The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-16

Great Britain's military history since
the Indian mutiny.
The Standard says:
General Buffers dispatch is deplor-
able reading. 1t is the now familiar
story of concealed Beers and of Brit
ish troops marching zip blindly almost
to the very muzzle of the enemies rifles,
1t cannot be doubted that the moral eff
feet will be to aggrayate our difficulties
over the whole field of operations.
THE country has discovered with an
noyance and surprise that subduing Boer
farmers is about the hardest work we
have entered upon since the Indian
mutiny Their commandants have
shown themselves able to give our gen
erals useful but expensive lessons in
modern tactics
The Times says:
''Since the days of the Indian mutiny
the nation has not been confronted with
SO painful and anxious situation.
Plainly General Buffers advance is par
alyzed for the moment as completely
as Lord Methuens and General Ga
tacre's."
The depression over the defeat of
Great Britain's trusted and idolized
commander is all the greater as, dur
ing the last 4S hours there had been
reports of the relief of Ladysmith. Yes
terday the War Office allowed it to be
understood that the position of affairs
in Natal was entirely satisfactory The
reaction is all the more pronounced OH
this account.
The gloomy information came too late
to reach the service clubs and only n
few journalists and stragglers were
waiting at the War OFFICE. Lit has hardly
been realized until now, even after the
experience Of the week, that General
Butler could fail.
Virtually nothing had been allowed to
leak through regarding his preparations,
but the public waited patiently, in the
confident belief that he was taking such
time and precautions as would insure
success.
No independent reports of the engage
ment have yet been allowed to come
through, but General Buffers own dis
patch tells the sad tale in sufficient out
line to show that the British have been.
entrapped again by the astute Beers III
was not anticipated that General Butler
would make a frontal attack No criti-
cisns of his movements are made, how
ever, since apparently he suffered a
repulse rather than a defeat, and did
not push the attack home. but broke
it off in the middle so as to save a USE
less sacrifice of life.
1t is expected that he will renew the
attack shortly. Immediately ON reeeiv-
ing the news the War Office decided
to mobilize still another division and
to replace the losses of artillery. The
necessary reinforcements will be hurried
off as speedily as possible
Fifteen transports are due to arrive
at Cape Town between December 18th
and January 8th. with about $4,000
troops Of all arms, but unless General
Butler is able to renew the attack,
which is exceedingly doubtful, the Brit
ish generals viii be compelled for am
other fortnight or more, to remain prac
tically on the defensive.
The latest dispatches indicate the COM
tined bombardment Of Ladysmith, the
position of which is now perilous.
Major General Sir Herbert Charles
Chermside has been appointed to COM
mand the Fourteenth brigade in the
Seventh division.
London. Dec. 15.-(4:30 A. M.-Sat-
urday 1.-The list Of casualties among
the non-commissioned officers and men
in the fight at Magersfontein just issued
shows % killed, 253 wounded (2I se-
verely) and 76 missing. This however.
is apparently not complete list.