The South African Blue-book issued on Wednesday con. tains, amongst
other interesting matter, a long and states- manlike review of the situation by Sir Alfred Milner dated February 6th. The High Commissioner frankly admits that the last half-year has been. one of retrogression, and that the recrudescence of hostilities has been attended with more serious economic results than the earlier stages of the war, the fight being now mainly over supplies. Worse still has been the moral result of this phase of the conflict, notably the "carnival of mendacity" promoted by the Pro-Boer agitators in the Colony at the end of 1900.—Sir Alfred Milner, in particular, gives a shocking example of these methods in an alleged outrage by British soldiers printed in the Worcester Advertiser.—On the other hand, Sir Alfred Milner believes in the recuperative powers of the country, and anticipates excellent results from the tetra en masse of the loyal Colonists. The contempt of the Afrikander countryman for other white men cannot survive the splendid achievements of " the despised Johannesburgers of the Imperial Light Horse, and other South African Colonial Corps." He also acquits the loyalists of vindictiveness or desire to oppress the Afrikanders, and sums up their attitude as that of men who, while sick to death of the war, which has ruined many of them, would sooner see it indefinitely prolonged than run the risk of any icompromise which would leave the -remotest chance of its recurrence. We are specially glad that Sir Alfred Milner has done justice to the Imperial Light Horse. It is safe to say that no Volunteer regiment in our or any history has a finer military record. It appears from the Blue- book that Sir Alfred Milner has applied for and been granted leave of absence for three months in order to obtain a much- needed rest before superintending the work of reconstruction. The dispassionate tone and entire freedom from partisan feeling which mark this despatch are of the happiest augury for the spirit in which Sir Alfred Milner may be expected to enter on the next and most arduous stage of his great task.
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