Nothing, of course, could be more desirable than the planting in South Africa of a large body of honest, hard-working English settlers with their wives and families.  But there are many difficulties to be overcome before the idyllic picture of the reservist surrounded by the orchards and cornfields of his upland farm can be realised in actual fact.  The Dutch farmers of South Africa are as a rule very poor.  They rise up early and take late rest, and eat the bread of carefulness, but their life is one of constant poverty.  If we talk of “improvements” we must remember that irrigation in such a country is sometimes difficult and costly, and light railways demand considerable capital.  Who is to provide the money for these?  I doubt very much if many Englishmen or Australians or New Zealanders who have seen South Africa will exchange their present homes for the dreary and unproductive routine of an African farm.

During the latter part of our run the kindly enthusiasm of the colonists was as much in evidence as ever.  Offerings of flowers and delicacies were again showered upon the wounded.  It was amusing to notice how truculent some of the ladies were.  One of them, as she put her welcome basket through the window, remarked a propos of Kruger, Steyn, etc., “Yes, bury them all, bury them all!”

After our sick men had been duly conveyed to the hospital we stayed in Capetown till the close of the year.  A plentiful supply of English newspapers were lying about in the smoking-room of the hotel and it was exceedingly painful to read of the violent criticisms passed upon our Generals.  If journalists in England wish to criticise the behaviour of our Generals, let them do so over their own signature when the war is over and these servants of the Government can defend themselves fairly.  During the progress of a campaign a General has practically no opportunity of defending himself against newspaper attacks.  Military success amid the surroundings of a South African campaign is often so difficult:  criticism in Fleet Street is so easy!  Very frequently the same man who cheers wildly at Waterloo and labels the outgoing General’s luggage “To Pretoria” is the first to vituperate the same officer if amid the vicissitudes of warfare some measure of defeat falls to his lot.  Military success does not depend entirely on the devotion or capacity of a commander.  How cruel were those of the paragraphs which we read directed against our own General, Lord Methuen—­the only British commander who had, if we except Elandslaagte, won any successes up to the present.  Let the public wait before they so freely condemn a General who drove back the enemy in three successive engagements.  That Magersfontein was a bad reverse is patent to everybody, but the causes of that defeat are not nearly so apparent.[C] It is disgraceful that English newspapers should, during the progress of a campaign, print letters from soldiers at the front which asperse the character and conduct of their commanding officers.  Publicity of this sort strikes at the root of military discipline and common fairness too, for the public can scarcely expect a British General to reply in the public Press to the letter of a private serving under him!