New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01
BITTER NEWS FOR LONDON.
BrACKEST AND B1TEST DAY SINCE THE
SEPOY REBELLION.


ro-do, Nov 1.-The forecast OF defeat over
yhic5 keen observers were broOding before mid
,,t.,h+ Monday wac officially confirmed before IL
,,c,ock vasterday II was the bluest and black
&C. aav London has known since the first udlhss
~ the Sepoy rebellion The tdings that the
po4rs had completely outmaneuvred General
v-h,e. and while Turing on the British centre
s,d rseh.. had ambuscaded the left wing cut TWO
Aa,tal,ons 10 pieces and forced II 10 surrender
,oee,ner with a mountain battery, filed the
streets with disrnay and gloom. John Bull IS
no. accustomed 10 being beaten by anyboQE' an"
he takes punishment. when II comes Win po''
grace and a sense OF bewilderment albeit Win
c,r,r,ate sslf-command. Disaster was written
,ar.e IN every newspaper placard during inc
Cav but the newsboys were SURROUNDED Win
grim svarros % purchasers. setting teetn TO-
ge,her and determined 10 know the worst ''0
r,ar,4r,r, how. so overwhelming defeat hdu
been within the range Of possibility IN lne
oue.r.s 60rnfrfons Il was not enough Tor ten
f~ai White TO declare that he alone had niuN-
dere3 nor for the War Ofice 20 order out '''io0
ss5f.ora, aattalions and Il mounted battery ~
,er,sce -he losses sustained at Glencoe anu
rasven,.h What every Ensshman kne" i'll
rs ,aar, uas the truth. that the rustic boers'
,tosa s.~atoc, and training had been despisen
~ .te ,.f,i.ar, staff and nation. had con'Il'e"
,o., O.. Glencoe and Iadvsmith to ouiman~u'ie
British generals and ensnare large bodies Oh U''
e,.e. avid mos. experienced soldiers into am
bus.sd.s fr0m which there was no escape
40 SIGNS OF FLINcHING.
1,r-~r,..io, % English pride as was this CON
ss..on. thero were no sgns Of hincmns IN any
arsr.a- 1ohn Bulls heart was hardened h''
so'te,ea nv unexpected disaster. Inc "
arden. peace advocate did not venture 10 '"N0
Up his parable yesterday There was ''.''
EXPRESSION beard in the cluhhouscs oN'"'''''
and streets. this was that the war must e'
% the l.,.er md with redouo'eo e"''s' "''
orervA.,,. 'ue resources and British pIeS's' '7
restored f.r the honor and safety OF 'n' E''
What VIII the Natal hcld force 90 "oN
the question on every tongue. IL j. "s,
plying an answer Ly fighting win SP''.'
d.s.-,ire V-ren the Beers have renewed their
attack wiz II retreat or siand JUS b'''--'
naming IN tho defensive and lighting desper-
a,e,v, -, ,o.,or alternative is accepted by
hearty all military writer's. since II cannot '"u
be.te, 1.e..,si..e nosition at Colenso and a re-
;'eat % plo,ornaritzburg and Durham """n III
roige q Ions, march of $50 miles with the BoerS
hafass.rg Tie rear column Butler VIII I'D"
settle the Question. not White, and ne IS H9'
Considered hy military critics or intimate i'''''1S
as likely 90 begin a campaign by ordering an
Abandonment r Natal and enkindlng DlaAc
@ l!ssNec,ion among the Dutch Of Cape Colo"S'
Yei tie most candid military men admit l"a'
@e position 81, Iadysmith is very weak from d"
offensive point Of view. The valley "heie l"o
i'an lies is sheltered by a circle or HIefui"'
nils, GA the cres,s Of which the garrison Is '"-
renchei. Outside this circle IS another con-
centric one with similar circuit OF mis- anu
Oeycnd chat there is another. \ prominent "''''7
'siy man said 10 me yesterday:
No defensive position can be considered Sa'
unless j. commands broad. level country WIN
no high points for many miles where guns ca"
De mounted against tho intrenchmen's' AM
"efp Is he most defensiblc town IN Europe 'o'
''is reason. Ladysnith IS not dcfensiDie "' a''
sN'e The B0er guns can bc mounted 11"'" ''
N'gh ground iu three concentric circles "''''
Drought - bear against the British camp
"eiiher iadysmith nor Glencoe ought ever -
nave been occupied but some position sout" ''
We 1lgela or nearer the sea. In The same way
neither Khodesia nor Mafekng nor kli"D'''''
'N'll have been defended hu strong p'''
Don taken south Of the Orar river iH "'
eipting 20 hold on 10 too If.. points p'i"'
adequate reinforcoments could arrive the Br'''s"
S'aN has exposed itself TO the risk Of serious
defeats. The best thing that can be done no"