The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
THREE BRITISH GENERALS
Sketches Of Omcrr, ON Their Way to the
Scene of War in South Africa.

s,.,. -, ,y.- A.. S,,,h .t.,..
oN BOARD STEAMSHIP Moon, Madeira,
Oct A.-Wiih saloon passenger list four-fiftbs
military and deck accommodation wholly given
up to uniformed men, this Cape liner comes as
near as possible to being hcrsrf a war transport,
As she lay IN southampton Water on Saturday
evening waiting Tor the London mail for South
Africa, the Nubia, tho GaScon. and another,
huge hired transports twice tho size OF
the Moor steamed out laden with infantry
battalions for tho command that the
thfce divisional Generals on the Moor arc
to take up In tho Transvaal campaign. For
Lieut. Gen. Lord Mcthuen. commanding the First
Division. Malor.Gcn. Sir William Gatacro, OF tho
second aud Mhor-Gen. Sir Francis. Clery Of the
Third are hero with their picked n,Ad staff. The
smoking room talk is tina; the men in charge Of
this business have been unusually well chosen
by the War Olico which, for once, Is not reviled
by its own service.
II Is TO Gen. Gntacre that service men tactly
defer 70 most az their strongest man. spare
why man In his early iftios serious and court
eous, without much TO say Gatacfo Is probably
not hero with Tommy Atkins. oven among
his immediate subordinatoa Tho admiration ex-
pressed for him IL severely professional He Is
hard man physically and keeps himself so by
work. His officers arc enthusiastic over his
willingness to sleep In ditch full OF water
as soon as in camp bed, but there Is
q note OF regret In their voices as they
recall that he expects those about him TO
bo as scornfully indifferent TO personal com.
fort yet II was seini-civil work that brought
him nrst into prominence He organized and
directed the plague relief work, two years ago in
Bombay. Last year he was again master OF his
opportunities when no received command Of a
brigade In tho Soudan campaign. This Is his
hrst responsible work In South Africa, and he is
chosen for II because tho headn Of the army have
found that he Is vigorous. thorough and not a
self-advcrtiser.
His service sonior. Lord Methuon, 10 OF another
stamp altogether Toll. pleasantfnrod. II Is
not easy to reconcile his frankly amiablo looks
with the systemnulod self-hartoninE that IL the
characteristic Of Gen. Caiacro In his younger
days Lord Methuen saw varied service In South
Africa. where no organized Mcthuen's Horse,
q body Of irregular cavalry. who did police duty
on the outskirts OF Cape civilization. Tho third
commander OF division. Con. Clofy, Is an Irish
man. and looks IL Tall. grizzly block, with
ford aquhne features and thick whiskets grow
Ing high on his check bones he suggests at once
q fighting general out OF ono OF Levers war
stories. His military appearance slightly bellies
q quiet reserved manner So far he has spent
most Of his time on q deck chair reading a sub
stantial volume-"Thc Tfnnsyanl From Within, =
Tho stalls Of these Commands GRO keen work
ing soldiers who have been active In most nxht
ing since they were youngsters. Their question
-Dyou think VIC will be In imo,- Is hope that
they will An oflcsr who has suggested that
the British force viii split up Its bngades when
IL arrives and be sent In smaller bodies to dis
arm tho already defeated Bocrs Is told that he
does not 500 the situation accurately. Al any
rate his fellow officers do not wish 10 see IL that
way. The prevalent belief Is that Sir Redycrs
Butler will enter Pretoria early In February
His part OF his plan OF campaign they say In
TO inlici signal. overwhelming defeat on
/ the enemy before tho final smaller operations
| Al this, Of course. Is the Judging Of a situation
as II was last Saturday. which may be consider
ably changed by now and completely altered In
| twelve days.
Tho Generals ide-decamp, give a welcome
aiS OF mir,h 10 the gin side OF the military stns
| They are CHEEKY lot themselves, and vow that
| they can't stand people who take life seriously.
| They include Leurs. Loeb. Roberts, Cavendish
and Mcneil. all sons OF families prominent in the
| British service. The rank and 1le on deck arc
about six hundred men OF the army service corps
tho men who do the butchcring, carpentry and i'm
mediate necessary work for the troops In tho field.
Their zeal for serving Immediate necessities Is
such that the large case they brought on board
marked Stationery" for the corps on the field was
found when opened TO consist Of sixty pounds Of
! linsecd meal Their usual dark.biue uniform
with white facings is set aside for the all
khaki suits The hospital staff Is numerous in
all divisions Oficers say they arc being far better
considered this time than on the Nile last year