The evening times., 1899-12-19
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION.

| on the Tugela line. The story that Si
Redvers Butler has forced the passage @
the river. which We published this me- !.
Ing with reserve. is partially corroborate,
! by an admission from the War ONCE In
London that the story Is consistent with
reports previously received at headquar.
Is impossible to form opinions on the sub
| iect
| Although the dispatches relating TO the
Tugela battle were silent as to any connec-
tion Sir C. F. Clery might have had with
it, We are now Informed that he was in
immediate command. Thus, all of Buffers
leading lieutenants were engaged in the
operations at or near Coienso and 1t seems
| improbable that 1t could have been his in
tention to strike Joubert in flank simulta-
| neousiy with the delivery of the frontal at
| tack. This leaves us all the more at sea
as to what tactical considerations could
| have moved him to take the course he did.
II the passage of one of the fords has been
successfully executed. perhaps We shall
| soon be able to find out
The less OF the eleven guns at Colenso
continues to excite the military and civil
ian public in England. and a great many
theories are advanced in connection with
the disaster. Officers inclined to be Sc
we're on Long assert that he was repri-
mandec for n similar blunder at the Alder
shot Ilaneuvres two years ago. when he
rushed his batteries into action without
prelim mary scouting. Others acquit him
CT blame on the ground that he found his
obsolete guns too short IN range to reach
the Beers and was compelled TO move close
up in order to deliver an effective fire.
Whoever was responsible for the failure. 1t
is sufficiently clear that the scouting to-
ward the Tugela bank which ought to have
been, was not done. The responsibility for
this fatal oversight rests somewhere. but
just where. nobody seems to know Remem-
bering that Clery and Hildyard have been
regarded as two of the brightest strategic
lights OF the service, and that the former
was in command of the battle formation,
military critics will have to know more
about the conditions and circumstances CT
the fight to make up their minds whether
much is 10 be expected from even British
officers of the class indicated.
On one point all the home authorit.e5--
outsiGe of the War Office and the Ho. Sc
Guards-appear to be in agreement. The
British army artillery as a rule. is ridicu-
ously inferior to that in use by the leading
States of Continental Europe and to that
Of the Beers. Lord Wolseley is bitterly
criticised for this. as one result of his inef-
ficient control of the imperial army as
commander chief for a number of years
He is also severely blamed for sending out
archaic field guns at the outbreak Of the
war. and holding back the modern howit-
to the front at first. 1t seems to be con-
ceded that the intelligence bureau was ut
terly ignorant of the splendid artillery pos
sessed by the Beers. But for the few guns
which reached Sir George White just be-
fore his communications were cut Re
would have been without any aiequata
means for replying to the boInbardment of
the besiegers. The gun situation is so seri-
Gus that Rear AGmral Lord Char.es
Beresford advises the government to mount
on limbers every long range naval gun 1t
can spare. and TO buy further supply of
frst-class field and siege guns in Europe.
America, or anywhere it can find them.
The situation OF Lord Methuen at Me
garsfonten is involved in much uncer-
tainty. The last despatch from his posi-
tion appears to have been sent on Satur-
day. since which time il is reported that
his communications have been severed. The
War Office admits that such a thing is
probable and on that We may assume il
to be true There is an impression in the
London military clubs that a flank attack
has been made by General Cronje. which
is more than probable as he was evil
IDENTIFY extending his right with such a
purpose in view when the Megarsfontein !
fight occurred. The theory is not un-
reasonable that the Boer force, reported
on Saturday as moving south from Ja |
cobsdal, has occupied the railway line in
Methueu's rear. and as likely as not is I
preparing to dispute the Modder crossing, !
TO attempt a retreat
Lord Methuen's prospects are not illu- |
minated by the news from General French 1
at Naauw Poort. Instead of being able to 1
execute any movement in support OF his 4
colleague. he has met with what We sus-
pect to be a decided check, and has been
forced to retreat from Vaalkop to Arundel |
both between Naauw Poort and Coles
berg. The superiority of the Transvaal ar
iilery compelled the evacuation. General
iatacre is apparently marking time at
Sterkstrom. Sir Charles Warren's arrival
% strengthen General French is anxiously
awaited. There is some reason 10 fear
hat it will have to happen soon to be of
much use to Methuen.
What little we have been able to learn
his morning has not added much TO our
General stock of information. For anything
eported to the contrary Ladysmith. Kim
,erley, and Mafeking are still holding out
my moment, as II is believed that the War
Office is already aware of an engagement of
ONE sort on his front. The enthusiasm
With which the British militia and volun-
eers are responding to the call to arms is
aving an inspiriting effect in England, but
( the people of the United Kingdom can
o cheer them, it has not been cabled ovea
ere as yet.
Some Coveted SrrnwIs.
(From Golfers Weekly.)