The record-union., 1899-11-05
Almost the Only Subject Of Discus
sion in England.
Have Been Made the Occasion for Pouring
Out Of Torrents Of Lay Criticism.

General Commanding, and the
Other Maintaining That He
Probably is Not So Much at
Fault as He Made Himself Out.
Copyrighted, 1899, by the Associated
Press)
LONDON, Nov. almost the only
subject of discussion this week in Eng
land was the disastrous reverse suf-
fered by General Sir George Stewart
/ White, the British commander at Lady
smith, and this was made the occasion
for pouring out torrents of lay criti-
cism and advice. Public opinion seems
fairly divided, one section bitterly
blaming the General commanding and
the other maintaining that probably he
is not SO much at fault as he made him
self out. The latter section, which in
cludes many service men and nearly
all the service publications, urges the
Withholding of definite criticism pend
ing more detailed accounts. The
Naval and Military Review" after ex
pressing this sentiment, sums up the
situation as follows:
Considering the nature of the coun-
try, the lamentable unpreparedness of
England and the unwillingness of the
! opposition to allow a British regiment
/ to go to South Africa until President
/ krugerS ultimatum was received, it is
almost surprising that we have been
able to hold our own so far Not only
I have the Beers proved themselves de-
termined fighters and splendid sharp
shooters, as we knew them to be. but
they have developed surprising military
and strategic qualities.
/ They have nearly surrounded every
garrison we hold, and have invariably
/ occupied almost unassailable positions,
tghting with great courage. Again,
such fighters as our little force. left
/ isolated far from our base and without
! hope of relief for days to come. has not
only done splendid work. but has
gained successes which we venture 10
believe no other soldiers in the world,
placed in similar positions and in SINH
lar unfortunate conditions, could have
achieved
| Although this may fairly be said to
represent conservative military opin-
ion, its reference to the action of the
opposition in preventing the sending of
troops in good time is entirely errone-
Gus. Since the first news of the Lady
smith disaster reached England there
has been a storm gathering over the
head, not of Sir George White. but Of
) the Secretary of State for War, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, and this
emanates not so much from the op
of he. &c
warm supporters. Some of the ablest
of the latter have no hesitation in say
ing privately that almost criminal neg
lect has been shown in not sending at
least 10000 more troops before or by
October 4th, and that if Lord Lans-
downe'S hands were tied by higher pow
ers he ought to exculpate himself be-
yond the shadow OF suspicion
The failure to send out troops enough
cannot be charged to the opposition,
for Parliament was not then sitting. If
there were any intention to hold Natal
/ at all costs, an adequate force should
have been sent out by October 4th,
when the excuse that such reinforce
mentS might be taken by the Beers as
a menace no longer held good, as the
Indian troops were already on the way.
Hearing these criticisms in unexpecr-
ed quarters, the correspondent of the
Associated Press repeated them to a
high Government official While non
committal regarding the failure to send
reinforcements earlier this official de-
clared that the broad lines of policy af-
fecting Natal had been much misun-
derstood.
I'VE are often asked,'' said he. why
we sent Sir George Stewart White up
the neck of Natal unless we were sure
he could hold it. Considering the tre-
mendous reinforcements now on the
way to him, it occurs to almost every
body, at first sight, that we ought to
have retired without risking engage
ments, but it is forgotten what would
happen in Natal unless we made a Wig
orous stand there.
Natal has risked her little all on be-
half of the empire; the least we can do
is to risk something ourselves and to
prevent the overrunning of her pros
porous towns and rich fields by hordes
of the enemy. Purely military consid-
erations. l admit, might point to the
fact that we ought Immediately to have
withdrawn from our advanced posi-
tions, but purely military considera-
tions have sometimes to be subor-
dinated to the interests of the empire.
and, although many good lives have
been lost in the cause, they have not
been wasted.
The British naval guns seem destined
to play an important part in the war.
The carriage platforms of those used
at Ladysmith were designed by Cap
tain Percy Scott of the first-class
cruiser Terrible, who has succeeded in
designing a carriage capable of bearing
and carrying four seven-inch guns
This is considered by experts to be
great achievement.
]. B. Robinson, the South African
millionaire, writes that General White
will be perfectly safe if he sits tight at
Ladysmith, refusing to be induced by
the usual Boer tactics into being drawn
out with view of infiicting a defeat
ON the Beers.
Next Saturday Major General Buffers
troops will begin arriving in South
Africa. and whether he decides to be-
gin an invasion of the Orange Free
State through De Aar Junction or send
troops to cooperate directly with Gem
eral White, the situation will immedi-
ately be relieved.
The weekly papers are following the