The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-01


aGigantic Trap skiIlfully Conceived
by Gen, JOubert-A Feeling of Com
sternation in England-Further Anx-
tetv Caused by Despatch That Beers
Have Re-occupted Their Old Positions $
and Have Opened Fire Again-Rein-
foroements Not Due Until Sunday.
London. Oct. 31.-There was con-
tinued stream Of callers at the war OIL
flee to-day until late hour, everybody
anxiously inquiring regarding yester-
davis casualties near Ladysmith, but
the war office declared that nothing had
been received since Sir George Whites
deepatch communicating the news of
the capture of the Royal Irish F'uslllers
and the Worcestershire regiment. Thls
delay in getting further intelligence IS
due in part to the breakdown OF the
east cable, but it stands to reason that
the war office must be possessed of fur
ther news which it is probably not
thought advisable should be published
as yet.
TheN disaster has caused feeling
akin to CONSERVATION, and, in Glouces-
terehire and the North of Ireland, where
the captured regiments were recruited,
the blacklist gloom prevails, many fam
lilies there awaiting with beating hearts
the names of the slain and wounded,
which are fully expected to reach
high figure Houses are already in
mourning in consequence of losses sus-
tanned by those regiments on the pre-
vious engagements.
Public anxiety was increased by
special despatch from Ladysmith, pub
1ished in the late editions of the Lon
don afternoon papers, to the effect that
before darkness yesterday the Beers
reoccupied the old positions by their
heavy artillery which General White
had reported silenced by the guns of the
naval brigade and had opened fire
again.
The despatch further says: "The en-
emy are again closing in and the situ-
alton is one of grave anxiety Beyond
doubt the Boer retirement yesterday
(Monday) was ruse to draw General
White into the hilly country and away
from the British camp" This last SEN
tence is significant and confirms the
opinion of military experts here that
General White is allowing himself to
be out-generaled by Commandant Jou-
bert
From the scanty advices received up
to II o'clock it seems tolerably certain
that the disaster was simple repeti-
tion Of the battle of Majuba hill though
on a larger scale. The two regiments
were allowed to march into a trap set
for them by the Beers 1t is simply a |
case of the Boer spider and the guilt
less British fly. In fact, the whole en-
gagement on Monday seems to have
been brought on by Commandant Cen
eral Joubert, who skillfully conceived
a gigantic trap, out of which, as the
official despatch shows, Sir George
White only escaped with difficulty.
General White advanced the idea of |
driving the Beers from Tintwa Inyoni
hill, seven miles out, which General |
Joubert made an ostensible show of for
tifying on Sunday. The Boer COM
mander left force sufficient to draw |
General White on, while the mass of
the Beers he moved stealthily round |
the British right to deliver a flank at
tack and to endeavor to cut off Gem
eral White from Ladysmith. The Brit
lsh commander succeeded in beating
off the attack. but only with great diff
hculty and during the turning move
ment his troops suffered from a flank
ing fire.
Harsh things. are said in military cir
cles of the British tactics which have
made possible the ambush of the Eigh-
teenth Hussars at Glencoe and now thn
loss of two fine regiments. 1t is fear
ed that Sir George White is no match
for the Beers in that cunning by which
Boer tactics are conceived; and if is
pointed out that, if the British com
lead their men into obvious
traps, further disasters must he 1oo,xed
for.
An interview is published with q
BRUSH officer whose name is withheld
out VINO is described as a "WelI known
general With a distinguished record
turing the Indian mutiny" in the course
of which he passes severe criticism
upon the conduct of the campaign
Yesterdays disaster" says the officer
IN question, lis only another proof of
serious blundering. Although Sir
George White is good regimental COM
nander, he does not seem to excel in
strategy or the management of a big
division / regard the Glencoe bust
hess as another example of blunder-
ng"
Proceeding to discuss the engagement
1t Glencoe, the officer observes: "Sonce
If the enemy's officers We're allowed to
occupy and plant guns on Talana Hill.
Nothing was done to stop this until the
Beers began to shell Glencoe on the
ollowing morning. AS for yesterdov's
asualty it seems inexcusable that the
wo regiments should have been al
owed to separate themselves from the
main body, especially with a considera-
lie swarm of the enemy against them.
know 7 am expressing the opinion of
many military officers. We are dis
.usted with the war office for having
allowed the issuance of
loating reports of victories without ac-
ual frankness and promptitude in dis
losing the circumstances discountine
hese reports" I
Sir George Whites honest admission {
f full responsibility and the terms of
lis despatch are regaded in some cir I
,,I- c