The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-12-01
A DIVISION OF OPINION. !
Equal Portions of Adv'c, and
Criticism on War Prep ratious.
NEGLECT EXHIBITED.
Lord Lansdowne's Hands Tied by
Higher Author:ty-Seve Test
of Mobiliz alton.

London, Nov. 4.-4Almost the only sub
ject of discussion this week in England
was the disastrous reverse suffered by
Gen. Sir George Stewart White, the
British commander at Ladysmitl and
! this was made the occasion of pouring
out torrents of lay criticism and advice
Public opinion seems fairly divided, one
section bitterly blaming the general COM
handing and the other maintaining that
he probably is not so much at fault as he
made himself out. The latter section,
which includes many service men and
nearly all the service publications, urges
the withholding of definite criticism pend
ing more detailed accounts. The Naval
and Military Record. after expressing
this sentiment, sums up the situation as
| follows:
considering the nature Of the coull-
try, the lamentablc appropriateness OF
England and the unwilingness Of the op-
| position to allow British regiment to go
| to South Africa until President Kruger s.
| ultimatum was received, it is surprising
| that we have been able 10 hold our own
| SO far. Not only have the Beers proved
| themselves determined fighters and spcn-
| did SharpshOoterS, as we knew them to
| be- but they have developed surprising
| military and strategic qualities.
| Fight with Great Courage.
They have nearly surrounded every
| garrison we hold and have invariably
occupied almost uliassailable positions.
| fighting with great courage. Against
such fighters our little force, left isolat
ed far from our base and without hope
of relief for days to come, has not only
done splendid work but has gained sue
cesscs which we venture to believe 10
other soldiers in the world, placed in sim
liar unfortunate conditions, could have
achieved''
Although this may fairly be said to
represent conservative military opinion,
it's reference to the action of the oppo-
SitiCn as preventing the sending OF troops
in good time is entirely erroNaous. Since
the first news of the Ladysmith disas-
ter 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 lans-
downe. and this cmanates not so much
from the opponents of the government
Las from it's wa-mest supporters. Some
iof the ableSt of the latter have no hest.
i tatiOn in saying privately that almost
criminal neglect has been shown i'll not
sending at least 10000 more troops be-
fore or by October 4, and that if Lord
Lansdowne's hands were tied by higher
powers, he ought to eXculpate himself
beyond the shadow Of a suspicion.
| The failure to send out troops enough
cannot be charged to the opposition. for
| Parliament was not then sitting. If
there We're any intention tc hold Natal
at all costs, an adequate force should
have been sent out by October +, when
the excuse that such reinforcements
might be taken by the Beers as q men
ace no longer held good, as the Indian
troops were already on the way.
The Failure TO Send Troops.
Hearing these criticisms in unexpected
quarters, the correspondent of the Asso
ciated press repeated them to high gov
eminent official. While non-committa
regarding the failure to- send reinforce
ments earlier, this official declared that
the broad lines of policy affecting Nata
have been much misunderstood.
1--WE are often asked" said he, "why
we sent Sir George Stewart White III
the neck of Natal unless we were sure he
could hold it. Considering the tremen
dous achievements now on the way te
him, it occurs to almost everybody at first
sight, that we ought to have retired with
out risking engagements; but it is forgot
ten what would happen in Natal unless
we made vigorous stand there
"Natal has riSked her little all on be
half of the empire; and the least we car
do is to risk something ourselves and tt
prevent the over-running of her prosper
Gus towns and rich fields by hordes OF
the enemy. Purely military conSidera