's official organ is busily circulating the utterances of Sir Henry Campbell - BanEerman and others. If the law is not strong enough to put a stop to this sort of thing, it must be altered, so that the enemies of our couHtry, and the murderers of our , sons shall not be allowed to receive encouragement from traitors living in our midst, and protected by the flag they , openly insult and disgrace. The joy that has been shown by the people of ' other nations at this reverse should • show every one that all differences 1 must be buried until the supremacy . of the British in South Africa is asl sured. No matter what the sacrifice, • this must ba secured without dolay. mm. .in II jim ii'.i'jut '