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THE SCIENCE OP FRONTIER DELIMITATION. 
question liow tlie change of frontier was likely to affect the warlike position of 
both parties, had to be determined by the officers engaged in it when they came 
to the actual geographical position and all the rest of it; for, in my experience, 
diplomatists very often know little of geography and very often cannot even read 
the language of maps, and they therefore blunder and make difficulties which, to 
the soldiers who have to carry out the job, are almost insuperable. 
Now Colonel Trotter has told you, gentlemen, how, with the greatest possible 
ease, you can get over the difficulties of the merely technical demarcation part 
which Captain McMahon has admirably distinguished from the delimitation part, 
and I think it is well worth your while to get over those difficulties whilst you 
are here so that you may be able to apply the common knowledge of the soldier 
to that other knowledge which it is most useful for a soldier to possess. You 
will certainly find it well to understand the history of those questions which lead 
to problems of demarcation ; for you cannot possibly have, on any large scale, to 
deal with war without having to deal to a considerable extent with national politics 
and diplomacy. Therefore I think we may very gratefully thank Colonel Trotter 
for his lecture on the subject which he has brought before you (applause). What I 
have endeavoured to supply is an omission which both his modesty and Captain 
McMahon’s have caused. I have tried to show the extreme importance of the 
work which they have had to undertake for England and the very high qualities 
and numerous accomplishments which are required in those who, as they have 
done, successfully achieve it (loud applause). 
