The morning news., 1899-10-29
WHITE IN QUITE A DILEMMA
HE MAY SOON HAVE TO FIGHT COM
BINED BOER FORCES.

His Only other Course Would BE Re-
treat. But II Is Believed He VIII
EndcavOr to Hold Ladysmith Even
Against Superior NumberS-The
British Army Corps VIII Not BE in
the Field Before the Latter Part
of December.
Copyright. 1899. by the Associated
Press.)
London, Oct. 2S.-The South African war
has now been in progress nearly three
weeks, and so far the British arms have
been consistently crowned with momen-
tary successes, though at a cost which YER
lies President Krugers prediction that the
conflict would stagger humanity.
But though victory has fallen to Great
Britain whenever and wherever the is-
sues We're of paramount Importance Gen.
Whites position to-day is scarcely more
reassuring than at the outbreak of the
war. So far he has only shown his abi-
ity to outwit by strategy the Beers STRAIT
egy. That in its conception meets with
high praise from the British military crit
les.
Now he appears to have reached the
limit Of this game Of war; by which he was
able to prevent the massing of the Boer
columns, and must either meet the enc
my's combined forces or retreat
Gen. Whites Plans.
Many people think Cen White should
rest content with the successes so far
achieved and fall back on Colenso, point
ing out that he appears 10 be fully able to
move his forces u.ckly and without dete-
rioration. 1t is scarcely probable that he
viii follow this course, preferring rather
to hold Ladysmith, though against much
superior numbers, until reinforced Ii is
the feeling that the general intends TO fol-
dow the latter course that creates uneasi-
ness, for victories over Boer units are not
believed to indicate the same result can be
achieved over the Beers when massed.
Compared with this impending movement
about Ladysmith, the fate of Kimberley
and Mafeking and the progress of the 9TH
er independent operations are almost in
significant. The rapidity of the Boer ad-
vance and the tenacity of the endeavors
of their columns to concentrate on Gen.
White, have proved clearly that the Beers
plans were matured long before hostil-
Tres misplaced neSOllatlOnS, ana, though
they may be unable to stand before the
brilliant charges of the British troops or
serve their artillery with the skill of their
opponents, that they are a mobile force
or operate harmoniously under carefully
prepared plan of campaign.
What Awaits the Army COrDss
No one seems to have the faintest idea
of what conditions will confront the Brit
ish army corps upon its arrival in South
Africa. VIII it be an avenging force.
whose duty win be to wipe out the de-
feat of Gen. White and the capture of
Mafeking or Kimberley. or will it sim
ply be a walk-over into Pretoria. dispers
ing Boer bands disintegrated by the strain
of a long campaign and discouraged by
constant reverses? These questions are
uppermost in the minds of all connected
with the war Office
BY Nov 4 the last troop ship should
have sailed, but the army corps will
scarcely take the field until the end of
December. There is a lull in the depart
ure of the troops forming the army corps,
owing, the admiralty officials say, to the
troops not being ready.