Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-31
An Uneasy Feeling.

A'fptHe from LONDON says: There was
general feeling of uneasiness at every
London club house last night when the
bulletin from the war Office was posted.
Earlier II the day there had been rumors
that the Beers had advanced on Lady
smith and had begun a fire of shells with
thelF i0-poundels, but that the British
artillery had Silenced the Boer guns II
was also reported that General Joubert
had ordered an advance in great num-
befa on the British left, and that battle
was in progress.
General Whites report, or SO much Of
1t as the war office chose to give out
described an indecsive engagement pre-
cedad by a mysterious movement to
clear his left flank. with no details of the
return Of the two battalions Of the Royal
IRISH fusleers and the Gloucester regi-
meilt. Experts shook their heads SOL
emnly in commenting upon General
whites account of the stampede of the
battery mules and his doubtful express
sion of hope that the guns of the noun
tam battery would be recovered.
AS for the general engagement, it was
clear That General White had brought it
on ana mad not been attacked by Gem
eral Joubert, If he We're in command.
General White had sent out two brigade
divisio of artillery and five battalions
of infantry, covered by the cavalry under
General French, to attack the position
where The enemy had planted their guns.
The Beers We're not where their guns
had been. but We're further behind,
massed in great strength and prepared
to fall back upon their reserves The
RritjSl l,,.a W. fnr ~ ,y,;l l,,f
finally returned to camp after an indie
clsive engagement of several hours Not
a single line of the official dispatch could
be made 10 spell out a victory. The dis
appearance Of the Irish fusileers and the
Gloucester regiment with mountain
battery was a mystery which bafiled the
ed to explain it.
There was a general feeling Of dislrust
at midnight, and fears We're expressed
at every clubhouse that a serious re-
verse was impending, especially as the !
Boer guns We're admitted to have a |
loneer range than the British field artil-
lery. Experts in the many clubs frankly
co.fssStd q that the British soldiers, who
have been accustomed 10 fight recklessly
with savage tribes. such as the Soudan
derNishes We're at IA disadvantage in |
meeting cool wary foes like the Beers, |
who ma de a practice of falling back upon
their reserves and of Turing their assail- !
ants n ambush. 1t was also generally
conceded that the Beers were hanging
back and We're not seeking to make an
attack before they were fully prepared
to give battle.
The arrival of General Butler will
probably tend to hasten a decisive con-
test since he will be on the ground and
General White can receive orders from
him to take the offensive. The two gem
erals are close friends and have been in
TINA tely associated in devising the gen
eral plan of the military operations. |
When Sir RedNers Butler sailed from
England there VAS without doubt an un-
derstand.ng between them that the field
force in Natal should remain on the de-
fensiyc so far as possible until the ar |
rival Of the ARMY corps, and should not !
repeat GeneIa Colley's fatal mistake of
alta cling a. superior force and attempt |
ing to rush the Eorrs, as though they /
were AiIids or dervsnes.
Gem. al Butler was reported by init !
mate friends of being apprehensive that '
General Whites combative instinct as an |
old Indian fighter would oyerpower him. |
and that he would not have tha patience |
required for a purely defensive cam |
aign. There was no ground for the re- !
ports that there was any feeling of jeal- /
ousy between the Two generals and that |
General White would seek to end the
campaign by "A series of serious blows, !
and leave nothing in reserve for General ,
Butler except of leading a grand holiday !
parad.. through the two capitals /
When General Butler is once at head !
quarters at Ladysmith he becomes re- !
sponsible for General Whites maneu-
vers, and is not likely to allow him to re-
main an idle spectator while the Beers |
are ma ssing their forces around Lady
smith and seeking to break off commune .
cation with the sea. General Whites /
forces are not posted in the broad upland |
valley where Ladysmth lies, hut strong |
ly in;5enched on the hills 400 or 500 feet !
above it. There will be high ground in |
the aniphitheater of the hills where the t
Beers can mass their forces ana train I
their long range guns, but General White !
has naturally selected the most defensi- !
BILE position commanding the approaches /
Of the town. The Beers have already !
been testing the range, but are pfoce2d- /
ing with deliberation and caution.
Military writers in today's papers, vino |
are called unon tn supply theories aId ;
surmises since the censor saip shuts off !
any precise informa ton, agree that Gen
eral Icuhert is not likely to begin an |
assault until several bridges are de-
stroyed ard wires are cut between Lady
snli.h aGd the sea. Gen. Whites line of |
communication with Durham is iS9 niles |
by railway, and one can be meaacel
from The Orange Free State passes or
any DO. ion of the Boer force operating