The San Francisco call., 1899-10-27
BRITISH POWER ON TRIAL

7 JHEN General Butler sent dispatch to Sir
\AI George Stewart White commanding that Off
Ger to make no forward movement on the
Transvaal until Butler himself arrived with his army
corps he probably did oresee that the question Of
advance or retreat be lett to the option OF
General White The Beers have settled the question
for him. Despite the defense made by the British
and the suffered in the fighting of the first
two days the Transvaa forces have continued to act
upon the aggressive, and it looks as if White
will have all he can do to save his command from
virtual annihation before the commander in chief
with the reinforcements reaches him.
In addition to the strain OF the situation at the
front, the British public have another cause Of
anxiety in the reports that of the sentiment OF
the nations OF Continental Europe regarding the war
The hostility shown the United States at the out
break OF the war with Spain slight in comparison
with what has been expressed toward the British,
and there have even been rumors that the powers
would demand of Great Britain a statement of her
intentions as to the whole African continent thus in
cuding the Egyptian question with that of the Trans
vaal.
While it is not at all likely an alliance against
Great Britain be formed so long as that power
remains formidable it is within the limits of proba-
bility that serious reverse in South Africa might
tempt the Russians and the Germans to be bolder in
their aggressions in China and the French more en-
erprsing in pushing their African territory toward
the Nile. Some fear of such result seems to be felt
in Great Britain, and as CONSEQUENCE they have
made preparations for war on a scale calculated 70
warn Europe well as to crush the Beers.
The task they have before them is the greatest the
British have had to enter upon since the Napoieonc
Their statesmen and their military leaders
agree that it desirable from every point OF view to
force the fighting and put end to the conflict as
speedily possible. No less than eighty steamships
OF the first class have been drawn into the service
the Government and as soon as the war broke out
it announced that arrangements had been made
to dispatch six tFoopships daily from Southampton
for South Africa. 1t was calculated at that time that
within week after General Butler started to the
front there would be upward of $4,000 British soldiers
on the sea speeding after him as fast as steam can
carry them.
1t is, however, far cry from Southampton to the
field of action. 1t remains to be seen whether the
British forces now in South Africa can hold their
own or even save themselves from crushing defeat
before the reinorcements arrive In the meantime to
be prepared for the worst the whole naval strength
the empire is being made ready for any emergency
that may happen Great Britain is in fact making
demonstration in force throughout the whole length
OF her far1ung battle line from Gibraltar to China
Her statesmen know that her foes are watching every
move, and that unless they end this quickly they
may have more to wage before it ends
One OF the notable features OF the speeches made
by the President in his tour through the Mssissinni