The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-29

Conduct of British Omcers in War
Causing Much Crfticism.

Causing Much Criticism.
> LONDON. Oct 2s.-The large number Of
British officers killed In the battles which
have already taken place in Natal has
brought out strenuous protests from many
quarters against the ancient custom of
British officers in refusing to take cover
when under fire. From figures at Glencoe
1t is apparent that one out of every four
men killed was an officer, whereas the or
ganization exists upon the principle that to
every twenty-five men there is one officer
1t is evident that If the same ratio of NOR
tality is kept up the British forces will be-
come seriously under-officered. Among the
enlisted men ct Glencoe the proportion Of
killed to wounded was 30 to 156 while ten
officers were killed to twenty-five officers
wounded. The difference In the percentage
leads to the conclusion that many Of the
officers were hit more than once and kept
on leading their men after the first wound
Emperor Williams recent criticism Of the
British officers refusal to take cover is now
frequently quoted. The feeling in the army
itself is that, though the regulations do not
say the officers must not lie down. it is such
an old-established principle that it would
take brave man to inaugurate a change,
and the adage of the British soldier, Fol
low wherever an officer leads" is held still
to be intensely true. for. though the officers
believe the personnel of the army is as good
as ever, II has been the history of Great
Britain that they at the same time maintain
that Tommy Atkins" needs more leading
than any man in the world. so the spilling
Of Great Britain's best blood is likely to
continue for the present.
The proportion of the casualties, as a
whole, has caused thrill of horror and
sympathy throughout Great Britain, for the
people now begin to realize what a fight
with q civilized enemy means. Old soldiers
point out that at the Alma. one of the
bloodiest battles in Great Britain's annals,
the casualties totalled only s per cent,
whereas in the recent Boer engagements
they considerably exceed that figure.
WHITE MAY GET A PEERAGE FIRST.
General Whites strategy and the execu-
ton Of his movements are warmly praised,
and 1T is said at the clubs that Gen. Sir
Redvers Butler will have to hurry up or
General White will get peerage first Gen.
White represents the Indian element in the
British army, and those who have served in
India have always maintained that the COM
mander there had more important post
than the commander-in-chief himself. AS
old for another campaign. Generals White.
Symons and Hunter were sent as a sop to
the Indian faction, for General Butler has
always been more or less autagonistic to
General Roberts and his partisans
The newspapers are indulging in retro
spective graduation. first. on the success of
General Whites strategy In the face of
greatly superior forces In puzzIing the
he
Orange Free State and Transvaal armies,
and, in a word. gaining time and delaying
the invasion of Natal until the arrival of
General Butler and the army corps, permits
Of real operations for the invasion of the
two republics to commence; secondly. on the
bravery and daring both of the officers and
men of the British army which has astound-
ed not only their enemies. but the con-
tinental neighbors of Great Britain, and,
thirdly. on the readiness of the reservists to
respond to the call TO arms and the smooth
ness. success. swift precision and complete
ness of the mobilization which has astound-
ed the critics.
The Spectator says: IF we could only
bring the militia up to the army level of
discipline we should be safe beyond any con-
ceivable danger. II cannot any longer be
contended either that education and exam
nations take the pluck and daring out of
officers and men,"
The Chronicle raises a wall over the word
ing of the Queens speech. which. 1t says.
clearly regards the war as Operations de-
signed to bring revolted colonists into SUBJ
mission" so that the Dutch people who
were assured by Mr.. Chamberlain that we
had no designs on their Independence are
(COntinued on Third Pagel