The daily morning Alaskan., 1899-12-26
sAnE OLD THING.

The South African was has demonStrat- cd that after all war tactics have changed but little in the last half century. The improvements in arms have resulted in keeping armies little farther apart, but victories arc won or lost now as they were during the civil war and before.
 Just now publie opinion in England seems disposed tO ensure the British offcer> in South Africa for the tremendous losses being suff-red bv their armies in the war. They are blamed foi not winning victories bv some pro eSS without the great flow of hum,n blood that IS resulting. They io no, propeflv take into account tha the English soldiers a;e meeting foe that is equ l,y llrrt. equally devoted io itS cause and equally brave aS the queens dsferters. aGi that iJ san only be te- feated by 5eiog overp0weTet, and the onv way to tes, the powers of opposing armies ls for them to fight it out.
 The situation in Great 5;itain IS not un- like that which prevailed in the United Slstes when Cant was maie commander Of the Ame,.San armies In 1864. Thre' wears of wsrefire had demonstrated tnal there was d wide gulf between the Union and the Confederlcv in point of reSOurce> as well as population. Grant had every thing in ;he way of soldiers, equipmen, and supplies at his hand He had well fed army. and one that had become used to success. at his command. He had the assistance of a powerful navy and com plct biolate. But there were the two Confederate armieS-the one of Northern Virginia under General Lee. and the one oi Georgi., under General Johnston. Every soldier in these armies was a veteran and thoroughly imbued with the iuStneSs of the Confederate cause. They were com manded by as capable generals and sub erdinstes as ever oficersd an army, all sincerely patriotic. Before the war could ee terminated it was necessary to whip these armies,
 When General Giant elected to flight It out" through the Wilderness heIdlong to Richmond "if it takes all summer" he re- alized, as Wellington Saic of Waterloo. that 1t was to be a pounding match. The severe criticisms that were hurled al Giant after the fearful slaughter of his bloody repulSeS and dearly bought vic tories before the gallant Lee were as bitter and hostile as those that are now being Showered upon Butler and Me,hu-n by the British. Yet Grant was riSht, so are Bu!- Ter ani Methuen. Grant had Lee tO veal out, and. fl instead of iI taking all sum mer, an autumn, winter and spring were also required. it speaks the more for ,he endurance of Lee ani his splendid army rather than less of Giants capacity and that of his brave men. The British have ,he BOers tO conquer, and while Butler has failed Co eat his Christmas dinner in Pre- toria and will do well it he eelebt teS the queen'S birthday there, his course cannot well be eh .nged. He will have to do us Grant did in Virginia-;ght, fight, fight and hShI again. The British cannot hope to gain an lnch that will not be Siubb rnly resisted. lt will De as impossible for Bul- ter to succeed al tnS Nind of campaigning VI bout the loss oi lie being very large, as it was for Grant. lt Is terrible 10 con- template, tul.y, oU, su>h are the fortunes of war, and the S1oUer the British school themselves tO j.ee the inevitable the better thsv wil os.
 lt is tGe sfme problem the Germans had to flee when they fought their way Co Paris, and the Russians met ike conditions when they crossed the Osnu5e on their mAIen through TCr&ev.
 Tn. same s4t stores Of heroiSm and death vii, 5- told ot the war now 50 herceIy wag ng as nave come down 10 us oi the wafs ot the ? St.
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