The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1901

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1051, 18 September 1901, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1901

By Lord Kitchener’s proclamation a new order of things was established in South Africa as from the 15th inst. The situation from that date is to be treated as rebellion, and those who still remain in the field will be deemed rebels in place of belligerents, and will be dealt with accordingly if found with arms in their hands. On the other hand a proclamation signed by Botha has been found, announcing that the Boer generals still in the field had outlawed Lord Kitchener and all British officers, and ordered burghers to kill every armed soldier and policeman. Some such declaration as this was all that was wanting to justify the most stringent measures on the Dart of the British generals it is possible to adopt, in order to bring to a close a struggle which has degenerated into wholesale murder. The proclamation of Lord Kitchener and British officers as outlaws is, of course, absurd. There is no precedent for any such step, and it is impossible by any process of contortion of facts and international law to establish one. There is no getting over the fact that the two Republics are efficienty occupied by a force so overwhelming that resistance to the dictates of the conquering Power is a crime; to fight after a cause is helpless is tantamount to murder. This is the position in which the Boer leaders stand, and they will have to take the consequences, and all who omit to take the oath of allegiance to the British Crown will justifiably forfeit their property. There is no other Power than Britain which would not many months back have acted as she now purposes doing, and to have done so would, without question, have been the most humane course to pursue. It is manifest that the present state of affairs must be ended. It is now nearly two years since the Boers invaded British territory. They are to all intents and purposes conquered so far ns organised resistance goes. They knew or should have known that the first shot fired would iuevitably lead to the extinction of the Republics. The integrity and honour of a great nation were at stake.