Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-04
C0OpED UP.
British Forces at LadysmIth Are
Suffering Bombardment'
Surrender Government Officials
Stumping England tO Restore
Failing Courage-'Cltima Vic.
tory Certain"

London, Nov. 2.-Fragme:tary dis
patches from South Africa indicate tina,
the British forces at Ladysmith are
cooped up. while the Boer troops al e
laying vigorous siege to the town. FoI
nearly iS hours Joubert's artillery has
been Smelling the place and the bonn
bardment has at times been terrific.
In military circles. the opinion is gain
ing ground that General White will be
compelled to surrender. He will not
be likely To take such a course how
ever, before II large part of his force is
cut to pieces, and hence it Is generally
expected that fearful British losses will
be reported from I.adysmith within the
next few days.
The losses Of Monday are as yet not
fully known. The messenger who came
In from the captured battalions said
there were heaps of dead and wounded
where the British troops fought. 1t is
now believed that the loss of life was SO
great that General White has not made
it known, or. if he has. that the war
Office is afraid to give 1t out.
AS an alternative to surrender at
Ladysmith, some think General White
ought to try to retreat. but good military
Judges say such a course would now be
impossible. In the first place he would
find it almost impossible to take away
the great military stores at Ladysmith,
and without them he would be greatly
handicapped In later operations. He
would also have to leave all his heavy
guns behind.
But even if he had neither stores nor
equipments TO look after. it is pointed
out that a retreat would be fearful
risk in the face Of the overwhelming
force of the Beers now surrounding him.
He would in all probability be cut to
pieces before he had covered small
portion of the 20 miles which separate
him from ColmsO. his next base.
The queen is credited with eNi essinG
sincere pity for General White ard the
officials are in no wise inclined to judge
him harshly. So far as the public is con-
cerned. however, while qualification Is
felt at the manner in which the isolated
battalions surrendered. there is still st
we're criticism for General White and
Lieutenant Colonel Carleton for allow
ing the column to get out of touch, for
the absence of proper scouting and for
not retiring when the ammunition was
lost. In favor Of Lieutenant Colonel
Carleton the explanation is hazarded
success of General Whites operations
that he should hold the position at
Nicholson's Mex.
a careful calculation of the British
losses in all the engagements since the
outbreak of Notwithstanding the
casualties among the non commissioned d
officers and men in Mondays disaster at
Ladysmth. which are thus far unknown
here-gives total of 916, to which prob
ably 1900 will need to be added when de-
tails regarding the Ladysmith reverse
are received. This total is made up as
follows: Officers, 1873; being 10 killed, 6l
wounded and So captured. Men, 783;
being 1871 killed, 49, wounded, l54 cap
tured.
The Morning Post comments severely
lpon the British contempt for the enemy,
as shown by the belief that the large
Roer force at Acton Homes could be
held in check by Carleton's small col
umn.
The column was sacrificed, says The
MCTHluS TOSt, DcCduSe IL was sent III 10
action gagged and blindfolded. 1t had
neither scout nor patrol. Twelve hun
lred men We're thrown away for lack
ii cavalry, which would not have been
misled from another part of the field.
The Daily Chronicle says: 1t is evil
dent that somebody blundered. hut more
"details are required before the blame
car be apportioned.
Lord Hamilton, secretary of state for
india. speaking at Ealing last evening
'egarding the situation in South Africa,
said: "Our ultimate victory is certain,
and when the terms which we as vic
tors propose to tine VanQuished are
known. foreign nations will see that the
main cause which has forced us to en-
bark upon this conflict Is not desire of
pecuniary profit or territorial aggran-
dizement. but determination to emanci-
pate vast territory for the common
benefit of mankind from an ignoble and
degrading tyranny"