The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26

4, Brrun-The Task of Relieving tho Be-
s,rged Cnies-Derertion Of Cape Colony
putrhmen Rcported-British Public En-
eourased by Con. Methuen's Success.
sr.e,ai cabl. DsspaioA 10 TIE suS.
Ioxpny, Nov 25.-It will not be exaaeerat-
ING To say that IL Ia the confident public
belief that the tile has now turned In South
,ricn. that Gen Methucn will march al
most rnurposed to Kimberley. that Gen. Cat
acre will soon drive the Orange Free Staters
across the Orange River toward Bloomfonten.
and that Gen Butler will start within few
DAYS with an invincible force to the speedy re-
ue'o' Fstcourt and Ladysmith. Opposed to
FIJI. optimism Ia the most sanRuine
military view OF the situation. namely, that
zen Nr,huen must fight far heavier battle
htMuddcr River than he fought at Belmont.
AMI even then the relief OF Kimberley
viii not be assured: that Gen. Gatacre. after
being heavily reinforced must successfully
rr,.crute n difficult campaign AGAINST Storm
hcre mad other Docr strongholds before he can
,5cr N" enemy hack. and he must employ q
largo ror,inn % his force TO snbduc the rebel-
lion. Cane Coloni,ts. BIT Gems. Methuen's and
CAT ric'- tasks are easy compared with the
ordeal before the British army In Natal. Even
,h,ratriatr English masses understand In
,,su. way that blondy work IL ahead In tho
dfCl,ul' Natal passes
N.arcpunt is made In this general survey OF
rho rrn'nm ~ serious com ri lea lon threatened
IVA la.nto rising and the urgent necessity
Tor N, relief o. Col. Baden -Powell's gallant
'l''le fore" at Mafckln9. The natural popular
demand Tor the latter action Is unjustihed and
imtracticablr from the point OF view OF cold.
military science. The progress OF an expe-
-. INaN H.
through hostile country OF more than 200
mi.ps where tho enemy IL IN great force.
must necessarily DO slow.
In the lIh. Of all the-e hard facts 1t is gen.
eva Is admitted hy MI whose opinion IL valua-
n. that Great Britain must prepare herself for
some trying hours and sad sacrifices before
The final triumph Of her arms
second full army cory. should be
sent out at the earliest moment. There
= no official announcement to this eject.
nut there l. some reason to believe that
such IA now the Govern m ent's inten-
ton Two-thrls OF the transports which
carried The fist corps to South Africa will he
back in English ports bafore the fresh troops
are ready 10 sail. and these, with the mpor-
tant additions to the feet. like the Majestic.
will probably star: on for South Africa within
two or three weeks.
prominent German general and stan
oHlcer in friendly criticism. has hnen telling
the Brit sh authorities In the Times this week
how grave is the necessity for sending large
rcanlorcaments to south Africa. He afirms
from positive knowledge that the Beers are
able to Put 5000 men in the deld. Against
this force the English have 10000 men. From
these. he POINTS out, must be deducted those
needed 70 keep open tho requisite base
mes as vel ~ the forces necessary for
checking rtslnGs 10 Cape Colony and for
garrison duty in the chief centres. He adds;
i ho'd the opin on, one which is freely shared
by brother staN officers. that not less than
10000 TO $4,000 MN will be absorbed by such
necessities, leaving $4,000 10 10000 for active
military operations. II must he further taken
into account that a majority OF the men are
unused to the cl mate and an unusual percent
age n sickness must be expected. The local
geography IL sealed book 70 most OF the Brit
sh and an unusual nu m Der Of reserve men must
he pressed into use before the English are In
military condition necessary for such a cam
paign. DO not consider that our German
view is unIustihed. viz How can England ex-
poet 10 crush force Of at least $4,000 Beers
with al hr'ny Of 10000 available for offence
when We consider that these 10000 Beers are
accnntzed and know every yard OF the coun-
try and Us capacities for traps for the hravest
European troops? They shoot admirably and
they are mannuvred with an astonishing
trategical ability. They have already re-
rsaed in trihing operations that they can
ignore tho questions OF food and
encampment TO degree out OF the question
With the British.fed troops. and they are con-
tenfng for their rotten oligarchy with the
courage ofdespalr, which has baen ightened
by success. OF certain nature up to the
present They have found time during the ad-
vance south IN put their renr routc In an able
state of defence. Finally. Pretoria has been
'ort fed in such an able manner that an al
mo'' insignificant defensive force viii be able
10 hold the place. while the main army can be
devoted to other duty. Taking all the
foregoing into account the conclusion has
10 he arrived az that. II Enclanl means to
come ont victorious she will have to be repro
sented In South Africa by an immensely in
creased nnmcricsl force. at any rate. by one
quite beyond the proportions OF anything as
yet conceived by the public"
An experienced war correspondent. In n de-
sphtch mailed to escape the censor. predicts
mat by the beginning OF December 10000
British Dutchnen win have Joined the
Invading Beers. He adds that every Boer
commando that has come on British
coll has been lik" a rolling snow ball. increasing
~ " H"Nel me same correspondent says
mat all the staff officers with whom he has
discussed the situation agree in fixing the
MIDDLE OF March for the end Of the campaign.
hHsaif that on Thursday the Cabinet con-
.'eted the intimat'on, cab'ed presumably ny
american Consul Mncrum. that n mission has
leN Pretoria for Cape Town tn propose an
armstic" preliminary to negotiations for
I"ac" Premier Salishury's speech at Gulldhall,
when h was reported to have said tina, England
uu not desire to acquire gold mines or terri
,ory, was the reason for sending the mission.
L"fd Salisbury has since dlsavowed the mean
ing placed IN his words. leaving the conclusion
wat the two republics will lose their cherished
Independence. The mission Ia absolutely
hopeless The Beers will not surrender every
,n'hH dear TO them at the moment when they
nave hai the best Of the fighting. On tho other
nan England will not negotiate so long as
single boer invader is on British soil. The
suggestion for an armistice 10 In any case in
op'or'une now from political point OF view
vast majority Of EnRlishmen have gone into
.h's war with determination to make II a fight
ma hhlsh, 1.-THE Government were to show
m"l'a'ions OF repeating the policy Of 1891 their
a'HT Parliamentary majority would not save