The Boers in Europe. By (P. W. T. Omond. (A.
and C. Black. 3s. 6d.)—This "Side-light on History," as Mr. Omond calls his book, is likely to be a useful bit of work. It puts on record, and that in definite terms, many things which are but vaguely known in this country. It gives, for instance, some of the actual atrocities of pen and pencil of which the Continental Pro-Boers were guilty, It is, of course, impossible to quote them here. Still, these things ought to be recorded. It is possible, however, to make too much of them. For the Germans, who were the worst offenders, various excuses can be made. They are not free; bound to keep their tongues in strict order in speaking of their own rulers, they naturally fly to frantic excesses when the curb is removed ; then they are brutalised by militarism ; and they had two strong reasons for believing the atrocious charges made against British soldiers. First, the tradition that such deeds are inseparable. from war, now confirmed by their own conduct in China; secondly, they knew what Englishmen of rank and position 'were saying. Why wonder at German papers when the Daily News said of the Government that, "hating education, their idea probably is that in sending schoolmistresses [to the concentration camps] they are applying a sort of punishment to the poor bairns " ? This appeared under the auspices of Members of Parliament and dignitaries of the Anglican Church. Mr. Omond subjects to a severe analysis the conduct of the Boer Generals, especially in their "Appeal to Europe," a futile effort of which they must have soon repented. The contributions from their Continental friends were absolutely paltry, less than .e100,000 in all, though a wealthy American swelled the total with another £20,000. if they had frankly accepted the situation and appealed to the private charity of this country, they would haye.realised ten times the amount. But here their English friends did them ill service. The beginning of trouble was their refusal to accept the invitation to the Naval Review. For this Mr. Fischer was immediately responsible.
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