The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
pRIJJsH WE'RE NOT READY.
Real Advance On the Beers Not Expected
Rsfore Christmas-Pian of Campaign.

Rsfore Christmns-Plan of Campaign.
Special cable DsIpatch to THE SUE.
Ioypos. Oct l3.-Discussion as to the rela-
,,va merits OF the British and Boer causes has
almost ceased 10 this country The physical
fact OF war now absorbs popular attention ana
upon this question all Britons are patriots
THAI. will be no break In the support offered
N the Government when Parliament meets on
Tuesday. unless possibly the handful OF Irish
members seize the opportunity TO proclaim
thslr hatred Of British institutions. The reRu-
lar opposition may perhaps critioise the GOV
eminent on its unreadIness In an emergency
q, its own creating. and this criticism would
he ,ully iustitisJ. for it Is becoming moro evil
dent daily that the British forces will not be
prepared for the grea, advance before Christ
mas
The Army Corps. which 10 expected to march
in one great column to Pretoria. will not begin
,osmbsrk until Oct. 20 and much time must
elapse after the arrival Of the men before the
Commissariat will be ready to keep the army
supplied or the long march. Those who make
light OF the threatened delay assume that the
Boer aggression In the meantime Will be OF
little consequence and will be confined to Natal
and the vicinity OF the western frontier. This
ASSUMPTION is simply stupid. It 10 absurd to
credit the Beers with the diotio policy Of issu-
ing Tuesdays ultimatum and then sitting In
the vicinity OF their own borders and waiting
for an attack. There is no possible doubt that
II is the Boer intention To carry on the most
aggressive campaign practicable. They will
seek to enlist the Airkander support through
out Cape Colony and carry the war az far south
ns possible before the bulk Of the British forces
arrive.
Tho British plan OF campaign has been most
successfully concealed thus far.
1t is strongly probable that the British scoss-
lion OF DeiaEOa Bay. so long expected. will DO
officially announced on the assem bling OF Par
lament The Boers authorities expect this.
No hint OF the terms has trauspirsd. but 1t 10
believed that the Portuguese authorities will
endeavor to quiet the strong popular prejudice
in that country against the deal by taking the
attitude OF yielding to superior force. 1t 10 safe
say that the price OF German acquiescence 10
substantial one.
II Dslagoa Bay becomes English property,
then, according to some opinions. the chief
British force will land there and march by
the shortest route to Pretoria. THE Sun cor
respondent who sailed with Gen. Sir Rsdvers
Bulsr to-day to accompany him throughout
the campaign. IL inclined to the opinion that
the force will march straight north from the
nearestr rail base on the southern boundary Of
then to johannesburg and Pretoria. Gen. Sir
Redyen Butler is quoted as saying that he ex-
poets to reach the latter city about the middle
oiFebruary"
1t was generally assumed by military men
until the past few days. that two forces OF about
equal strength would invade the Transvaal
from Natal and Kimberley. copverging toward
Pretoria and johannesburg. The general plan
will. Of course. be disclosed as soon as Gen. Sir
Redvers Butler reaches the Cape. seventeen
Gays hence. II he lands at Cape Town the plan
VIII single great invasion from the south
through the Orange Free State to Pretoria.
II he goes on to Durham 1t will indicate two
eonysrging columns from Natal and Kim bsrley.
while II he goes up to Delagoa Bay then It will
be clear that the British will try tn make the
shortest land march to the Bosr capital.
It's now apparent that the force at Gen. Sir
Fedvers Buffers disposal will number about
10000 men. Against this. according to the
best Information now available. tho Beers will
muster 40 900 men In the two republics. How
many they will draw from the Dutch OF Cape
eoony is mere conjecture. depending largely
on their initial Successes
Estimates OF the length OF the war. even by
military men who know South Africa and the
boer character. vary widely. Some profess to
OeIieve hat the fighting will be over by Christ
mas otherSsay June. but a majority nx Fob
ruary Tor cessation Of hostilities
IT'S impossible in London to hear but one
opinion az to what the result will be. Tho only
point discussed is how good fight the Beers
w'lputup before succu m bling to the In evitabe
w Tho other hand there Is no great war excite
meht In Great Britain. such as marked ths
carry days OF the Spanish American war In the
United States. There 10 no lack OF patriotism
now that the war has begun. but the most
prominent feature OF tho public sentiment al
"e present moment is the impAtiSnce at the
"cK Of real Information from the front and dis.
gust az the sudden development OF yellow
features in large section OF the press
no enort OF the imagination has been
WOO absurd to spread before the public
fact during the past three days. The
result is popular indignation. which is already
Urhg nE the Just penalties Tho British pub.
nc IS much less tolerant than the mOrlcan Of
attempts at public deception. an to days pro-
"sts are 80 emphatic that the evil 10 already
eneekeG. simply because 1t does not pay.