The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-02

NEW YORK, Nov. Ia ulspdtcn "
the Tribune from London says:
The forecast of defeat over which
keen observers were broOding befor'
midnight Monday was officially con
firmed before 10 o'clock yesterday Il
was the bluest and blackest day Lon
don has known since the first tdingf
OF the Sepoy rebellion.
The tidings that the Beers had CON-
pletely out-maneuvered General White
and. while Turing on the British center
and right, had ambuscaded the lef'
wing. cut two battalions TO pieces and
forced II to surrender. together with q
mountain battery, flied the streets with
dismay and gloom. John Bull is not
accustomed to being beaten by anybody
and he takes punishment, when 1t
comes. with poor grace and a sense of
bewilderment, albeit with complete
self-command.
Disaster was written large in every
newspaper placard during the day. but
the newsboys were surrounded with
grim swarms Of purchasers, setting
teeth together and determined to know
the worst, yet marveling how so over
whelming defeat had been within the
range of possibility in the queens do
minions.
1t was not enough for General White
10 declare that he alone had blundered,
nor for the war Office to order out three
additional battalions and a mounted
battery to replace the losses sustained
at Glencoe and Ladysmith.
What every Englishman knew in his
heart was the truth, that the rustic
Boers. whose strategy and training had
beer despised by the military staff and
nation. had contrived both at Glencoe
and Eadysmith to Out-maneuver Brit
ish generals and ensnare large bodies Of
the finest and most experienced soldiers
into ambuscades from which there was
no escape.
Humiliating to English pride as was
this confession, there were no signs Of
flinching in any quarter. John Bulls
heart was hardened. not softened, by
the unexpected disaster. The most ar
dent peace advocate did not venture TO
take up his parable yesterday.
There was only one expression heard
in the club houses, exchanges and
streets; this was that the war must go
on to the bitter end with redoubled en-
ergy and overwhelming resources, and
British prestige must be restored for
the honor and safety Of the empire
What will the Natal field force do
now? is the question on every tongue.
1t is itself supplying an answer by
fighting with spirit and discipline.
When the Bo RS have renewed their at
tack, will it retreat or stand its ground,
remaining on the defensive and fighting
desperately? The latter alternative is
accepted by nearly all military writ
ers, since it cannot find a better de-
fensive position than at Colenson, and a
retreat to Pietermaritzburg and Dur
ban would involve a lorg march Of 1s9
miles with the Beers harrassing the
rear column.
Butler will now settle the question,
not White, and he is now considered
by many critics or intimate friends as
likely to begin a campaign by ordering
AL abandonment Of Natal and enklnd-
ling blaze Of disaffection among the
Dutch of Cape Colony. Yet the most
candid military men admit that the
position at Ladysmith is very weak
from a defensive point of view.
The valley where the town lies, is
sheltered by circle of irregular hills,
on the crests Of which the garrisn is
introduced. Outside this circle is an
other concentric one with similar cir
cult Of hills, and beyond there is an
other.
The tldings of the severe loss incur
red by the Gloucester regiment and the
Irish Fusieers are discussed most SER
iously by English Afrikanders and those
Engllshmen who know South Africa