New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-05

lrin1iia sharrshoofors. as we knew them to be
hut they have dc yslo7cd surprising milllais '''
strategic qualities ~~i~o,
We hold end have Invariably occupied a.h'"e'
unassailahe positions. hehting with srea' '" ,e,
age Against such fighters our ht,le I'ieV, - -
isolated far from our base and without ny, ~
relief for DAYS 20 COME has not only done Spie-
aid work but has gained successes Wnicn va
venture 10 believe no other soidle's '" .,i,o~ nm
placed I'm similar positions ana IT. s'ii,'' "
fortunate conditions. could have achieved
STORM FOR TIE WAR MINISTER.
Although this may fairly be said 10 represent
conservative military opinion. ms reference 10
the action Of the Opposition as preventing Inv
sending % troops in good time is entirely or
roneous Since the first news OF the Ladysmi'n
disaster reached England there has been
storm gathering over the head not Of Sir George
White but Of the Secretary Of State for Var
tho Marquis Of Lansdowne. and this emanates
not so much from the opponents of the Govern
rnent as from its warmest supporters. some OF
the ablest Of the latter have no hesitation J"
saving privately that almost criminal neglect
has been shown in not sending at least ten
thousand more troops before or by October -
and that. II Lord Lansdowne's hands were tea
by higher powers. he ought to exculpate HIM
self beyond the shadow Of a suspicion
The failure 10 send out troops enough cannot
he charged 70 the Opposition, FOR Parliament
was not then sitting II there were any inten-
ton to hold Natal AZ all costs. an adequate
force should Rave been sent out hy October },
when the excuse that sufficient achievements
might he taken by the Doors az a menace no
longer held good. as The Indian troops were al
ready on tho way
Hearing these criticisms i'm unexpected quar-
tors. the correspondent Of The Associated Press
repeated them to a high Government official
While n0n-committal regarding the failure 10
send endorsements earlier. this official declared
that the broad lines Of policy affecting Natal
had been much misunderstood lie said.
We are often asked why We sent Sir George
Stewart White up the Neck of natal unless we
were sure be could hold it, Considering the
tremendous reinforcemonts now on the way o.
him. it occurs To- almost everybody. AZ first
/ sight that ne ought TO have retired without
risking cneaeemeutr. but 10 is forgotten what
would happen IN Natal unlefs We made a vgor-
Gus stand there
natal has risked her little all on behalf OF the
/ empire. and the least we can do IS TO risk some
thing ourselves and 90 prevent the oreIrunning
. Of the enemy Purely military considerations.
admit might point 10 the fact that We ought
+ imm diateiy to have Withdrawn from our ad-
Vanccl positions. but purely military consiiera-
lions have sometimes 10 be subOrinated % the
! interests 0f the empire. and although many
good lives have been lost in such cause, they
+ have not been wasted.
The acceptance OF the offers Of Str William
/ McCormac Dr. Frederick Troves and other
eminent civilian surgeons for service in South
Africa has drawn attention TO the serious I'M
dermanning OF the Army Medical staff The
actual strength Of the department IS only SO
which IS - per cent below the figures Of forty
/ years ago md actually fifty officers below the
absolute minimum decided upon in ISL This
state OF affairs IS due doubtless to the insult
ncient compensation offered.
DESERTERS REJOI,,ING THE RANKS
Deserters from both the army and navy con
tnue TO give themselves UP IN order 70 De re-
turned TO their regiments and shTs FOR active
service. Scarcely day passes without the Lon
don magistrates Having 20 deal with a hair
dozen or so cases of this character. and as the
deserters walk out Of the dock in charge Of a
military escort they often turn to the mags-
trate with hearty God bless YOU" or Thank
you. sir" Many of them come from foreign
countries including the United states.
Several small attachments Of county yeo-
many are going ont, independent Of the War
Office 10 the seat az war on the chance ~ join
ing the Imperial Light Horse Lord Lonsdale
and Lord Harris, both yeomanw officers. are
aiding this movement
The heavy losses among the British officers I'm
Natal has led The Military Journal % sug-
g.st that the sword be- abolished nor only on
account 81 its useiessness. but also because its
glitter attracts the aim of an enemy and ini.-
Gates the officer
Her Majesty. it IS reported has personally
conveyed 70 Field Marshal Lord Garnet Woise-
Icy an expression Of her qualification ar the
manner in which The whole military machine
has worked since it was first ser in motion by