The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE. Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1899.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 501, 17 October 1899, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE. Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1899.

The first shot in the war between ; Great Britain and the two South African Republics has been fired and the first skirmish has resulted in a small misfortune to onr arms. A Lieutenant, fifteen men and some guns and ammunition have been captured by the enemy. It is matter for congratulation that the rumour which reached us as to the killing of women and children by the Boers was without foundation. Such an event as this first of the war was to be anticipated, although to us at a distance, not fully cogniiantof tho circumstances, it certainly appears extraordinary that such a small force should have been entrusted with the escort of the guns and ammunition intended for Colonel Baden-Powell, at Mafeking, who, by the bye, appears to be cut off from the base of operations, and will have to hold his own till the main body of the army advances to his relief. That officer, we learn by cablegram, has expressed the opinion that with the force at his disposal, he would be able to hold his own against any attack likely to be made on his position. Within about three weeks from this date the British force available will number about 50,000 men ; until that time our Generals will, no doubt, act on the defensive, and as far ns possible protect the railways. That the Boers in Bpite of all our vigilance will be able in the meantime to do serious damage goes without saying, but it is stated that there is plenty of material in the country to repair the lines and reconstruct any bridges that may be blown up or otherwise destroyed.

We New Zealanders have displayed enthusiasm to come to the assistance of the Mother Country, which has resulted in the muster of a force in Wellington, which will leave our shores in a few days to evidence the loyalty and uphold the honour of the New Zealand people. Nevertheless, there are few who really understand the particulars of the quarrel. We have been content to believe that the English Government would not go to war or threaten war unless the welfare and dignity of the nation compelled them. In this case England has gone to war to secure for her countrymen in the Transvaal fair treatment in accordance with the Convention of 1884. Wo have heard for many months past about dynamite monopolies, the unequal taxation of Uitlanders and the refusal of the franchise. We need nottroubleourselves overdetails which only those actually engaged in the negotiations concerning them can really understand. The case cannot be more clearly put than by the Queen's speech at the prorogation of Parliament. Her Majesty in made to say " The position of my subjects in the South African Republic is inconsistent with the promises of equal treatment on which My grant of internal independence to tho Republic was founded, and the unrest caused thereby is a constant source of danger to the peace and prosperity of My dominions in South Africa," That is our case put very shortly, stripped of all the diplomatic entanglements with which it has been invested, partly by Boer ingenuity, and partly by the anxious endeavours of the Imperial Government to find a conciliatory solution of the difficulty. Our claim was equal treatment for all white inhabitants of the Transvaal. We base this claim on the London convention which defines clearly that all British subjects at any rate, should be on an equality with the Dutch Burgess. The Dutch Burgess disputes the position, and in this consists the differenca Unfortunately the members of the Afrikander Bund sympathise with the Boers, and these are principally located in Cape Colony. The leader of this body has been kind enough to announce that Cape residents are British subjects and cannot take up arms in furtherance of their desire—that the English may eventually be worsted and South Africa becomo Dutch, governed by Dutch for the Dutch. The Premier of the colony claims that it shall remain neutral, this appears to us to be an impossible position. England's enemies are the enemies of all the people over whom her flag flies. Wo fully anticipate thut a very early cable will announce that the Cape Ministry has been dismissed, and that in the event of another not being able %o command a working majority in Parliament, that martial law has been proclaimed.