The times., 1899-10-16
Englnnd,s supreme Test.


since The despatch by England of fifteen
Thousand troops to Egypt in thrse wesk ks,
excited the admiration Of old Field Mar hal
Won Moltke. The same power today is pre-
pairing 10 transport ffty-fye thousand SOL
diers TO South Africa. with all their sup
plies. in about SIX weeks Beginning with
the twentieth of the present month. nine
thousand VIII leave the English coast
daily until the entire expedition has been
despatched Il begins 70 develop that the
success Of the British staff authorities in
forwarding preparations for war has been
hardly short CT marvellous. The fact thzt
he country was In q condition Of helpless
unrea5Iness for the Transyaal crisis may
ne a strong reflection upon the Colonial
and other ministerial departments; but no
blame can attach to the Horse Guards,
(which cannot move. or even take pre-
liminary action, in advance OF orders from
Downing Street.
n The chancelleries of Europe are not a
little Impressed by the determination OF
Greet Britain to put a force Of seventy
Thousand men in South Africa under Sir
Redvers Butler. They realize that il means
demonstration Of British ability TO fight
3n land as well as on the sea, and a
strong hint that the Empire can show it,
SELF en- occasion. a military as well as a
naval power. The result OF this bold and
wholesale policy Is already apparent in the
increased respect II which England and
her army are held on the Continent, and
in the many semi-o.ficial pres disclaimers
OF any intention TO interfere in the quarrel
Germany. which. as to its press and peo-
pie. sympathizes heartily with the Beers.
as il did with the Spaniards in their war
with Us. gives open assurances Of complete
neutrality. For the first time in many
wears. the Kaiser has omitted TO eongratu-
late President Kruger on the occasion OF
his birthday. and there are many other
signs that a fun understanding exists be-
tween the Cabinets Of London and Berlin
ss to the attitude the latter viii maintain
during hosulities
II is reasonably certain that the views ol
;he German Government have been affected
by a friendly arrangement in connection
with the lease OF eession Of Deisgoa Bay tC
England, the particulars OF which, il is be.
neved. win be laid bsfore Parliament i'm
mediately upon its meeting. According L
the opinion in diplomatic circles. the as
sent OF Germany TO this user or transfer. o.
whatever it may prove to be. has been Sc
cured by the offer and acceptance OF ter.
Titorial quid pro quo in another part Of
Africa Whether France. also has beer
pIacsted. we do not know. but probably
not to any important extent, and we MAJ
look for vehement ouiburst Of Galni
rage when the fact is officially announced
The czar is not prepared TO make any di
rect trouble, as far as can be predicted
England's difficulty is always Ruszla's op
portunity, somewhere else If the Souu
African war should amount TO what
promises, L viii give Lord Salisbury all h
can well attend to for soma tine. an
that may affora the Russians a chance Z
push for the Persian Gulf, IN spite of Eng
lands natural objections 70 Russian de
velopment IN hat direction. So, the irdi
cations are that iae anglo Saxon power o
the Old WoIla is 70 have free hand. !
no favor, in IT'S end OF the Dark contineni
AS stated, Gen. Sir Rsdyers Buller is {
have seventy thousand men with which I
make his campaign. What is quite as i'm
portant TO its success IS the further fac
that he goes out With absolute authorit
and control over his troops, movements
policies, and over the whole territory @
South Africa during the war The BIRTHS
Government Is lot afraid OF heroes" an
il fully realizes the futillty OF tn
American method OF conducting remot
military operGsions by placing an Office
OF inferior rank and no ability in chic
command. and then trying to manage Liz
by cable over q line ten thousand mile
long. Sir Redvers Butler VIII be un
hampered by any adiutant generals offc
n London, or by any political clique {
certihcated spectators. traders with th
enemy. or camp followers. He and hi
subordinate generals viii be their ow
peace commissioners. MeddIers and CON
mercial experts Of the DENLY type ar
unknown 10 the British system for SUP
pressing rebellions.
II viii be late in December before Id
last OF the new army corps can be landet
but by the middle OF November there shoul
be re-enforcements CROUCH 10 justify Of
fensiFe movements on some scale. Sir Red
yerS Butler expects 10 occupy Pretoria b
the Ist Of February. which is summer !
that region. bat before then. perhaps b