The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE. Proprietor. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1901.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 891, 28 February 1901, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE. Proprietor. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1901.

Tins is the anniversary of the relief of Ladysmith. On the iSi.ti Feh•ruarv, 11100, Lord Dumlonald entered tin; beleaguered town, 'ibis news, re>c!iing us .is it did within a few hours of that of the capture of i. ronje and some 4000 men at I’ardeberg, caused "feat rejoicings throughout -the British Empire, in which" the people of Waikato fully participated. For many weeks we had been daily watching anxiously for news of the gallant Culler and the magnificent samples of British manhood which he commanded. His lade was, perhaps, the greatest which has ever been imposed upon a British general, and, as we have since learned, he looked upon it as almost hopeless of accomplishment. Lie had, however, the edict of I lie veteran Lord Roberts, who was responsible for the campaign : “ Ladysmith must he relieved.” General Duller was not the man to flinch from the task, and the troops he commanded day by day showed that they were worthy descendants of the men who fought under English Kings in France, under Marlborough in the Lower Country, Wellington in the Peninsula, and Clyde in India. They evidenced, as was said of them by .Napoleon, “ Those English do not know when they are beaten.” They were repulsed often when trying to capture impregnable positions which stood between them and Ladysmith. This only led to a search for other ways round, which when found were followed in spite of natural difficulties, and (he determined opposision of a brave and mobile army, thoroughly equipped with all the munitions of war, and an intimate knowledge of the country in which they were operating. Iho loss of life was terrible, the lists of killed and wounded and of those who had fallen h\ the way from disease, which reached us periodically, dimmed the eyes of most men, they mourned the bravo dead and sympathised with the dear oiks left behind. All classes of society suffered, sympathy was due to the dwellers in palaces at one end ami the humble cottage ut (ho other. Ihe news which nrtw reaches us day by day is of a different complexion to that which gave us so much cause for distress twelve months ago. Tim Boors are scattering, but are still maintaining a system of guerilla warfare, they arc continuing to light, although they must recognise that success in the field or any modification < f terms of peace are impossible. What is going on now in South Africa is nob war, it is murder. There seems to he every probability that the guerillas ami their lenders are cornered, and that their capture is only a question of a few days.