The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-05
Leads TO Dread That Another Disaster May
Have BefaIIen the Troops.
Will be q Fortnight at Least Be-
fore Reinforcement Can Reach
Ladysmith, and Then 1t May ne
Too Late, Though White Will
be Able to Hold the Place
Against the Beers.
Copyright, 1899, by Associated Presso

Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press)
LONDON, Nov. Although the
events of the week have aroused the
spirit of the British nation to the Ut
most, and though it's military escutcn-
con has been stained more than IL ever
was before, there seems to be ahead
still more crucial ordeal-that OF Sus-
pense. Days, perhaps weeks, may pass
before word comes from the isolated
British force in the Mex of Natal, ana
the long wait will strain as does
deathbed watch. Eagerness to learn
how the day went with the beleaguered
will be mingled with overpowering
dread that they have shared the fate OF
those who fell at Nicholson's Mex.
Whatever may be the business or
otherwise of the criticisms passed on
General White, it is palpable that he
no longer possesses the confidence of
the public. He may be fully able to
withstand the attacks of the superior
Boer force, and may be ready at any
moment to execute a mastery retreat,
but as long as he is cut off from COM
munication with the outside world
there will exist terrible anxiety re-
garding the welfare of the seven or
eight thousand men of his command.
The most optimistic believe that a
fortnight is the minimum in which re-
Inducements of any potentiality can be
pushed to Ladysmith, and then it may
be too late. 1t is this interim, en-
FILTERED by the vivid memory of the re-
cent disaster, which will try the tenn
per of the British nation, which as a
whole can be said to have embarked
in the war with stupendous over-con-
fidence, and which has now awakened
to the realization of the fact that if
General Whites force is annihlated it
will cause an indefinite prolongation of
hostilities, though it is said here it
can only defer and not alter the ulti-
mate result. and the British taxpayers,
however patriotic, object to long
drawn out war, especially when waged
against a people whom they have been
brought to believe immensely their in
ferior.
AS a matter of fact, granting that
General White possesses the qualities
Of fair generalship, there are many
reasons to believe he will be able to
hold out until reinforced, even if COM
pletely surrounded. 1t is presumed he
has employed the past week in
strengthening his position with earth
works and trenches, which, when man
ned by such fighters as the Gordons
and Irish Fusileers, cannot be taken
without a terrible struggle. His artil-
lery has now been reinforced by the
naval brigade, and even if it is not a
match for that of the Beers, should be
able to keep the enemy from coming to
too close quarters. He has an album
dance of stores, and, apparently has
been favored by good weather.
Combining these advantages with the
military truism that the opportunity
to select your own position is half the
battle won, it is said that there seems
to remain to General White fairly even
chances of holding his own, in spite of
the report that he is outnumbered two
or even three to one.
The weeklies exhibit no little self
satisfaction at the British patriotism
and stoicism as evidenced by the re-
ception of the news of the Ladysmith
disaster. But, beneath this splendid
stoicism, there has prevailed in all
classes a feeling of intense chagrin and
amaZement such as has not stirred
Great Britain in a century. and has fire.
quently been coupled with the bitterest
abuse of General White, the man held
responsible for the unparalleled sur
render of such British force to such
an enemy.
The only redeeming feature of the
weeks operations, in the opinion of the
majority, is the work of the naval bril-
gade. The difficulties which must have
been encountered in getting the guns
over the country, and even, when at
Ladysmith, in getting them properly
mounted, can well be imagined, while
the resources employed can be gagged