New-York tribune., 1899-11-12
WAR TALK IN LONDON.
WAITING FOR A GRAND BOER ASSAULT
ON LADYSMlTH.
MENTs on THE GREAT CONFLICT
NOW RAGING

London, Nov. 11-As each iay and each
week OF the war draws to a close without a de-
ceive action at Ladysnith. the probability that
the Beers will risk an assault upon that garri-
son becomes. it Is said more and more immi-
nent. In fact. II is asserted that the campaign
seems TO have reached a stage where IL Is alb
solutely necessary for the Beers to deliver a
telling stroke. Unless they decide to do this
their only alternative is to retire within their
own lines and strengthen themselves against
the impending onslaught by superior numbers.
ihat the latter course will he followed without
1rst making a determined attempt to oust or
capture General White seems beyond all reason.
for the metnodical isolation OF General White s
force indicates that the campaign has been
carefully planned and the main objective def
nitely fixed. Even If the Beers have already
discovered that they have underrated General
whites capabilities Of resistance. 1t is thought
scarcely likely that they will give up their ex-
Iected prey without a desperate struggle. Not
only have they tasted of the dangerous delights
or victory, and reveed. in anticipation, in still
further conquests over the main unit opposing
them. which alone would have great moral eff
feet in persuading them to risk much against
Ladysmth, but now it is too late for them to
change the main objective. Mobile as are the
their forces which at present concentrated
about Ladysmith TO any other vulnerable Brit
ish point without running the risk Of encounter
ing superior numbers. which are already pour
ing northward. Moreover any weakening Of
the Boer force at Ladysmith would give Cen
eral White splendid opportunity of attacking,
and even against overwhelming odds he has
shown no hesitation in accepting every open
irg for assuming the offensive The Beers must
know just we'll as the British military au-
thorities that twenty three transports will ar
rive in South Africa before November IS They
must also realize that their time is short FOR in
the present emergency, it is believed General
Butler will not wait to organize an army corps
but will content himself with rushing TO the
front every regiment he dispose Of. Hence.
news telling either Of General Jouberts COM
plete rout General Whites capitulation. it is
asserted. can be expected daily 1t is thought
more than likely that the engagement under
stood TO be imminent will prove TO be the most
serious encounter of the war.
IF JOUBERT SHOULD WIN.
II victory lies with General Joubert, it will be
month or more before General Butler dis
pute with him the possession OF Natal. for while
II is still perfectly feasible to send reinforce
ments to General White it would apparently
be absolutely impossible TO assume the offensive
were General White no longer a military factor
The destruction OF the railroad bridge over the
Tugela River would greatly retard the progress
Of minor reinforcements, while It would
much more seriously affect the onward march
Of a British force Of any proportions. However
there is no reason to believe Ladysmth has not
a good chance 10 withstand most determined
his own until now and the reported success
which has crowned his sorties have done much
TO restore confidence in him. II General Butler
continues TO send transports TO Durham and dis
embark troops there General White will only
have to wait about fortnight before he is re-
inforced. or. at any rate. before the reinforce
ments create diversion OF the Boer forces. But
IT is impossible to predict with any degree OF
exactness when the troops will disembark, on
account Of the idiosyncrasies Of the transports
several of which have developed a remarkable
penchant for breaking down or discovering, af-
ter leaving port that their coal, boilers or other
essentials are worthless
Among the military critics what is most
dreaded is the possibility that General White
may succumb to the pettiness Of personal in
clinations which in the history of the world,
has so often influenced the actions Of the great
est generals on this score The Naval and
Military Record" says:
It looks as though General White will not be
content to await the arrival Of reinforcements
and the supremacy OF General Butler But the
spirited soldier who held high command over
the whole Indian army might he pardoned Tor
being slightly Influenced by private ambitions
WHITES POOR STRATEGY.
Nearly all the authorities. while Withholding
definite criticism until fuller information is OBJ
tainable. fail 10 understand why General White
did not fall back south Of the Tugela, thus
drawing the Beers after him into the arms of
General Butler. 1t is chartably supposed that
the Government OF Natal exercised influence
over General White. and is in no little degree
responsible for his gallant yet from strategic
noint OF view doubtful efforts to hold the Neck
of Natal But even then it is admitted that no
General has been exonerated in history mere
" because he allowed his actions to be ham
pered by civil government, to which he was
not directly responsible Naturally, there Is
great division Of opinion on these points One
of the most human contributions to the con-
troversy. trenchant in its simplicity comes from
Admiral Dowell. who writes
am a sailor. and do not pretend to give an
oninion on the merits OF the case, though my
oi,,n feeling is that General White has done a
S,ao,,I, dufv well. OF one thing, appar-
entlv there can be no doubt. namely that Sir
George White has proved himself TO be gallant
and chivarous gentleman
This bluff tribute voices. perhaps better than
any expert criticism the feeling OF the nation
The generally accepted feeling Is tha' LauS
r,,h &c not in so great peril as last week. which
or,orates entirely from the partially renewed
oo,edence IN General White and the lack of
- rhts annlias equally to Mafeking.
ty,r,hor,ev and other points. The popular and
-,ar, ,r,nression now is that these places and
: 1oa,.s,o,tb will not fall into the hands Of the
poers though some people add, IT is hard to see
=. o,ro,,nds for making definite prognostca-
.,o % that effect. for TO the impartial observer
If seems 10 be a toss up.
7, &c learned by The Associated Press that one
-, ,ha mos, remarkable innovations in warfare
IN, GnlIth Africa Lleuten-